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Hail to the Victors, Hail to the Chief

WASHINGTON - In the same halls where "Hail to the Chief" has been played many times, there was a hearty hail to "The Victors" given Monday.

Vice President Al Gore, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison) and Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit) all gathered in the posh Indian Treaty Room of the White House's Old Executive Office Building to honor the Michigan hockey team.

The Wolverines won the 1996 NCAA title March 30 by beating Colorado College, 3-2, in overtime.

Many University leaders were also on hand to celebrate the first appearance by the Wolverines at the White House since 1989, when the basketball team met then-President George Bush.

University President James Duderstadt, Athletic Director Joe Roberson and Regents Deane Baker and Dan Horning all came to see Michigan coach Red Berenson's team take the nation's center stage.

"This is not only an honor, it's a big thrill," Berenson said. "We're proud of (the players) as students and as citizens. They're all going to make great taxpayers some day."

Gore - a former prep hockey player at St. Alban's school in Washington - said he was very pleased to welcome the Wolverines. Normally, he said, he isn't the focal point of such festivities.

"I, for one, usually get hip-checked to the back of the room," Gore said. "But then somebody might see me alone in the corner and say, 'Excuse me, could you take a picture of me and Gretzky?'

"I always say, 'Of course, Mr. President.'"

The Vice President then commended the team, talked about his college days in Boston, and recalled how he liked to attend the prestigious Beanpot hockey tournament at the Boston Garden.

Gore lightened things up later with references to "old time hockey," "Eddie Shore" and the "Hanson Brothers" from the movie "Slapshot."

"I think it was very appropriate (that the team met Gore and Levin)," Berenson said. "Levin is a hockey nut, and Gore knows the game. The first thing he asked me when we went into his office was, "How did Detroit do yesterday?'"

Senior Kevin Hilton, who hadn't been to Washington since eighth grade, enjoyed the trip. And he didn't mind that President Clinton wasn't present.

"The Vice President, he's right up there," Hilton said. "When I came here before, I never thought I would be shaking his hand. I never thought it would be at a personal level like this."

The Wolverines spent much of the day touring the nation's capital, toting their championship trophy everywhere they went.

The Lincoln, Vietnam Veterans' and Korean War memorials were all morning stops. The U-M Club of Washington supplied lunch, and after the afternoon ceremony at the White House, the players were given a VIP tour of the Capitol Building by Levin.

Michigan chartered a private plane for the trip, which was operated by none other than "Champion Air."

The experience was relished by all of the players - even the nine Canadians.

"I'm in awe just being here," said Michigan captain Steven Halko, a native of Bolton, Ontario.

"Going back home (to British Columbia) and saying, I've been to the White House is a thing I will cherish and remember," sophomore Bill Muckalt said. "This is a really special thing."

Next season's captain, Brendan Morrison, was so impressed, he had his mind on next year.

"If we win it again, maybe Bill Clinton will be here," he said.

Berenson preferred to take a more educational view of the trip.

The honors and accolades were nice, he said, but the athletic department didn't shell out more than $25,000 so the players could just take home a souvenir photo with the Vice President.

"This has helped our kids a lot," Berenson said. "A lot of them will want to come back here - even the Canadians. (Senior) John Arnold already said he wanted to come back....

"We always talk about leadership on our hockey team. Well, this is where the leaders of our country are. I'm glad they got a chance to see this."