The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sports
Wednesday, March 8, 2017 — 7A
Berenson mulls retirement, leaves future open
Red Berenson sat in his chair
and leaned forward. After another
practice
skating
around
and
offering instructions, Berenson
untied his skates and placed his
stick on the floor next to him.
Even at the age of 77 with 33
years at the helm of the Michigan
hockey team, Berenson still skates
on the ice nearly every day.
Monday, Berenson pondered
his
future
in
Ann
Arbor,
something he said he thinks about
constantly.
He intended to retire last
year, which he planned at the
beginning of that season. But with
a new athletic director in Warde
Manuel, Berenson opted to stay to
aid Manuel’s transition.
“He didn’t wanna go through
hiring a coach — he hadn’t
even moved into his house yet,”
Berenson said. “And our team
played well and I thought they
were responding well, so the
reasons to stay were those things.
“We’ll revisit all this at the end
of the year, but I’m trying not to
worry about it right now. It’s just a
matter of when — whether it’s this
year or next year.
Physically, the 77-year-old is
content.
Mentally, though, things are a
bit more complicated.
Berenson constantly thinks
about the consequences of his
decision and its implication for
the Wolverines of the present and
the future. As Michigan begins
recruiting with athletes as young
as sophomores in high school, the
uncertainty of a program’s head
coach could impact a recruit’s
decision.
“There’s always the question of
‘Who’s gonna be the coach when
I get there,’ ” Berenson said. “I
tell all these kids I probably am
not gonna be your coach — and
I probably won’t. Kids get down
between two different schools
and there’s always the question
of who’s gonna be the coach at
Michigan. … But we’ll re-visit all
of that.”
Still, it’s a question that looms
ever
larger
now,
especially
with the Wolverines facing a
tumultuous end of the season.
Michigan’s final home series
is slated against a difficult
11th-ranked Nittany Lion team
that outscored the Wolverines
11-2 in State College. After the
Penn State series, Michigan
begins play in the Big Ten
Tournament, where it would
need to win out in order to reach
the NCAA Tournament.
It is a stark contrast from
last season. At this point, the
Wolverines dominated conference
play and led the nation in scoring.
Now, the Wolverines will try to
play the role of spoiler, something
that motivates Berenson in a
season when a postseason bid is
unlikely.
“It’s gotta be a must win series
for Michigan, just to get our
game where we think it can be,”
Berenson said. “We’ve seen bits
and pieces of it, but we haven’t
seen enough of it. I don’t think
our fans have seen us sweep a
team maybe once all year, and
obviously the Friday game is the
game. That’s the game that gets
you going or puts your back up
against the wall.
“We’re
trying
to
get
to
Joe Louis Arena with some
momentum. … So we gotta get
a little more confidence, a little
more momentum, and a little
more of everything.”
Thinking in the big-picture —
should this season be his last —
Berenson emphasized his desires
for his players to succeed in every
area of their lives, should a career
in hockey not pan out. During
his professional career, Berenson
took classes in the summer at
Michigan and eventually earned
his Master’s Degree in Business
Administration in 1966.
It is a testament to the emphasis
Berenson places on education for
all his players and the reason he
admires all of those who leave
Ann Arbor — even the players
who end up in other non-hockey
pursuits.
“They all got the same message,
and they all know I cared about
them,” Berenson said. “I cared
about the fact that they went
to school and they would have
something to fall back on. I’m
proud of the guys who went to the
NHL, but I’m just as proud of the
guys that aren’t.
“We get neurosurgeons and
lawyers and doctors, you name it.
… All kinds of guys who were good
players and became really good
citizens too.”
Nearly 33 years ago, Michigan
athletic director Don Canham
introduced Berenson, hoping to
return the Wolverines to their
successful run of the 1950’s.
Three decades later, Berenson
remains in Ann Arbor with two
NCAA
championships,
which
shocks him to this day.
