4B — Monday, January 8, 2018
SportsMonday
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Content with retirement, former coach Berenson honored Friday night
Surrounded by a sea of maize
in Yost Ice Arena Friday night,
the Michigan hockey team made
its way out for pregame skate, all
donning white sweaters. It was a
strange sight before an advertised
“Maize Out Yost” night.
Upon further inspection, each
warmup jersey was the same,
each boldly displaying No. 9.
“Berenson” embroidered on the
back with the captain’s “C” sewn
on the heart.
On the night dedicated to
his legacy, this part of the
commemoration was a surprise
for Red Berenson. Through he
showed a wide grin, Berenson
was quick to explain that when
he played, there were no names
on jerseys, which were wool to
combat cold rink temperatures in
the old Coliseum.
“The first guy I noticed was
(senior
defenseman)
Cutler
Martin,”
Berenson
said.
“I
thought, ‘Geez, Cutler’s wearing
the ‘C’ tonight.’ Then I realized
they were all wearing the ‘C.’ ”
This was just one of many
tributes to Berenson before Friday
night’s matchup against Notre
Dame. The legendary Michigan
hockey coach of 33 years, who
retired at the end of last season,
was officially honored with the
formal dedication of the “Red
Berenson Rink.”
The
new
ice
design
—
unanimously approved by the
University’s Board of Regents in
October — features Berenson’s
signature near both blue lines.
Next
season,
“Red
Berenson
Rink” will replace “Yost Ice
Arena” in the center ice circle.
“That was a good likeness (of
my signature),” Berenson said. “I
wasn’t expecting anything, but
this is pretty neat.”
A video package chronicling
Berenson’s career was shown
before
the
opening
faceoff.
Additionally, a banner sporting
his face was sprawled over the
Children of Yost student section.
During the national anthem,
the sold-out crowd of 5,800
fans screamed “Red” when the
appropriate lyric arrived.
Capping
off
the
pre-game
festivities, a ceremonial puck drop
celebrated one of the Michigan
greats. As he made his way from
the bench to center ice — a walk
that started at a quick pace and
ended as a slower, more reflective
saunter — Berenson stopped at
the end of the black carpet to pose
for a photo with senior forward
and captain Tony Calderone and
Fighting Irish captain Jake Evans.
But it took a couple promptings
from
photographers
and
a
“drop the puck” chant from
the Wolverine faithful before
Berenson did so.
The once ever-serious coach
was too busy taking it all in.
“I really appreciate the gesture
from the athletic department,”
Berenson said. “I’m thankful
for all the good teams and good
players we’ve had at Michigan
over my time, and good coaches.
You don’t do this by yourself.
You teach a lot of good people. I
was lucky I was at a school like
Michigan. Good things happen
at Michigan and this was one of
them.”
***
Berenson originally arrived
in Ann Arbor from Regina,
Saskatchewan
as
a
student-
athlete in 1959. He played four
years of hockey and was named
All-American twice, the 1962
WCHA Most Valuable Player and
a team captain his senior season.
After graduation, Berenson spent
17 years in the NHL as a center for
the New York Rangers, St. Louis
Blues, Detroit Red Wings and
Montreal Canadiens.
While hoisting the Stanley
Cups in 1965 and 1966 with
Montreal, he never strayed too far
from Michigan, simultaneously
earning a Master of Business
Administration at the university
he has always called home.
After coaching in the NHL
until 1984, Berenson returned to
his alma mater as head coach. His
unwavering pursuit of excellence
immediately
transformed
the
hockey program into one of the
nation’s most storied.
This
mindset,
which
led
to a complete turnaround for
Michigan hockey, is one he
continues to live by to this day.
And with the Wolverines heading
into the first intermission, down
2-1 Friday, Berenson would want
this same “pursuit of excellence”
message shared with the team if
he were in the locker room.
“I would just remind them of
the great opportunity that they
have to play at Michigan and
to bring what they can bring to
Michigan,” Berenson said. “It’s
not what Michigan is going to
do for you. What are you going
to do for Michigan? We brought
you here because of this, this and
this — and are you doing that?
Are you living up to that, and are
you getting better? And are you
making the team better? Are you
making the people around you
proud?
“They need to be reminded
every so often. It becomes a job,
you’re going to school and then
coming down here. But you’ve
got to love it or you wouldn’t do it.
And if you’re going to do it, do it
well.”
Under
Berenson’s
tutelage,
Michigan players consistently did
their jobs well.
