Berenson sings 'The Victors' for 400th victory

As time ticked down in Michigan's 3-2 win over Yale on Saturday, the search for a song-leader began in earnest.

It was a search that was seemingly over before it started, at least in the eyes of associate head coach Mel Pearson.

Just as Pearson had leaned over the boards to tell J.J. Swistak to make sure he saved the game puck, the 12th-year assistant made sure who would lead the chorus sung after winning weekends.

When the roar of 'The Victors' went up in the lockerroom, it was led not by a padded player being honored for his play, but by a suit-clad general who had just notched his 400th win at Michigan.

"We always get a player to lead the song," Pearson said. "After the game Red was asking me who we should get and I kept saying I don't know.

DAVID KATZ/Daily Senior Andrew Merrick was all over Yale in Michigan's 3-2 victory. For more on Merrick's comeback night, see page 4B.

"All along I had told Sean Peach to make sure Coach leads it."

And lead it Red Berenson did, just as he has led the Wolverines in his 16-year tenure - in memorable fashion.

"We all really enjoyed that. It was just a great moment," Pearson said. "Watching him lead 'The Victors' was really special, and I'm glad our team could share that with him."

Saturday's non-conference win made Michigan to 5-1, while the milestone win for Berenson keeps him as the ninth-winningest active coach in college hockey.

"It's a great moment for him," forward Mike Cammalleri said. "But knowing Coach, he's not going to stop there, he's going to keep going for 400 more."

Eager to move past the event, the ever-modest Berenson dismissed the importance of the milestone while crediting those around him.

"I can't tell you it means a lot to me," Berenson said. "We're just worried with game-to-game and the progress that our team is making. I've been blessed with real good assistant coaches and good players. It has been fun and rewarding."

Rarely has it been simple, though. And like the others, the 400th win didn't come easily for Berenson and the Wolverines.

The Bulldogs took the offensive early and bit first as Nick Deschenes beat Michigan netminder Kevin O'Malley on a power play goal 1:37 into the game.

Michigan responded by remaining penalty-free for the majority of the first period, while Cammalleri tallied the equalizer from the left circle at 4:16.

The Wolverines continued to pepper the Bulldogs, firing 15 shots on goal in the first period. A pair of those found their way into the Yale net in succession.

On a give from Mike Comrie and Josh Langfeld, junior Mark Kosick netted his fifth score of the season as he poked home a puck from just outside the crease at 7:31 of the first. And before the crowd finished its celebration, senior Andrew Merrick slipped another through the Yale pipes as the Wolverines grabbed a 3-1 lead on three straight goals.

The scoring, however, slowed to a stop after Yale cut the lead to one as both teams dug in for a defensive dog-fight.

"Both teams played hard and both teams played well," Berenson said. "Both teams had scoring opportunities. There just wasn't much scoring as the game went on."

Though they combined for 33 shots on goal in the game's final two periods, neither team managed a score after the first period.

Michigan was held scoreless at home through the second and third periods for the first time since last Halloween.

Regardless, Michigan clamped down its defensive pressure as the game went on, holding the Bulldogs to only four shots in the second period and six in the third in a gritty battle.

The defense was strong despite missing Kevin Magnuson, who sat out with two broken fingers suffered in practice on Friday.

"These games are good for our team, to have to play well in the second and third periods to squeak out a win," Berenson said.

Despite Michigan's relentless pressure, Yale did its best to make things exciting in the game's waning moments as as seldom-tested O'Malley was forced to stop a pair of shots to preserve the Michigan lead.

The fact that Yale seemed to have a good game as well came as no surprise to Berenson.

"I said all week that they'll be a better team than people give them credit for," Berenson said. "I was impressed with Yale."

A room full of players and coaches were just as impressed with the venerable head coach on his historic day.

"I'm really happy for him," Pearson said. "He really downplays his accomplishments and he tries to deflect the attention to his players or other coaches."

But for Berenson, this time it was something worth singing about.

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