Another milestone for Berenson

By Joe Smith

Daily Sports Writer

BOWLING GREEN - In his last collegiate hockey game as a player, Red Berenson led the Michigan Wolverines past St. Lawrence in the 1962

National Consolation Game - in doing so, he ended the season of Saints' player Ron Mason.

Nearly four decades after that night in Utica, NY, the two former players are still often mentioned in the same breath, as they stand alone as the two most successful coaches in CCHA history.

Further evidence of this came last night, as Berenson became only the second coach to reach 300 career CCHA victories in Michigan's 4-3 win over Bowling Green. The only man with more is Mason, who has 460 conference victories and is in his 22nd year at the helm of intrastate rival, Michigan State.

Each general has brought a mediocre hockey program in the state of

Michigan to national prominence - while taking separate paths along the way.

Even with the milestone victory, Berenson remains modest and tries to focus on what he could take from his latest game against the Falcons.

"I've been here a long time," said Berenson, who is in his 17th season as Michigan coach. "I'm the coach here. I'm not keeping track of wins and losses, but I am keeping track of the way we play."

Berenson became the first collegiate player to immediately jump into the NHL, spending 17 seasons with four different teams, including the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings. He then had a brief coaching stint in St. Louis before landing the position as the coach of his alma mater in 1984.

Mason didn't play in the NHL, but accepted his first coaching job just two years after graduating from St. Lawrence. He made two stops, at Lake Superior State and Bowling Green, along the way before accepting the job at Michigan State in 1979.

Five years later, Berenson started his quest to put a struggling Michigan program back on the map and take on Mason's CCHA powerhouse, Michigan State. It took six years, but Berenson took the Wolverines from a ninth-place finish in 1984 to second place - garnering national respect in the process in reaching the NCAA Quarterfinals.

Since then, no one has been able to touch Berenson, as he has won more games than any other coach in Division I hockey in the 90's, while taking control of the conference. Michigan has finished first in six of the past nine seasons, including four CCHA Tournament titles - with a 17-14-4 record in that time period against Mason's Spartans.

When Berenson took the reigns in 1984, his mission was to model the Wolverines in the image of the great Montreal Canadien dynasty of the 1970's from which he played - not only in terms of championships, but the rich tradition, prestige and respect that the NHL club was associated with.

The alum surely hasn't disappointed, garnering much national respect in his tenure. This includes two national titles, six Frozen Four appearances. Michigan's 10 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament is the longest active streak in Division I.

Even with all the success and triumphs, Berenson is never satisfied.

"I always think that you're never good enough," Berenson said. "I want this year's team to prove that they can live up to that reputation. But they have to earn it."

This year's Wolverines are off to a 4-0-2 start, including wins in their first two conference games - but there's still a long road ahead.

Berenson has built the Michigan program to where he feels it should be - at the top. But he feels he is only a small piece of the rich history and tradition Michigan hockey claims.

"Now I'm just a small part of that," Berenson said. "Before I came here there were great coaches and there will be great coaches in the future. But I just hope that in my time we should get it to where it should be. It is then the players got to keep it there."

As evident not only his records, but the way his team plays - when

Berenson's days as coach are through, whoever has to fulfill the legacy he has put in place will have hefty shoes - or skates - to fill.

Berenson