The
Wolverines
captured
21
conference
championships
and qualified for the NCAA
Tournament in 23 of his last
27 seasons. From 1991 to 2012,
Michigan received 22 straight
tournament bids, an NCAA record
that still stands. Berenson led the
Wolverines to 11 Frozen Fours and
national championships in 1996
and 1998.
Berenson retired with the
fourth-most wins in NCAA ice
hockey history with an 848-
426-92 career record. He also
mentored
two
Hobey
Baker
Memorial Award winners, 73
NHL players and 140 Academic
All-Big Ten selections.
Berenson
has
nothing
but
gratitude for others when looking
back at his illustrious career.
“I couldn’t have imagined
this,” Berenson said. “I’ve been
really lucky to have been around
good people and somehow, I made
some sort of contribution one way
or another. And here we are today.
… When you get the right group
together, great things can happen.
I was lucky to be a part of a few
good groups and I’ve been lucky
to be at Michigan.”
The man who will forever
consider himself fortunate for
every opportunity he received
passed the same attitude onto
this year’s team prior to Friday’s
matchup.
“The thing I mentioned before
the game is that it’s something
bigger than yourself,” Berenson
said. “You become bigger than
yourself. It’s not just about you,
it’s about all the things that are
going on around you that you’re a
part of. Just going to the football
games, reading about Michigan
graduates maybe going to the
moon or whatever they do. You’re
a part of that and they’re a part of
you. It’s amazing and it goes on
and on. It never stops.”
Many in the dressing room
skated
for
Berenson
during
parts of their college careers, so
listening to their former coach
address the team once again
and seeing him recognized are
unforgettable.
“We had a great three years
together,” Calderone said. “I
learned a lot from him and he
really progressed me as a player.
It was awesome seeing him out
there tonight and getting what he
deserves.”
Added
senior
defenseman
Sam Piazza: “It’s really just a
phenomenal honor for him and
well-deserved. It was an awesome
experience
before
the
game
today.”
Current
Michigan
coach
Mel Pearson — who spent 23
years under Berenson as both
an assistant and associate head
coach — praised his predecessor
and applauded the recognition
Berenson received.
“It was a great night for Red,”
Pearson said. “He’s been a great
ambassador for the University
of
Michigan,
the
athletic
department, our hockey program
and for college hockey. We can’t
honor or thank a man like him
enough.
“But it was a nice way to do
that. A very classy man and a
very classy move by (athletic
director) Warde Manuel and our
athletic department, naming that
rink after him. It’s going to be a
pleasure coming here every day
and knowing that name is on that
rink.”
***
After 33 years filled with the
daily grind of practices, film
studies and game preparations,
Berenson is now content watching
from the stands.
“It’s been good, really good,”
Berenson said. “I don’t lose any
sleep if our power play is not
working or if our goalie isn’t
playing well or whatever. I’ve let it
go and like I told Mel, ‘You’ve got
the keys to the car. Go for it. I’ll be
here when you need me.’ But I’m
happy with my decision and I’m
happy with the decision to bring
Mel Pearson back.”
Since
announcing
his
retirement last April, Berenson
has kept busy. Over the summer,
he went fishing in Florida and
hunting in Manitoba. Nowadays,
Berenson spends time at his
Ann Arbor home with his wife,
children and grandchildren.
He traveled to Moscow in
September to celebrate the 45th
anniversary of the famed Summit
Series between the Soviet National
Team and Berenson’s own Team
Canada. In the 1972 international
competition, Canada swept the
final three games in Moscow to
win the series, 4-3-1. During the
recent trip, Berenson and his old
teammates were invited to speak
and dine with Russian president
Vladimir Putin.
Instead
of
agonizing
over
film of the Wolverines’ biggest
plays, Berenson chooses to sit
back at home with his NHL
television package. However, he
still makes sure to either attend
or watch every Michigan game,
determined to support Pearson
and the hockey program that
defined his career.
He has also become a special
advisor
to
Manuel,
while
continuing to work on endowing
all
the
hockey
program’s
scholarships.
Not to be outdone, the 78-year-
old sets aside time to lace up his
skates Tuesday nights in the
alumni league — on the Yost ice
that will bear his name.
“I was playing three times a
week until I dinged my elbow,”
Berenson said. “But I’ll be back.
I’m enjoying it. I’m playing with
guys my age, not these young
guys.”
***
Before the game, Berenson
signed a young girl’s St. Louis
Blues jersey and threw it back to
her over the glass. He waved and
smiled at fans as he made his way
to the exits following Friday’s
game.
During the first intermission,
he joked with reporters about
his age and the fact that he is 40
years older than the next-oldest
player in the alumni league. He
discussed his views on hockey in
the upcoming Winter Olympics
and the Children of Yost’s nightly
rendition of “O Canada.”
