When Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson was asked last year about whether or not he would hire defenseman Steven Halko, the Michigan skipper said, "In a minute."
Well, the Hartford Whalers agree. Except their decision took a bit longer to make.
Hartford signed the former Michigan captain to a multi-year contract yesterday, four years after they selected him in the 10th round (225th overall) in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. In keeping with the Whalers' team policy, terms of the contract were undisclosed.
"We are pleased to sign Steve in time for our training camp," Hartford Vice President and General Manager Jim Rutherford said in a press release yesterday. "He has just completed a very successful career at the University of Michigan and certainly adds depth to our organization's defense."
Neither Halko nor his agent were available for comment yesterday.
The 6-foot-1, 183-pound Halko reported to the Whalers' training camp in New Haven, Conn., yesterday. Hartford opens its pre-season next Saturday in Ottawa against the Senators. If he dresses for that contest, the Bolton, Ontario, native should receive quite a bit of support from the crowd.
Last season, as a senior, Halko scored four goals to go along with 16 assists and posted a plus-23 rating. In his four years at Michigan he tallied 61 points (eight goals, 53 assists) and 86 penalty minutes. After missing his first game, he never missed another during his career while playing in a team-record 153 consecutive games.
Halko was a first team All-CCHA selection after the 1994-95 season and earned second team honors last year. He was honored by the Dekers Club three times with the Vic Heyliger Award as Michigan's top defenseman.
In other Michigan hockey alumni news, former center Kevin Hilton, the team's second-leading scorer last year, is practicing with the Detroit Red Wings, the team that owns his draft rights, in hopes of being offered a contract. However, with Detroit's depth at center, Hilton will need to make a strong impression on Wings' coach Scotty Bowman.
JOE WESTRATE/Daily
Steven Halko will try to duplicate his collegiate accomplishments in a Hartford Whalers uniform. The former Michigan captain signed a multi-year deal yesterday.