“I had no idea I’d be here 33
years,” Berenson said. “You get
caught up in the kids and the
recruiting more kids, and pretty
soon it’s like a big family and you
feel responsible. So I’ve never
really looked for a job since I got to
Michigan. I’ve had opportunities
but I’ve never wanted to leave. So
it’s been good, and I hope it’s been
good for Michigan.”
And while it may be tempting
to consider when Berenson will
come to an ultimate decision
about his future, it’s not his
primary concern. This weekend,
Berenson will focus on honoring
his seniors in their last games
at Yost. And next week, the
Wolverines will travel to the Joe
Louis Arena in hopes of earning
a long-shot bid to the NCAA
tournament.
“We’ll see about the outcome or
when this is over,” Berenson said.
“Right now, our team doesn’t have
a lot to play for except pride and
trying to get some momentum for
the Big Ten Tournament. That’s
our focus right now.”
Seniors leave impact
Jack LaFontaine remembers
his most challenging morning of
the season. It had been a sleepless
night on the plane for the freshman
goaltender, as he struggled to
get over his performance in the
Michigan hockey team’s loss to
Dartmouth on Oct. 29.
He woke up that Sunday
morning to a text message from
a player who urged him to move
past that experience. The message
came from fellow netminder Zach
Nagelvoort, who, in his fourth year
on the Wolverines, has asserted a
more active role for Michigan.
“He texted me, ‘Hey come over,
let’s get some air, let’s walk, to get
your mind off it,’ ” LaFontaine said.
“I’ll never forget that, that’s what
really stands out to me about the
type of person he is.
“He’ll share one little thing
of wisdom with me and then I’ll
go home and I’ll write it down
because I want to remember it for
tomorrow. Not only that, but how
to handle myself off the ice, and
how to overcome challenges and
adversity.”
Heading into the Wolverines’
final home series, emotions seem
to run high for LaFontaine and his
fellow freshman. The seniors who
motivated them and encouraged
them for the past months will be
departing soon.
Nagelvoort certainly isn’t the
only senior who makes the effort
to guide his young teammates.
Seniors from the front three like
forward Alex Kile to defensemen
Nolan de Jong and Kevin Lohan
have
helped
the
newcomers
overcome their initial uneasiness
in Ann Arbor.
For the first few months of the
season, freshman Will Lockwood
played alongside Kile, his family
friend growing up. He credits
part of his early season success to
starting games with the senior as
his linemate.
Kile’s duties as a leader extended
beyond those on his line. With the
assistance of the other forwards,
Kile welcomed the new players
into the fold and taught them the
“Michigan tradition.”
“We like to see ourselves as a
family on the ice and off the the
ice, and team chemistry is really
important,”
Lockwood
said.
“Getting along with everyone is
a huge factor in how the games
go. They really taught me how to
respect my teammates, to be the
person you want to be here in Ann
Arbor.”
Behind the front three, de Jong
and Lohan man the blue line and
do their part to motivate and offer
assistance to the young group of
Wolverines defensemen.
Freshman
Luke
Martin
explained that the two constantly
offer advice and small post-
practice reminders from working
on improving skate speed to
cleaning skates and putting away
equipment.
Like
LaFontaine
did
from
Nagelvoort, Martin learned some
specific lessons not easily seen
on the ice during games from De
Jong — Michigan’s captain — and
Lohan, the alternate.
“Something I’ve learned from
Kevin is take care of your body as
much as you can because it’ll pay
off in the long run,” Martin said.
“(He) is always the last guy in the
weight room, whether rolling out
and stretching or icing his back
down in the cold tub.
“Nolan is always in there
warming up early, getting ready to
go for practice and games. … He’s
very calm, nothing seems to really
rattle him. He’s never too high on
his highs and never too low on his
lows.”
Saturday night, Michigan will
honor its seniors at center ice. The
younger Wolverines will reflect
on lessons learned at practices,
during pre-game skates, in the
games and on the bench. Some, like
LaFontaine nearly did Tuesday
after practice, may see their
emotions get the best of them.
But most of all, they’ll thank
the seniors for their efforts to
mentor them over the course of a
challenging season.
