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