Red Berenson : All posts

Michigan hockey team picking right time to play best hockey of season

It's no coincidence that Michigan goaltender Steve Racine's best play of the season has coincided with the team's resurgence.

Andrew Kuhn | AnnArbor.com file photo

And with the end of the season looming at the next slip up, frankly, it no longer has a choice.

'Boo' comes through with two goals and an assist in Michigan hockey's 3-2 win over Michigan State

Michigan freshman Cristoval "Boo" Nieves celebrates after scoring the game winning goal in the Wolverines' 3-2 win over Michigan State at Yost Ice Arena Friday, February 1, 2013.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

Updated 9:57 p.m.

The Michigan hockey team has given its fans plenty of reasons to boo this season, with one of the worst seasons in the Red Berenson era.

The sellout crowd at Yost Ice Arena let the "Boo"s rain down on the ice on Friday night, but it was in celebration, not frustration.

Cristoval "Boo" Nieves scored two goals and had an assist in the Wolverines' 3-2 win over rival Michigan State on Friday, earning him first-star honors and giving Michigan a chance at its first series sweep of the season.

The teams conclude the weekend series at Joe Louis Arera on Saturday (4:05 p.m., FSD).

updated: Michigan freshman forward Daniel Milne leaves hockey program, signs with OHL team

Updated 4:45 p.m.

Freshman forward Daniel Milne has left the Michigan hockey program team officials announced on Wednesday. Milne, a Unionville, Ontario native, appeared in seven games for the Wolverines this year and did not register a point.

Michigan hockey team hopes to rebound against Notre Dame after embarrassing loss to Michigan State

A.J. Treais is off to the best start of his Michigan hockey career. Through nine games the senior captain leads the NCAA with eight goals. With his five assists, Treais has 13 points, which is sixth in the nation.

YOU SHOULD ONLY BE HAPPY ....

food & grocery: Frugal Friday at The Brown Jug - food prices are reasonable, Wolverine memories are free

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

This restaurant has been in Ann Arbor since 1938, and its walls are lined with pictures and miscellany relating to the Wolverines. Many people who've been in town for as many decades as I have remember it as a dark but convenient place to grab a burger and a beer. But both the dining room and the menu have been updated, and many options are available for those of us who are looking for frugal finds that cost $5 or less.

My very dear friend The Other Mary (each of us is "The Other Mary," by the way) joined me for my adventure, as neither of us had been to the Jug for years and years. Mary used to work there, back in the 70s, as a waitress; oh, the stories she can tell! It was a different time...

But I digress...

Mary and I looked over the surprisingly extensive menu and found so many options that would qualify, whether for individual portions or as split dishes. Like me, she's happy to share: you can try more foods, and you can avoid over-eating due to abundance and generosity of servings.

We started with the Feisty Feta, pictured above: "A mix of feta cheese, tomato puree, green onions and Serrano chili. Served with pita bread." It was creamy, spicy, and really delicious! At $4.99, it falls within our mandatory budget for one serving. But it was also a lot of food, so splitting it was a nice option that would allow for drinks or dessert or other dishes in addition to the appetizer.

Mary Bilyeu | Contributor

The Brown Jug offers many, many items which qualify for our mandatory $5 Frugal Floozie Friday budget: pizzas are readily shared, as are appetizers. Many of the latter are priced so well that you could even order them individually: fries or chips and salsa cost $3.99; and hummus, olive pate, tzatziki, saganaki, and fried cheese sticks are all $4.99. There are lots of vegetarian dishes, as well.

Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson to play in Red Wings alumni game at Comerica Park

Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson, 72, will play in the Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs alumni game on Dec. 31.

AnnArbor.com file photo

Berenson, who has proclaimed his love for outdoor games in the past, will suit up in the Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni Showdown at Comerica Park on New Year's Eve. The alumni game will be Berenson's third outdoor game in four days with Michigan scheduled to play in the Great Lakes Invitational at Comerica Dec. 28 and 29.

Red Berenson believes latest contract extension will be his last as Michigan hockey coach

Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson believes the contract extension that keeps him on through the 2015-2016 season will be his last.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

Red Berenson believes the contract extension that will keep him on as the Michigan hockey head coach through the 2015-2016 season will be his last.

Michigan announced the extension on Monday and on Tuesday Berenson said he’d be surprised if that were to happen again.

“I mean let’s face it, I’ll be 76 when this contract is over. So I would say it’s the last contract,” Berenson said. “In theory, you would say this will be the last contract. I would be surprised if there would be another one after this.”

Michigan and hockey coach Red Berenson agree to a 3-year contract extension

The Red Berenson era isn't over yet.

Michigan and its legendary hockey coach announced a three-year contract extension Monday, keeping Berenson behind the Wolverine bench through the 2015-16 campaign.

"I'm pleased that the administration and the program are looking ahead," said the 72-year-old Berenson, who was about the enter the final year of his old deal. "I'm excited about the opportunity to remain at Michigan, especially with the current Yost Ice Arena renovations, the move to the Big Ten and for our incoming recruits.

"We have a great staff here, and I'm looking forward to the next few years at Michigan."

3 things to watch: Michigan vs. Cornell in NCAA hockey tournament opener

Chris Brown, right, and teammate Derek DeBlois will trade lines Friday in Michigan's NCAA hockey tournament game against Cornell in Green Bay, Wis.

Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com

The Michigan hockey team ended a 14-year NCAA tournament berth drought in 1991. Since then, it has earned 22 consecutive tournament berths.

Its opponent 22 years ago? Cornell.