Wolverines must refocus before
possible NCAA Tournament run
The
Michigan
women’s
basketball team still has a chance
to become the best team in
program history. Currently, the
Wolverines sit at 22 wins — tied for
the most ever. But with the NCAA
tournament looming around the
corner, they have an opportunity
to win the elusive 23rd game.
While Michigan lost four of
its last five matchups, it is still
very likely to be selected for the
NCAA
Tournament.
Selection
Monday will be on Mar. 13, and
the Wolverines will be in line for
an at-large bid. With 32 schools
gaining automatic entry into the
tournament, there are 32 more
teams chosen by a committee to
compete with, and Michigan’s
three weeks in the Associated
Press Top 25 rankings may be an
essential factor in the selection
process.
Despite the positive NCAA
tournament
outlook,
the
Wolverines’ Big Ten Tournament
loss to Michigan State was a
crushing blow that illuminated
their key weaknesses. In order for
Michigan to accomplish its 23-win
goal, it will have to correct some of
its shortcomings.
The Wolverines had already
played the Spartans on Feb. 19,
falling, 86-68 — their worst loss
aside from a 20-point defeat to No.
9 UCLA on Dec. 11. In the rivals’
Big Ten Tournament rematch last
Friday, the Spartans won by just 10
points.
“Our kids really bought into
the game plan,” said Michigan
assistant coach Melanie Moore on
WTKA. “And we did an excellent
job of guarding (Michigan State
guard Tori Jankoska) who, the
first time we played them, I think
scored 28 points on us. The kids
were really locked in and we
threw different defenders on
them from (junior forward Jillian
Dunston) to (senior guard Siera
Thompson). But unfortunately,
they had some other kids that
stepped up and made shots, and
it was just hard for us to get back
after that.”
Even though the Wolverines
were able to slow down certain
members of the Spartan offense,
they could not account for the
scoring contributions of eight
different
players.
Michigan,
meanwhile, had just five players
tally points, and just seven of
those points didn’t come from
the team’s three leading scorers:
junior guard Katelynn Flaherty,
sophomore center Hallie Thome
and
freshman
guard
Kysre
Gondrezick.
The
Wolverines
did not display Michigan State’s
depth, and relying on their core
scorers simply wasn’t enough.
Free throws were another
deciding factor in the game.
The Spartans made 10 more
free throws — and 11 more
opportunities — than Michigan,
which also equaled the game’s
margin of victory.
“We were trying,” Moore said.
“We got people on our hips, and
we were trying to be aggressive
and attacking. We just weren’t
getting the foul. So we were trying
then to move the ball, go inside to
Hallie. It just wasn’t happening.
So we were telling the kids, ‘Crash,
crash hard, try to get a second or
third opportunity.’
“Unfortunately, we just didn’t
go to the line as much as Michigan
State, and that was probably the
difference when you look at the
box score.”
Not getting to the foul line is
one thing, but the Wolverines also
got themselves into foul trouble,
which forced some of their talent
off the court in crucial parts of the
game.
“Unfortunately for us, we had
almost every starter with two
fouls early in the first half,” Moore
said. “When Hallie picked up her
second early in the second quarter,
we had to sit her, and that allowed
Michigan State to go on a run.”
While the loss was a tough
pill for Michigan to swallow, it
will have ample time to refocus
before the NCAA Tournament. If
the Wolverines earn an at-large
bid, they will start playing the
weekend of Mar. 17.
And they certainly haven’t
given up.
“They’re excited,” Moore said.
“They can’t wait to get back in the
gym, and they feel like they have
unfinished business.”
MAGGIE KOLCON
Daily Sports Writer
CLAIRE MEINGAST/Daily
Sophomore center Hallie Thome faced foul trouble against the Spartans.
Michigan finishes 2-1 during trip
In just the sixth year of varsity
men’s lacrosse at Michigan, it
took just seven games for Coach
John Paul’s group to eclipse the
program’s record for wins in a
season.
