B

CHAMPS AGAIN

n The women’s gymnastics 
team won the Big Ten title at 
Crisler Center. Page 4B 

1,400 STRONG

The Michigan Daily | michigandaily.com | March 23, 2015

n Michigan swept Ohio 
State, earning Carol Hutchins’ 
1,400th win. Page 3B

K.O.
at the 
Joe

D

ETROIT — Red Berenson 
leans back in his chair 
with a scowl. He sips some 

water as he tries 
to process how 
the past hour 
could have left 
him smiling.

For the third 

straight season, 
he finds himself in 
the same position 
with the same 
discomfort and the 
same questions to 
answer. But that doesn’t make it any 
easier.

For the third straight season, 

his team has missed the NCAA 
Tournament.

For the third straight season, it 

has been only one game — in fact, one 
period — that has kept the Michigan 
hockey team from receiving a bid to the 
NCAA Tournament.

Sometimes, even legends are 

defeated.

Berenson hasn’t been to the national 

tournament since 2012. Before that, 
he had led his team there for 22 
consecutive seasons.

His glossy eyes match his players’. 

It isn’t any easier for a 73-year old Hall 
of Fame coach to stomach the gut-
wrenching blow his team was dealt 
on Saturday — a 4-2 defeat against 

Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament 
championship.

“He was pretty heartbroken like we 

were,” said freshman defenseman Zach 
Werenski.

Berenson didn’t say much to his team 

after the game. Words are tough to 
construct in a state of such heartbreak. 
There’s little you can say to the faces of 
grown men when those faces are coated 
with tears.

Even in his 31st season behind 

the Wolverine bench, Berenson is 
often stoic and stern. He would have 
welcomed a reason to smile after 
Saturday’s loss, but there wasn’t any.

After fielding questions from 

SportsMonday

MICHIGAN 2
MINNESOTA 4

JEREMY
SUMMITT

When legends are
left empty-handed

Wolverines fall to Minnesota in 
Big Ten championship, end season 

without NCAA bid

By ZACH SHAW

Daily Sports Writer

DETROIT — Fair or not, the Michigan hockey team’s 

season has been defined by one play three seasons in 
a row. Not for glory or success, but for embodying a 
season that fell hairs short of expectations.

In 2013, it was an outstretched Steve Racine lunging 

for a shot while being pulled off the bench, only to have 
the puck fly into the net just out of reach, suddenly 
ending a streak of 22 consecutive NCAA Tournament 
trips.

Last year, it was the sight of a puck sitting right on 

the goal line, one inch from vaulting the Wolverines to 
an overtime win and a return to the NCAA Tournament 
that was eventually cleared away, just like Michigan’s 
dream of a postseason.

This year, things went quicker, but the sting of falling 

just short won’t go away any sooner.

Faster than ripping 
See MICHIGAN, Page 4B

See SUMMITT, Page 4B

PHOTOS BY JAMES COLLER