A lot has happened since their first and only meeting in the NCAA tournament.

Here are three things to watch for when the teams play Friday (9 p.m., ESPNU) in the first round of the Midwest Regional at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis.

Michigan hockey team not hiding strategies or intentions at NCAA Tournament

GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- Three teams skated before the Michigan hockey team on Thursday at the Resch Center, and only three different colors of jersey were worn between them.

Cornell, Ferris State and Denver -- the three other teams joining Michigan in the Midwest Region of the NCAA hockey tournament -- wore either white, red or yellow sweaters, each team split in half.

Michigan wore its usual seven different colors of uniform, indicative of the line each player is on.

Michigan hockey team shakes up lines heading into NCAA tournament

Michigan junior forward Chris Brown, right, will play on the third line with Kevin Lynch and Travis Lynch in an NCAA regional hockey game Friday against Cornell in Green Bay, Wis.

File: Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Brown will play on the third line with Kevin Lynch and Travis Lynch, switching places with Derek DeBlois when Michigan — top seed in the Midwest Region — takes on Cornell (18-8-7) on Friday (9 p.m., ESPNU) at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis.

Holiday break comes at just the right and wrong time for Michigan hockey team

Because of exams and the upcoming holiday season, Michigan hockey players and coaches won’t be on the ice together until the day after Christmas.

Coach Red Berenson sees the break, which started after a Tuesday practice session, as a potential negative and positive for his team.

Goalie Luke Dwyer goes from rec leagues to Michigan hockey team's bench

It's always easy to spot former Huron High School goalie Luke Dwyer on the Michigan bench. He's the only player without a winged helmet.

Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com

Imagine you know nothing about the Michigan hockey team. Gazing upon the Wolverines' bench for the first time, you’re given one chance to pick the player that spent his freshman year in adult recreation leagues around Ann Arbor.

One chance to pick the player who never competed at the junior level and, one month before classes started this fall, had absolutely no intention on playing college hockey.

You’d probably pick the only player without wings on his helmet, right? The one whose solid white facemask shines bright in a sea of maize and blue? You’d be right.

Michigan hockey players taking underdog approach against red-hot Ferris State

Michigan's Andrew Sinelli and the rest of the Wolverines hope to get back on their feet against Ferris State after going 0-1-1 with a shootout win at Northern Michigan last weekend.

Chris Asadian | for AnnArbor.com

Michigan hockey looking on campus for a backup goalie; could still play Buckeyes outdoors and more notes from Friday's alumni game

The annual Michigan hockey alumni game took place at Yost Ice Arena Friday night and coach Red Berenson, class of 1962, suited up for the Blue squad. The White team won, 13-7.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson said Friday he isn’t particularly worried about the starting goaltender situation for the coming season, reinforcing his support for incumbent starter Shawn Hunwick.

As for finding a backup, Berenson and his staff may soon be looking to the intramural leagues.

slideshow: Images from Friday night's Michigan hockey alumni game

Former Michigan hockey players of varying ages played an alumni game at Yost Ice Arena on Friday night and AnnArbor.com photographer Angela J. Cesere captured the action.

The White team picked up a 13-7 win over veteran coach Red Berenson and his Blue squad. See Pete Cunningham's coverage of the game here.

Goalie John Gibson de-commits from Michigan hockey team, signs with OHL's Kitchener Rangers

-- Updated at 3:15 p.m.

For the second season in a row, the Michigan hockey team has lost its top goalie recruit to the professional ranks.

John Gibson, the 39th overall pick by the Anaheim Ducks in the June NHL Entry Draft, informed Michigan coach Red Berenson on Wednesday that he would not be attending Michigan.

NHL.com: Red Berenson takes a break from Michigan hockey by ... playing hockey

Ever wonder how Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson spends his limited free time? One week this month was spent at a hockey rink in Santa Rosa, Calif.

The San Jose Sharks' Hockey 411 blog on NHL.com caught up with Berenson before his team, the University of Michigan 65s, played a game at the 36th annual Snoopy Senior World Hockey Tournament. The team went 3-0 in its division.

"This is a break for me. It’s a lot more fun playing hockey than coaching hockey," Berenson said. "It really is a break. I really enjoy it a lot and it’s the only time I really play hockey."

The latest news: There is nothing new on potential Michigan vs. Ohio State outdoor hockey game

Here’s a quick news item to inform you that, well, there is no new news about the potential Michigan vs. Ohio State outdoor hockey game at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Michigan coach Red Berenson was planning a trip to Progressive Field on June 17 for a press conference announcing the game. That announcement was canceled, however, and all parties involved have been quiet ever since.

The silence continues this week.

with poll: Incoming Michigan freshman John Gibson expected to be top goalie taken in 2011 NHL Draft

Pioneer High School graduate and soon-to-be Michigan hockey player John Gibson is a candidate to be the first goaltender taken in the upcoming NHL Draft.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

The 10 winningest goalies in NHL history are Canadian, so there’s been no debate over which country produces the best goalies, only which part of the Great White North - Ontario, Quebec or the western provinces - they’ll come from.

Now the balance of power is shifting slightly, and University of Michigan commit and Pioneer High School graduate John Gibson is one reason why.

The United States National Team Development Program U-18 goalie is likely to be selected early Friday in the NHL Draft, marking the second consecutive year an American-born player is the first goalie off the boards.

If Gibson is the first goalie taken when the draft starts at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., it would also be the second year in a row that the U.S. NTDP U-18 team - which is run out of the Ann Arbor Ice Cube - produced the top goalie in the draft.