Defense is name of game for 'Bubba'

At the age of two, young Andrew Berenzweig was already quite an entertaining child. Ever since he was a baby, Andrew had done things that were a little bit different.

"I would do all sorts of stupid and funny things," Berenzweig recalled. "Like, I jumped into a pool not knowing how to swim. And people had to save me. Things like that."

And so when he visited his relatives in Texas, his uncle came up with a nickname for Andrew - Bubba.

"My uncle told my father that he had the perfect nickname for me, and it happened to be 'Bubba,'" Berenzweig said. "My dad liked it so much he put it on my hockey helmet at age five and ever since people have been calling me Bubba. And now my mom doesn't even know who Andrew is anymore when people call me at home and ask for Andrew."

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Defenseman Andrew "Bubba" Berenzweig helps guide his younger team members on the ice in practice and was given more freedom last year to play offensively.

Off the ice, this year's captain still has the same sense of humor that made Bubba such a perfect nickname. In the lockerroom, Berenzweig can be counted on to relax his teammates before games.

"He adds a lot to the team," said Matt Herr, last year's Wolverine captain. "Sometimes the team is nervous and you can always depend on Bubba to lighten up the mood a little. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad - he's still working on his timing."

When he's playing hockey, however, Berenzweig's personality is different.

"I'm pretty intense on the ice," Berenzweig said. "I'm pretty focused when I'm playing. Away from hockey, I need to be kind of a clown and really relaxed - otherwise I think I'd go insane. Because if I was as intense about life as I am about hockey I'd go nuts."

To those who know him, there's more to Berenzweig's personality than just the intense hockey player and the light hearted guy in the locker room. To his friends, Bubba has a serious side.

"He's got a lot of sides to him," Berenzweig's housemate Bobby Hayes said. "Bubba's a great friend of mine. If you have any problems, Bubba has a solid head on his shoulders, and you can talk to him about anything.

"He's always good to be around whether it's for serious issues or just to hang out and be comical," Hayes said.

And for Berenzweig, friendship is one of the most important reasons that he chose to play college hockey rather than junior hockey.

"The most relaxing thing for me is just hanging out with friends," Berenzweig said. "That's why I chose college and prep school and the route I've gone. The best part of college is being around friends such as the people of this team."

When Berenzweig came to Michigan as a highly touted recruit from Loomis-Chaffee Prep School in Connecticut, his decision making was sometimes less than ideal. Like jumping into the swimming pool as a child, Berenzweig had a tendency to take unnecessary risks.

"There were times in his career where he's been off the wall," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "He's done things that I couldn't believe, and he realized it too."

In his first two years, at Michigan, Berenzweig played a supporting role on an experienced defense. His freshman year, he was paired with senior Steve Halko, Michigan's most consistent defenseman.

"When Bubba came up as a freshman, he played well for us," Berenson said. "And he played with Steven Halko, I think he gained a lot of confidence and a lot of experience playing with a guy like Halko. And with the team we had, going all the way - that was a great way to start a college hockey career."

As a sophomore, Berenzweig's role on the team expanded, but on a defense which featured four seniors, Berenzweig wasn't counted on to be a leader.

With experienced players to back him up, Berenzweig often took chances pinching in or joining the rush. And often, he was caught up ice, giving opponents excellent scoring chances.

This season, however, things have been different. With the graduation of four senior defensemen, Michigan was left with only three experienced players on the blue line.

As a result, Berenzweig has been called on to take on a much larger role and he's responded.

"This was Bubba's year to step up and lead our defense," Berenson said. "And I think in the second half of the season, Bubba developed and played so much better than he has ever played before. He's really starting to mature as a defenseman. Now he has his game under control more and he is becoming a real force on our defense."

With four freshman defensemen on the team, Berenzweig changed from student to teacher. At different points during the year, Berenzweig was paired with freshmen Bob Gassoff, Scott Crawford and Dave Huntzicker. And Berenzweig took it upon himself to help his partner adapt to playing college hockey.

"My first two years, I was expected to sit back a little bit and to observe the older guys," Berenzweig said. "I learned a lot from them, especially how to play defense. My role this year has been a lot different. I'm not observing as much any more as I am showing people."

Berenzweig also was more assertive in the lockerroom.

"He's not afraid to say what needs to be said," Herr said. "Some guys will just sit back, but if there's a problem, Bubba will address it."

Berenzweig has also been a leader by example. He has been more responsible defensively and has been the physical presence on the blue line that the Wolverines need.

And even when he makes mistakes, he has the speed and the strength to recover.

"Coach has always been on him for the past few years about how he's a high- risk defenseman," Herr said. "But I think in the last year, Bubba has really learned when to go and when to stay back. He's really learned how to adjust his game to the way coach wants him to play."

As he's become more responsible, Berenzweig has been given more freedom to move up in the play offensively.

"This year, I'm allowed to do more with the puck," Berenzweig said. "Rumor has it that every once in a while when I get the puck, the players will hear coach say 'go Bubba go.' I don't know if that's true, but I get the feeling that I'm allowed to do more offensively."

Late in the season, with Sean Peach out with his third concussion of the season, Berenzweig played nearly half of each game - extraordinary in hockey. And with the added responsibility, Berenzweig played some of his best hockey of the year.

"I see him as an important factor on our team," Berenson said. "If Bubba doesn't play well, we're not going to win."

09-08-98