The Wolverine

June-July 2017

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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20 THE WOLVERINE JUNE/JULY 2017 for the rest of his life. "There were only six [NHL] teams; it was a cutthroat business — not that it isn't now — and there was no money in it," Berenson said. "At that time, I felt I was doing the right thing, coming back to grad school. "I was the only player in the NHL with a college degree, everybody thought I was goofy and I must be some kind of a nerd, and then I had my MBA as well. I was preparing for life after hockey." He has tried to foster that same ap- proach with all of his players, from those who are destined for a profes- sional career the first time they step on Yost Ice Arena to those who realize a career in hockey isn't in the cards. Take Shawn Hunwick, Michigan's inimitable star goaltender from 2007- 12. Initially a walk-on, Hunwick eventually became the team's Most Valuable Player, helping his squad reach the NCAA championship game during the 2010-11 season. After leav- ing Ann Arbor, Hunwick bounced around several different teams for one year before deciding to call it quits — a decision that Berenson helped influence. "I decided that Michigan was the pinnacle of my playing career and I wanted to move on," Hunwick said. "I took [Berenson's] advice to heart. He helps mold great, young men who play in the NHL, but more so the guys who go off into the workforce and in family life." Berenson's attempts to help his players off the ice extended to those that had left Ann Arbor, as well. In recent years, he has done his part to In his 33 years behind the bench, Berenson went 848-426-92, giving him the fourth-most wins in college hockey history. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS In his 33 seasons as Michigan hockey's head coach, Red Be- renson directed a wealth of individual talent and highly suc- cessful teams. The five below qualify as his best team efforts: 1. 1995-96: 34-7-2 overall, CCHA tournament champions, NCAA champions Following wins over Minnesota in a regional final and Boston University in the Frozen Four, the Wolverines bested Colorado College 3-2 in an overtime thriller in the championship game on a goal by Brendan Morrison for the first of Berenson's two national titles. Goaltender Marty Turco's stellar 2.16 goals-against average and Morrison's 72-point season led the team. Forwards Kevin Hilton, Jason Botterill, Bill Muckalt and John Madden sup- ported Morrison in the highly charged Michigan offense. 2. 1997-98: 34-11-1 overall, NCAA champions Muckalt earned the team's top scoring honors for the season with 32 goals and 35 assists on the way to leading Michigan to Berenson's second national title in three years. Josh Lang- feld's goal in extra time gave the Wolverines a 3-2 victory over Boston College in the title game. Turco won tourney MVP honors and Muckalt was voted an AHCA All-American. The Wolverines' balanced team-scoring effort included seven players with double-digit goal totals with Bobby Hayes, Mark Kosick and Langfeld closely behind Muckalt in the final season stats. 3. 1996-97: 35-4-4 overall, CCHA regular-season and tournament champions, reached Frozen Four Arguably Berenson's best team in his 33 years behind the Mich- igan bench, the 1996-97 team fell to Boston University in the Frozen Four after suffering only three prior losses on the season. Morrison's scoring line of 33 goals, 57 assists and 88 points earned the British Columbia native the 1997 Hobey Baker award, college hockey's top individual honor. 4. 2007-08: 33-6-4 overall, CCHA regular-season and tournament champions, reached Frozen Four Even though Michigan lost a crushing 5-4 overtime decision to Notre Dame in the Frozen Four, the Wolverines won both the CCHA regular-season and tournament championships. Kevin Porter's 33-goal and 63-point season garnered enough votes to make him Michigan's second Hobey Baker Award winner. 5. 1991-92: 32-9-3 overall, CCHA regular-season cham- pions, reached Frozen Four Berenson's 1991-92 team served notice that Michigan was a program to be watched as a national contender under his tutelage. Led in scoring by Denny Felsner, Brian Wiseman and David Oliver, the Wolverines advanced to the Frozen Four, defeating Northern Michigan (7-6) before losing to Wisconsin (4-2) in the national semifinals. Steve Shields posted 27 wins in goal for the Wolverines. — Bob Miller The Top Five Teams Of The Berenson Era

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