Since Red Berenson took over as the head coach of the University of Michigan's Men's Ice Hockey program in 1984—my freshman year there—the Wolverines have gone from also-rans playing in a nearly empty old barn to one of the preeminent college hockey programs in the nation. 

18 consecutive NCAA tournament berths, perpetual full-house crowds in the most intimidating arena this side of Duke's Cameron Indoor, and a myriad of players in the NHL indicate Berenson's success.

Over those twenty-five years, I've seen a number of players that I knew were NHL material, but only a handful that dazzled the crowd and made everyone take notice.

Hobey Baker Award winners Brendan Morrison and Kevin Porter are the most obvious; the first shot I ever saw defenseman Jack Johnson take ripped the mask right off the goalie's head, and I knew stardom would be his.

Only a handful of Pavel Datsyuk-like stickhandlers have graced Ann Arbor—Mike Comrie and Todd Brost come to mind immediately—and now another budding new star is emerging in sophomore forward Carl Hagelin.

The Swede is only third on the Wolverines in points, trailing fellow sophs (and all-CCHA starters) Aaron Paluschaj and Louie Caporusso, but his performance in the CCHA playoffs against Western Michigan this past weekend had the rabid fans chanting his name.

Scoring two goals and adding three assists in the two-game series, Hagelin put on a virtuoso stickhandling performance, weaving his way through the pedestrian Broncos defense time and time again, seemingly skating in circles to see if he could beat the same guy more than once.  

Wolverine fans can only hope that the Rangers draftee will resist the temptation to turn pro early; the current sophomore class has the potential to be one of the finest the school has ever produced and should continue to bring the Yost Arena faithful to their feet.