The Wolverines (6-1 overall)
got their record-setting sixth
victory Saturday at Furman,
aided by sophomore midfielder PJ
Bogle’s first career hat trick in a
7-5 triumph.
“It helps to have a breakout
game where I can get the ball out
of my stick a lot and have it end
up in the back of the net,” Boyle
said. “It reinforced that I can
trust my teammates to get me the
ball inside and that I can trust
the offense that (assistant) coach
(Conor) Ford has us running.
Having a game like that certainly
will help me going forward.”
Boyle credited Michigan’s first
possession — which lasted nearly
four minutes — and trust in the
offensive game plan with giving
him the confidence to pepper the
net with 10 shots on the afternoon.
The Wolverines’ eighth-leading
scorer was the most active player
offensively on a day in which the
usual suspects didn’t markup the
scoring column.
Sophomore
Tommy
Heidt,
who won a preseason four-
way battle to be the starting
goaltender, made seven key saves
in the fourth quarter to hold off
the Paladins.
“He did a big part in bailing us
out late in the game today when
Furman was in desperation time,”
Paul said. “They got some good
looks, and he made some pretty
spectacular saves. It’s comforting
to have a guy back there that
isn’t only making the saves he’s
supposed to make but also robs
the other team throughout the
game. That’s what Tommy’s
doing.”
Added Heidt: “Our defense
bared down (in the fourth) and
tried to force the opposition to
take shots that I like and we like.”
Michigan’s defense of a perfect
record looked possible against
No. 5 Notre Dame on Feb. 26, as
the team trailed by just three
goals at halftime. But the Fighting
Irish used a 51-24 shot advantage
to score nine goals in the second
frame and win in lopsided
fashion, 16-5.
Eighteen turnovers plagued
the Wolverines and overwhelmed
the defense, as Heidt’s 17 saves —
good for the fourth-most all-time
by a Wolverine in a single game —
weren’t enough to stall an Irish
team that dominated possession.
The contest demonstrated that,
while Michigan players have
been able to see the fruits of
Ford’s game plan, the offense
hasn’t
found
the
necessary
cohesion in order to defeat elite
teams.
“We didn’t have a lot of smart
possessions and weren’t running
what we wanted to,” Paul said.
“We want smarter and better
offense and make better choices
with the ball.”
Though the offense showed
signs
of
diversification
with
Boyle’s hat trick, senior attacker
Ian King continues to hit the back
of the net and amass assists. He
moved to the top of the program’s
all-time points list with a helper
to sophomore attacker Brent
Noseworthy
in
the
second
quarter against Notre Dame.
“(King) has been a steady
presence for us when he’s in.”
Paul said. “He and Kyle Jackson
have really been the first two elite
offensive players for us.”
Despite enduring a similar
shot deficit and lackluster second
half against Mercer on Thursday,
three consecutive conversions
on extra-man opportunity in the
second quarter boosted Michigan
to a 11-6 victory.
Noseworthy earned his fourth
hat trick of the season, as King,
sophomore
midfielder
Decker
Curran
and
junior
attacker
Patrick Tracy each notched two
goals.
Just a month into the season,
Michigan
has
progressed
in
replacing the contributions of
Major League Lacrosse draft
selection
Kyle
Jackson
and
three-year starting goalie Gerald
Logan, who transferred to Johns
Hopkins.
“We’re showing a ton of
growth,” Paul said. “At the
beginning
of
the
year,
we
established
ourselves
against
the programs that are usually
competitive with us and win going
away. We played a good Furman
team that was well rested and
better prepared than us. We’re
getting more confident — that’s
really the biggest difference.”
AARON BAKER/Daily
Sophomore goaltender Tommy Heidt made key saves late against Furman.
MARK CALCAGNO
Daily Sports Writer
ICE HOCKEY
AVI SHOLKOFF
Daily Sports Writer
FILE PHOTO/Daily
Michigan coach Red Berenson said he thinks about his future regularly.
AVI SHOLKOFF
Daily Sports Writer