1DA-The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 4, 2006 NHL to honor Berenson ll By Nate Sandals Daily Sports Writer Michigan hockey coach Red Beren- son has been away from the NHL since 1984. But on Nov. 6, the league will honor him when it presents the hockey legend with the Lester Patrick Award for his outstanding service to hockey in the United States. Berenson, a former Michigan hockey player, said he was pleased to represent collegiate hockey in a primarily profes- sional fraternity. "I think it's a tribute to college hock- ey to recognize someone from college hockey," Berenson said. "I would guess that a lot of people included in that group were in the pro game. Right now, I'm in the amateur game." Berenson played with four different NHL teams during his career, including the Detroit Red Wings. He tallied 261 goals and 397 assists over 17 seasons. In 1965, Berenson was a member of the Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Cana- diens. The next year he returned to Michi- gan and received his Master's of Business and Administration. Berenson has been an outspoken proponent of hockey players completing their college education. His most well-known accomplish- ment as a player was his six-goal game against the Philadelphia Flyers as a member of the St. Louis Blues in 1968. Later that season, he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated with the caption "The Red Baron of the Blues." Following his retirement in 1978, Berenson joined the St. Louis coach- ing staff as an assistant, and midway through the 1979-8 season, he was named head coach. The following sea- son, Berenson was honored as the NHL Coach of the Year. Although he is Canadian, Berenson thinks the time he has spent involved in hockey in the United States led to his receiving the Patrick award. "I've been in the U.S. a lot of years, and I've seen hockey grow in the U.S. over those years," Berenson said. Four other hockey notables will gar- ner the award along with Berenson at a luncheon in Joe Louis Arena on Nov. 6. Proceeds from the award luncheon will benefit the USA Hockey Foundation. Red Wing greats Steve Yzerman and Reed Larson will be honored along with Hockey Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne and former NHL and college coach Glen Sonmor. Berenson said he was excited to be recognized at Joe Louis alongside so many others with Detroit ties. "It's great that it's in Detroit and there's so many Detroit personalities involved," Berenson said. This year's five award winners bring the total number of individual Les- ter Patrick recipients to 100. Three U.S. Olympic hockey teams have also received the honor - The 1966 and 1980 men's teams and the 1998 wom- en's team. The award's namesake, Lester Pat- rick, was involved in hockey for half a century as a player, coach and general manager. Famous past winners of the Lester Patrick award include Gordie Howe, Stan Mikita, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretz- ky and Phil Esposito. Berenson will begin his 23 season as Michigan's head coach when the Wolverines face off against Alabama- Huntsville Oct. 13. 4 PETER SCHOTTENFELS/rai The NHL will present Red Berenson with the Lester Patrick Award at a luncheon on Nov.6. 4 ounow, We want you to succeed, and all the signs say GO. That's why we've created an environment that's conducive to personal and professional growth and success. At Ernst & Young, we offer award-winning learning tools and a range of experiences, so that you keep moving ahead- from your very first day. So visit us on campus, or at FITZPATRICK Continued from page 9A yourself a week later running around in numerous hospitals, running tests and not being sure of what is the matter," Lauri said. Doctors informed Kelly and her family that the necessary sur- gery could wait until the after the field hockey season. Even though the idea of playing out the season excited Kelly, she couldn't help but think about how her health would constrain her. "Things definitely changed," Kelly said. "I've learned I have to be mature, dealing with seri- ous organs like that. If I feel pain, I can't just be a soldier about it." Cox said Fitzpatrick has already shown toughness in plen- ty of ways. "She has managed everything magnificently," Cox said. "You have to look at it from a holis- tic perspective. She is managing Division I field hockey, academ- ics at Michigan and an impending surgery. I really applaud the kid. She's got a lot going on, and she's still the same Kelly." Fitzpatrick's performance on the field has remained the same as well. The freshman is leading Michigan in both goals and points (five and 11 respectively). Because doctors say a full recovery from the surgery will take about a year, no one knows exactly Fitzpatrick will be able to return to the field next season. But there's reason to believe that she'll bounce back. On Sunday, Fitzpatrick got a second chance to put Maryland on the ropes. And this time, she made it count. After picking up another steal, she fired a shot from the center circle that made it past the Terrapin goalkeeper to tie the game at one. Just as things eventually went her way against Maryland, Fitz- patrick's fortunes can turn health- wise, too. Cox thinks this will be the case. The coach believes Kelly will rebound physically after the surgery. "I do think she'll manage it," Cox said. "Our physicians have been in contact with kidney spe- cialists, and they all assure us, with 100 percent certainty, that Kelly can manage this surgery." Fitzpatrick is still unsure about her status for next season. But that hasn't stopped her from focusing on this year's team. "As of right now, I'm hoping not to miss next year," Fitzpatrick said. "I plan to have a full recov- ery. But for right now, I just hope we can get it done this year." rd TAYLOR Continued from page 9A Even though Taylor dominates his teammates on the wrestling mat, they still have a warm place for him in their hearts. They credit Taylor as one of the funniest guys on the team, but say that you really have to spend time with him to understand it. Before practice, Taylor enjoys warming up in an unusual way. He and Branch routinely throw the ball around, even though Tay- lor admits neither of them has a future at a skill position. "Branch really can't catch, and I can't throw that good," Taylor said. Taylor may not have the best arm on the team, but he definitely has improved endurance. For that, he remembers his summer daysof sleepy eyes and golf course runs as motiva- tion for running wherever he has to go, in particular team meetings. "You don't want to be late (to meetings)," Taylor said. "It's bet- ter to be three minutes early than one minute late. You don't want to be late because you'll have to run afterwards anyway." I I -LI WiYR t.IE'x UIU!kW QualityIn Everything We Do A © 2006 ERNST & YOU