The relaxed and jovial nature
of Berenson showed a new side
of
the
straight-shooter,
who
used to expect nothing short of
perfection from his players. It
showed a Berenson who has come
to terms with retirement and the
decision to close the chapter on
his coaching legacy.
“You’re totally invested in your
team and the game, and now I’m
not,” Berenson said with a smile.
“I’ve had my time.”
ICE HOCKEY
BEN KATZ
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan swept by Notre Dame over weekend
SOUTH BEND — The Michigan
hockey team entered its third
period with nothing to show for
its impressive offensive showing
against the nation’s second-ranked
team. Notre Dame on the other
hand — which played in a largely
similar fashion as the Wolverines
— had already found the net twice.
Forward Josh Norris then
provided Michigan with a glimpse
of hope. The freshman scored
off a rebound to cut the deficit to
one with eleven minutes to spare
in the game. However, though
the Wolverines have seen many
successful
late-game
rallies
throughout the season, this time, it
wouldn’t be enough.
Despite
demonstrating
an
ability to keep up with the Fighting
Irish, Michigan suffered the same
fate as it did in its game Friday. The
Wolverines (3-7-2-1 Big Ten, 8-10-
2 overall) fell, 2-1, and were swept
in their home-and-home series
against the third-best defensive
team in the nation.
“I thought we saw a lot of really
good things this weekend,” said
Michigan coach Mel Pearson.
“I didn’t like the results, I’m not
happy with the results, but you
can’t complain about the effort.”
Right out of the gate, high
energy and forceful offenses were
on display at Compton Family Ice
Arena — a noticeably amplified
performance from both sides of
the puck in comparison to Friday’s
showing.
Just over two minutes into
play, Notre Dame created the first
dangerous scoring opportunity
of the game, forcing sophomore
goaltender Hayden Lavigne to
extend himself to make five saves
over a minute and a half.
Lavigne
continued
to
play
a
crucial
role
for
Michigan
throughout the game, making
34 saves, and appears to have
tentatively earned the starting
spot in goal.
“He made some big time saves,
and I thought he’s established
himself this weekend as our guy,”
Pearson said. “It’s just two games
but we haven’t had a guy put back
to back games like that, and good
for him. We’re going to need that
going forward … so I thought he
was excellent, and that’s all we
need.”
The Fighting Irish pressed
again a minute later, finding the
net this time. However, after
further review, the goal became
nullified due to a hand pass.
Notre Dame received the first
man-advantage at 6:44 in the
game, when senior forward Tony
Calderone was given a penalty
for hooking. Though the Fighting
Irish again saw many close
attempts, they could not get the
puck past Lavigne.
The remainder of the period
was characterized by back-and-
forth, gritty play from both
Michigan and Notre Dame. The
Wolverines saw their most viable
scoring opportunity with five
minutes remaining in the period,
when they fired five shots at
Fighting Irish goaltender Cale
Morris. However, their efforts
remained fruitless, and both teams
entered the first intermission with
the scoreboard still blank.
Though Notre Dame’s potent
offense was not fully visible in
Friday’s game, this was not the case
in Sunday’s first period. While the
Wolverines outshot the Fighting
Irish in every period Friday, Notre
Dame nearly doubled Michigan’s
shot count in the first period of the
game on Sunday. This highlighted
Lavigne’s standout showing over
the period, as he stopped all fifteen
of the Fighting Irish’s on-target
shots.
The Wolverines came out hot to
begin the second period, keeping
the puck mostly within Notre
Dame’s defensive zone for the first
four minutes of play. Over this
period, Michigan blasted seven
shots at Morris, and the netminder
was able to keep the puck from
passing him.
Despite unevenly dominating
the start of the period, the
Wolverines were unable to get on
the scoreboard first. 6:10 into the
period, Michigan turned the puck
over in the neutral zone, creating
an odd-man rush for the Fighting
Irish.
Notre
Dame
forward
Andrew Oglevie capitalized on the
change in possession, sending the
puck into the upper right corner of
Michigan’s net to give the Fighting
Irish the first lead of the game.
The Wolverines did not let
up on pressure, firing numerous
on-target shots at Morris over
the next few minutes. Halfway
through the period, Notre Dame
received a penalty for slashing,
giving Michigan a power play.
The Fighting Irish were able to
kill the penalty and drew a man-
advantage of their own right after
their penalty ended.
A minute into the power play,
Notre Dame defenseman Matt
Hellickson — who also scored with
a man-advantage in Friday’s game
— beat Lavigne, increasing his
team’s lead to two.
