the Michigan Staff - MGoBlue.com

the Michigan Staff

the michigan staff
Red Berenson, Head Coach
A
proven winner at the
collegiate and professional
levels as both
a player and coach, Gordon
“Red” Berenson is in his 25th
season as head coach of the
University of Michigan ice
hockey program.
Since taking over a struggling
program in 1984,
Berenson has kept the
Wolverines in the upper echelon
of college ice hockey. He
directed Michigan to the 1996
and 1998 NCAA National
Championships — the eighth
and ninth in school history.
Under Berenson, the
Wolverines have qualified
for the NCAA Tournament in
each of the last 18 seasons, marking the longest streak ever in college
hockey. Over that time, Michigan has reached the NCAA Frozen
Four 10 times: back-to-back appearances in 1992 and 1993; four consecutive
appearances in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998; three consecutive
showings between 2001-03 and its most recent trip in 2008.
Berenson has also established the Wolverines as a power in the
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), leading the team
to first- or second-place finishes 17 times in 18 seasons from 1991-
2008. Michigan has captured 10 CCHA regular-season titles and
eight CCHA Tournament titles, including its
most recent sweep of the crowns in the 2007-08
campaign.
Berenson, who has fashioned a 644-298-68
record (.671) in 24 seasons with the Wolverines,
is the eighth collegiate ice hockey coach to
record 600 career victories, reaching the milestone
with a 5-2 win vs. Northern Michigan
on Jan. 12, 2007. Berenson’s 644 victories place
him eighth on the NCAA ice hockey coaches
all-time win list. He stood behind the U-M
bench for the 1,000th time of his career on Feb.
22, 2008 at Michigan State.
In 2008, Berenson earned the American
Hockey Coaches Association’s Spencer Penrose
Award as the National Coach of the Year for the
first time in his tenure at Michigan. The 2007-
08 U-M squad went 33-6-4, reached the NCAA
Frozen Four, won the CCHA regular season and
tournament championships and boasted the
Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner, Kevin
Porter. In the preseason, U-M was predicted to
finish fourth in the CCHA, due primarily to an
opening-day roster that listed 17 underclassmen,
including 12 freshmen. Berenson also
earned the CCHA’s Coach of the Year laurel for
the second time of his career (1994).
For his outstanding service to hockey in the
United States, the NHL honored Berenson and
four others with the Lester Patrick Award in the
fall of 2006.
Michigan ice hockey has earned its reputation for success with
impressive showings against conference and national competition.
From 1988-96, Michigan won nine consecutive Great Lakes
Invitational championships. In the midst of the 2007-08 season,
the Wolverines added their 10th GLI crown -- more than any
other program. In the 15 years of the College Hockey Showcase -- a
Thanksgiving tournament that pits U-M and Michigan State versus
Minnesota and Wisconsin -- the Maize and Blue has the highest win
total (17) and a 17-12-1 (.583) record against the Golden Gophers
and Badgers. Since the 1990-91 season, Berenson has guided the
Wolverines to an impressive 88-31-7 (.726) record against non-conference,
regular-season opponents.
Adding to the legend of Berenson’s tenure with the Michigan
program is an incident from the 1999 East Regional in Worcester,
Mass. In the first tournament game, U-M trailed the University of
Denver 3-0 at the 17:44 mark of the second period. Berenson called
a timeout which some say changed that game more than any other
timeout they had ever witnessed. When play resumed, Michigan
held Denver to a single shot on goal for the remaining 22:16 of the
game while scoring five goals to take the win and advance to the
second round of the tournament. Before the team arrived home in
Ann Arbor, calls and e-mails were pouring into the ice hockey office
inquiring what coach Berenson told his players in that huddle.
