Michigan Hockey: Red Berenson Nets Coaching Win No. 700 With 4-1 Win Over BGSU

Junior David Wohlberg scored the game-winner, and Matt Rust, Kevin Lynch, and Carl Hagelin also tallied as Michigan (1-0-1, 1-0) opened the CCHA season with a convincing 4-1 victory Friday night at Bowling Green. The win gave Michigan coach Red Berenson his 700th coaching victory, quite a milestone for the 70-year-old Regina, Saskatchewan native.

Just as the national championship chatter has echoed throughout training camp this fall, Berenson has made it clear that he’s not stepping away from the game any time soon.

Too fresh in his memory is the disallowed goal in overtime that cost Michigan a victory over Miami (Ohio) in the NCAA tournament last March.

In addition, recent tournament losses to Air Force and Notre Dame have also influenced Berenson’s decision to stay on for a few more seasons.

Michigan also had a veteran group returning from a squad which showed significant improvement during the second half of the 2009-10 season.

These veterans will not only supply leadership, they’ll provide much of the scoring punch.

Hagelin, who scored an empty net goal Friday night, led the team last season with 50 points (19-31). Louie Caporusso was second with 43 (21-22) and Rust, who tied Friday’s game at one, was third with 40 (13-27).

Both senior netminders returned from the squad which posted a nifty 2.24 goals-against-average. Shawn Hunwick, who spearheaded last season's playoff run, looked extremely sharp Friday night.

On defense, Chad Langlais, Tristin Llewellyn, and Lee Moffie provide the nucleus, while freshman Jon Merrill, who assisted on Lynch’s goal, fits right in.

So far, everything is in place for Michigan to make another run into the NCAA playoffs. Perhaps Berenson will make a run at the next milestone, 800.

Berenson began his career as a center for Michigan’s 1959-60 hockey team. He played a total of three seasons, earning All-America honors his final two.  He set the Michigan goal-scoring record with 43 during the 1961-62 season, which he still shares today with Dave Debol (1976-77).

His playing career wasn’t finished, however, as he joined the Montreal Canadiens in 1962. Berenson helped Montreal win two Stanley Cups before moving on to New York, St. Louis, and Detroit.

Before taking the head coaching job at Michigan in 1984, Berenson became head coach of the St. Louis Blues midway through the 1979-80 season. The following year, he led the team to a 45-18-17 record, earning NHL Coach of the Year honors.

Now in his 27th season at Michigan, Berenson’s teams have won two NCAA championships, 10 CCHA regular season crowns, and nine CCHA tournament titles.