With just over two minutes
remaining in the period, Notre
Dame had the opportunity to
capitalize
on
another
man-
advantage, but this time the
Wolverines stood their ground.
Michigan
killed
the
penalty,
keeping its deficit at two goals
heading into the final period of
regulation.
Both teams entered the third
period showing no signs of energy
loss, with the Fighting Irish
coming full force and continuously
challenging Lavigne in the first
half of the period.
Though Michigan was able
to get on the board 8:44 into the
period with Norris’ goal, Notre
Dame’s sturdy defense was able
to limit the Wolverines’ offensive
opportunities for a majority of the
period, while the Fighting Irish
kept up offensive intensity.
With
a
minute
to
spare,
Michigan took out Lavigne in
exchange for an extra man, but
was unable to come up with a goal
before time ran out.
Despite walking away from
the weekend with two losses,
which could be taken negatively,
the Wolverines understood that
their hard work and intensity did
not necessarily line up with the
outcomes they received.
“We just played the whole
weekend, I thought, these were
two of our best games all year,”
Lavigne said. “We worked hard, we
blocked shots, we were physical,
we were fast. I think against any
other team those are probably two
different games … a lot of good
things were happening.”
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Sophomore goaltender Hayden Lavigne finished with 34 saves in Michigan’s loss Sunday afternoon.
ANNA MARCUS
Daily Sports Writer
WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
No. 7 Michigan pulls off
upset over No. 4 Alabama
Olivia Karas opened her floor
exercise, the penultimate of the
meet, with a double Arabian.
The difficult tumbling pass
consists of a half-twist into two
front flips. Karas nailed it.
The
junior
finished
her
routine with as much spirit as
she began. The crowd began
chanting her name.
A few minutes later, the
score was official. The No. 7
Michigan women’s gymnastics
team didn’t even need the final
floor score from junior Emma
McLean to pull off the upset
against No. 4 Alabama, 196.2 to
195.675.
The
meet
wasn’t
always
pretty. Both teams suffered
their fair share of mistakes, but
what set the Wolverines apart
was their ability to recover.
In
the
first
rotation,
freshman
Syd
Townsend
put her hands down on her
Yurchenko
one-and-a-half
vault,
but
in
the
second
rotation, she bounced back with
a 9.85 on bars, complete with a
stuck dismount.
“I talked to her and I said,
‘One of the biggest things we’ve
gotta be able to do is let the
past be in the past,’ and she
went out there and rocked a bar
routine,” Plocki said. “That’s an
incredible thing for her to learn
as a young freshman.”
Even for the older gymnasts,
facing a top-ranked team was
an exercise in controlling their
nerves.
“It’s
good
practice
for
meets later on and dealing
with pressure and pressure
situations,”
Karas
said.
“Sometimes, if you have a lot
of adrenaline and energy … you
have to minimize it to the best
of your abilities.”
On the balance beam — often
the most harrowing event —
Michigan was unfazed. Senior
Lauren Marinez earned a 9.875
with her steady acrobatics,
difficult
jump
connections
and
stuck
double-twisting
dismount.
Entering the final rotation,
the
floor
exercise,
the
Wolverines held the slightest
of
leads
over
Alabama,
which had yet to go on beam.
Michigan knew it needed big
performances.
The Wolverines got off to a
shaky start. Although nobody
fell, the first three competitors
had several landing deductions,
and none earned above a 9.7.
But the true character of the
team showed not in its mistakes
on floor, but how it reacted.
“We were under so much
pressure, we could have easily
caved,” Plocki said. “Those last
three floor routines could have
had mistakes, and it could have
been different.”
Indeed, in the end, the meet
came down to performance
under pressure. After a fall on
the beam early in the rotation,
the Crimson Tide were unable
to
recover
as
their
final
performer put her hands down
on a skill. Only able to drop one
score on the event, Alabama
was forced to count a fall.
That’s not what happened for
Michigan.
Its last three routines were
nearly flawless. Senior Brianna
Brown
earned
a
9.8
with
her energetic routine. Karas
earned a 9.925. And though the
Wolverines would have won
without her score, McLean
didn’t let up, garnering a 9.9.
“It was a little not what we
wanted
in
the
beginning,”
Karas said. “I’m pretty proud of
the last three of us who went on
floor.”
After Karas finished her
triumphant routine, she saluted
the judges. The crowd went
wild.
The final scores flashed on
the screen. Then, it was clear.
Michigan may have lacked some
of the big names and flashy
skills of the Crimson Tide, but
it showcased something better
— the ability to hit when it
counted.
ARIA GERSON
Daily Sports Writer