Berenson is the fourth former Michigan ice hockey captain to
coach the Wolverines’ program, accepting the position from athletic
director Don Canham in May 1984. A three-year U-M varsity
letterwinner under head coach Al Renfrew, Berenson is one of the
top players in Wolverine ice hockey history, earning All-America
Berenson’s Coaching Record
Season Team GP W L T Pct League W L T Pct. Finish
1979-80 St. Louis 56 27 20 9 .563 NHL
1980-81 St. Louis 80 45 18 17 .669 NHL
1981-82 St. Louis 68 28 34 6 .456 NHL
Career NHL Totals 204 100 72 32 .569
Season Team GP W L T Pct League W L T Pct. Finish
1984-85 Michigan 40 13 26 1 .338 CCHA 11 20 1 .359 7th
1985-86 Michigan 38 12 26 0 .316 CCHA 10 22 0 .313 8th
1986-87 Michigan 40 14 25 1 .363 CCHA 11 20 1 .359 7th
1987-88 Michigan 41 22 19 0 .537 CCHA 17 15 0 .531 5th
1988-89 Michigan 41 22 15 4 .585 CCHA 17 11 4 .594 4th
1989-90 Michigan 42 24 12 6 .643 CCHA 16 11 5 .578 4th
1990-91 Michigan 47 34 10 3 .755 CCHA 24 5 3 .797 2nd
1991-92 Michigan 44 32 9 3 .761 CCHA 22 7 3 .734 1st
1992-93 Michigan 40 30 7 3 .788 CCHA 23 5 2 .800 2nd
1993-94 Michigan 41 33 7 1 .817 CCHA 24 5 1 .817 1st
1994-95 Michigan 39 30 8 1 .782 CCHA 22 4 1 .833 1st
1995-96 Michigan 43 34 7 2 .814 CCHA 22 6 2 .767 T-1st
1996-97 Michigan 43 35 4 4 .860 CCHA 21 3 3 .833 1st
1997-98 Michigan 46 34 11 1 .750 CCHA 22 7 1 .750 2nd
1998-99 Michigan 42 25 11 6 .667 CCHA 17 8 5 .650 2nd
1999-2000 Michigan 41 27 10 4 .707 CCHA 19 6 3 .732 1st
2000-01 Michigan 45 27 13 5 .656 CCHA 16 9 3 .625 T-2nd
2001-02 Michigan 44 28 11 5 .693 CCHA 19 5 4 .750 1st
2002-03 Michigan 43 30 10 3 .733 CCHA 18 7 3 .696 2nd
2003-04 Michigan 43 27 14 2 .651 CCHA 18 8 2 .679 1st
2004-05 Michigan 42 31 8 3 .774 CCHA 23 3 2 .857 1st
2005-06 Michigan 41 21 15 5 .573 CCHA 13 10 5 .554 3rd
2006-07 Michigan 41 26 14 1 .646 CCHA 18 9 1 .661 2nd
2007-08 Michigan 43 33 6 4 .814 CCHA 20 4 4 .786 1st
Career U-M Totals 1,010 644 298 68 .671 CCHA 443 210 59 .691
56

The Michigan staff
and Michigan Most Valuable Player honors
in both his junior and senior seasons (1961,
’62).
As a senior, Berenson led the Wolverines to
a second-place finish in the Western Collegiate
Hockey Association (WCHA) and third place at
the NCAA National Championships. Berenson
led the WCHA in scoring with 41 points (24
goals, 17 assists) in 18 games, and was named
the league’s MVP. Berenson completed his
Wolverine career by scoring a season record
70 points (43 goals and 27 assists) in just 28
games. His 43 goals and nine hat tricks in his
last season still stand as Michigan records.
(Berenson scored his 43 goals in 28 games, but
shares the record with Dave Debol who scored
43 goals in his 1976-77 All-American season
while playing 45 games.)
Following his final Michigan contest in
the 1962 NCAA Consolation Game win vs.
St. Lawrence, Berenson was driven from
Utica, N.Y., to Boston where he played for the
Montreal Canadiens at the Boston Garden
the next night. He played in nine games for
Montreal in the last month of the 1961-62
season, becoming the first collegiate player to
step immediately into the National Hockey
League.
Berenson holds two degrees from the
University of Michigan, his bachelor’s degree
from the School of Business Administration in
1962 and a Master of Business Administration
degree in 1966. He returned to Ann Arbor
from Montreal one day after the Canadiens’
1965 Stanley Cup championship parade to
begin graduate classes. The commitment to
education Berenson illustrated over three
decades ago remains an integral part of the
Wolverine ice hockey program as Michigan’s
graduation rate has ranked near the top of collegiate
ice hockey since 1984.
