Coach Red Is Beyond Awesome
...but we already knew that. I've read stories of him skating in practice with the team and taking slap shots to the chest with minimal (if any) effect, so reading stories like this doesn't really surprise me:
Hockey is my favorite sport...it is, as Gordie Howe once said, "a man's game". And as much as I love the football program at Michigan, hockey is just so much dearer to me, and Coach Red is a big reason why. Reading stuff like this is a reminder of just how special the man is and how I am REALLY going to miss him when he decides to hang up the whistle.
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
Red is a great guy. Hopefully whoever Michigan gets to replace when he decides to retire will be half the coach and man he is.
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^
Got to love that as the oldest guy on the ice he was taking that late draw
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^
I had to chuckle at the end there when he said he was looking for some guys his own age on the Leafs alumni team. Great little writeup though, and nice to see him taking a little of the coach in him to the Alumni Game as well. He will be very much missed when he retires - someone will take over the program someday, but I don't think you replace a guy like Red Berenson.
January 2nd, 2014 at 1:52 PM ^
I had the privilige of photographing the GLI and alumni games. You'd never have known that Red Berenson is 74.
January 2nd, 2014 at 2:13 PM ^
I was in school, actually living across the street from Yost at the time, during his 1st season. Remember thinking that he was a great guy but UM hockey had been down (both in performance and from a memorable hazing) and wasn't sure if this was a "Michigan" hire that would work out.
Went to a game that 1st season with Sparty friends during a fricking snowstorm, when we got smoked at home by MSU, which was elite team at the time
Just amazed and damn proud of what this guy has done!
January 2nd, 2014 at 3:10 PM ^
As a an alum of both Michigan and many a Red's hockey camp in the summer, I couldn't have more respect for Coach Berenson. The man had the greatest backhand ever -- when he shot it that puck would whistle and the snap it made on the twine when it hit put even my hardest slap-shot to shame. I remember him showing us how to throw a hip check, no pads, just skates, gloves and a stick -- woe be to the poor sap kid that had to try to get by him down the boards. Dude was tough as nails. Lots of great times spent inside Yost as a fan, a camper, and a player.
Great coach, great player, great Michigan man!
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 5:27 PM ^
I am 6' 4", 235 LBS and half of Red's age and I am pretty sure he could kick my ass.
January 2nd, 2014 at 6:53 PM ^
RMFB. Respect