Yost Ice Arena RINK renamed
Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena
FLINT, Mich. -- Red Berenson was honored for his 33 seasons of coaching Michigan hockey when the ice rink inside Yost Arena was officially named the Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena.
The University of Michigan Board of Regents approved Thursday (Oct. 19) an addition to the naming structure at historic Yost Arena at its monthly meeting held at Harding Mott University Center on the Flint campus. In honor of a legendary figure, the regents formally approved the designation of the ice rink as the Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena.
"Red Berenson is a legend in the sport of ice hockey, a tremendous educator of young men and someone who has made a significant impact at the University of Michigan," said Warde Manuel, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. "He has dedicated much of his adult life to develop hundreds of young men here at Michigan. This is an honor befitting his exceptional commitment to intercollegiate athletics and his championship success in the sport of hockey as both a player and a coach."
The university's Board of Regents agreed with Manuel's assessment by unanimously approving an addition to the naming structure at historic Yost Arena to name the rink in Berenson's honor.
The new ice design will be unveiled ahead of this weekend's home opener as the Wolverines host the University of Vermont with a two-game set starting Friday. The rink will be formally dedicated Jan. 5, 2018, when the Wolverines host Notre Dame in a 6:30 p.m. game.
Gordon "Red" Berenson came to the University of Michigan first as a student-athlete and later as its head ice hockey coach for 33 seasons. Coach Berenson received both a bachelor's degree (1962) and Master of Business Administration degree (1966) from U-M, completing the later degree while excelling on the ice as a professional hockey player.
At Michigan, Berenson was a two-time All-American, the 1962 WCHA Most Valuable Player and team captain. Following graduation, his NHL career spanned 17 years and included winning the Stanley Cup as a member of the Montreal Canadiens in 1965 and 1966. He went on to coach in the NHL for three years and was named the Jack Adams Award winner (NHL Coach of the Year) in 1981.
Upon returning to Michigan in 1984 as the head ice hockey coach, Berenson immediately brought Michigan hockey back to the forefront of the NCAA, guiding the Wolverines to national championships in 1996 and 1998 while winning 21 conference championships.
The fourth all-time winningest NCAA ice hockey coach ((848-426-92 (.654)), Berenson developed two Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners (Brendan Morrison-1997, Kevin Porter-2008), 140 Academic All-Big Ten selections and five Big Ten Distinguished Scholars.
While retiring from coaching following the 2016-17 season, Berenson continues to serve the department as he works to fulfil his goal of endowing all Michigan Ice Hockey Scholarships. Current financial commitments exceed $20 million.
October 20th, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^
I do know that. But it's the job of the Athletic Department to get things right. It took me less than a second to notice the trapezoids; I'm sure that the AD has many people who could do the same thing. Why weren't they given the opportunity to review the graphic before it was released to the public?
If you were grading this as a student's work, you couldn't give this anything better than a "C". The Athletic Department needs to produce something better than "C" work.
October 19th, 2017 at 4:07 PM ^
to get stuff named after you. The times they are a changin'. Good for Red though - he has been a huge presence in Michigan hockey.
October 19th, 2017 at 4:12 PM ^
This sure beats what they do at other schools, and naming it something like "Fifth Third Rink at <Fill in name> Ice Arena".
October 19th, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^
They should also hang the #9 from the rafters while they're at it.
October 20th, 2017 at 8:47 AM ^
So many great players wore #9. They could retire it for any one of them. My personal favorite, Mel Wakabayashi.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Wakabayashi
October 19th, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^
can I sell the naming rights to the seats?
October 19th, 2017 at 4:56 PM ^
They'd sell you a seat cushion, but you couldn't bring your own into the stadium. I trust that got resolved? I don't know, I haven't been back for a home game since '96.
October 19th, 2017 at 5:03 PM ^
I was thinking of selling sponsorship at my place: Chipotle toilet at Bepto Bismal Master Bath.
Think of the possibilities!
October 19th, 2017 at 4:18 PM ^
He is wise in such matters
October 19th, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 4:34 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 7:40 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 4:25 PM ^
I feel like you could have the signature on the ice without having RINK below it. It takes away from the signature and it's the first thing you see.
Or put Red Berenson Rink under it and the signature above it.
October 19th, 2017 at 4:26 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 4:41 PM ^
...except that whole racism thing...
(ducks)
October 19th, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^
It was a different time, man. Look where he came from. It's understandable.
October 19th, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 5:16 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 5:25 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 6:16 PM ^
he was human, just like the rest of us
October 19th, 2017 at 7:38 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 9:19 PM ^
I didn't say it was good, just understandable.
October 20th, 2017 at 1:26 AM ^
And that doesn't mean it should be overlooked when discussing a statue.
Putting up a statue for a white racist, no matter when he was born or how many other people were, is not something the University of Michigan should be doing in 2017. Period. We can acknowledge he was a great coach who made a distinct impression on the university, but it's not like Yost is starved for attention or has been overlooked in any way.
October 20th, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
Put another way: Look at the Michigan team photo, then consider the fact that most of the faces in the crowd are people Fielding Yost wouldn't want suiting up for Michigan. If you think players would be oblivious to that with a huge honking statue of Fielding Yost staring them down...
October 19th, 2017 at 4:54 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 5:03 PM ^
I suppose I'll just keep posting this link whenever this issue comes up. Too much WV carried over, but at least he came around eventually. Took him decades, but he finally saw the light.
http://annarborchronicle.com/2012/03/16/column-the-other-side-of-fieldi…
October 19th, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^
shows you've got a sense of humor about the whole thing...
October 19th, 2017 at 10:12 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 5:01 PM ^
Yost Rink at Red Rice Arena
October 19th, 2017 at 5:34 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 5:38 PM ^
All the jabs at WD aside, I think it's great that they named the rink after Red. The man is a living legend, and well deserving of the honor.
I hope WD and whoever else was involved in the car accident are OK. Yesterday I almost got hit by a woman going about 25 through a marked intersection while a friend and I were walking in a crosswalk. Was she texting and looking down at the text the whole time? Of course she was.
October 19th, 2017 at 5:43 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 6:34 PM ^
classic WD. Although, it's rare that you see all sides of his personality in the same thread.
Informative
sanctimonious
hyperbolic
defensive/doubles down
thin-skinned/comes off like a self-reported martyr
If only RDT were here to see it.
October 19th, 2017 at 7:36 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 6:59 PM ^
Leaves the arena's name as it is, but clearly underscores Red's vast contributions to this program
October 19th, 2017 at 8:51 PM ^
Actually, glad they honored Red. Hoping Michigan hockey climbs back up quickly.
GO BLUE!!
October 19th, 2017 at 9:19 PM ^
I think softball stadium should eventually be named (and nick-named) "The Hutch"
October 19th, 2017 at 9:51 PM ^
We love you Red!
October 19th, 2017 at 10:04 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 10:55 PM ^
I clicked on this topic expecting to be enraged when I saw a lameass corporate name attached to it. I am pleasantly surprised. There is nothing I despise more than to see all of the cool stadium names being replaced by shitty corporate names.
October 19th, 2017 at 11:03 PM ^
lets move on then...