Berenson played in the NHL for 17 years as a member of the
Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and St.
Louis Blues. He accumulated 261 goals and 397 assists in 987 games
— the most by any Michigan alumnus in the NHL — leaving an
indelible mark on league history. Berenson scored at least 20 goals
in seven NHL seasons.
On Nov. 7, 1968, while playing for the St. Louis Blues in a game
against the Philadelphia Flyers, Berenson scored six goals, including
four over a nine-minute span. The six-goal effort was one shy of the
all-time NHL record, and marked the first time since 1944 that an
individual had scored six goals in an NHL game. It is a feat that has
been accomplished only once since. In that game, Berenson also set
the NHL records for most goals in a road game and most goals in a
period (four), records which stand today. Only eight other NHL players,
including the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Bryan Trottier, have
scored four goals in a period.
Berenson played in the original and legendary eight-game
Canada Cup series for Team Canada vs. the Soviet Union in 1972 as
well as the “old-timers” rematch of the Canada Cup in 1987. In the
fall of 2005 he, along with the entire 1972 Team Canada roster, was
inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
Following his retirement as a player after the 1977-78 season,
Berenson remained in St. Louis as a member of the Blues’ coaching
The Red Berenson File
Born
December 8, 1939
Hometown
Regina, Saskatchewan
College Career
University of Michigan - 1960-62
College Honors
All-America - 1961, ‘62
WCHA Most Valuable Player - 1962
Denver Post All-WCHA First Team - 1961, ‘62
Team Captain - 1962
Team MVP - 1961, ‘62
College Degrees
Bachelor’s – Michigan, 1962
Master of Business Administration – Michigan, 1966
Professional Career
Montreal Canadiens - 1961-66
New York Rangers - 1966-68
St. Louis Blues - 1968-71, ‘75-78
Detroit Red Wings - 1971-75
Professional Honors
Stanley Cup Championships - 1965, ‘66 (Montreal)
Coaching Honors
Jack Adams Award (NHL Coach of the Year) - 1981
CCHA Coach of the Year - 1994, 2008
Spencer Penrose Award (National Coach of the Year) - 2008
Lester Patrick Award (Outstanding service to hockey in the U.S.) - 2006
Coaching Highlights
NCAA Championships - 1996, ‘98
NCAA Frozen Fours - 1992, ‘93, ‘95, ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, 2001, ‘02, ‘03
CCHA Regular-Season Championships - 1992, ‘94, ‘95, ‘96, ‘97, 2000, ‘02, '04, ‘05
CCHA Tournament Championships - 1994, ‘96, ‘97, ‘99, 2002, ‘03, ‘05
Family
Wife - Joy; Children - Kelly, Sandy, Gordie and Rusty
staff. After serving as an assistant coach for a year and a half, he took
over as head coach with 56 games remaining in the 1979-80 season
and posted a 27-20-9 record. The following year, Berenson was the
NHL Coach of the Year after leading the Blues to a 45-18-17 record,
the best mark in the first 28 years of the club’s history.
In August 1982, Berenson joined former St. Louis Blues coach
Scotty Bowman on the Buffalo Sabres staff, serving as an assistant
under Bowman until accepting the head coaching job at Michigan
in 1984. Berenson has not lost touch with the NHL, presenting
the 1989 Coach of the Year award to Pat Burns, then coach of the
Montreal Canadiens, at the NHL Awards Banquet.
Berenson is a member of the University of Michigan Athletic Hall
of Honor, the Dekers Club Hall of Fame, the Michigan Sports Hall
of Fame and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. He was named
to a select group of college ice hockey’s West All-Time Forwards in
the 1996 American Hockey Coaches Association College Hockey
Centennial All-Time Favorites Poll in voting by fans, coaches
and writers, joining Neal Broten, Brett Hull, Greg Johnson, Bill
Masterson, John Matchefts, Bill Hay and Tony Hrkac.
A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Berenson and his wife, Joy,
reside in Ann Arbor. They are the parents of four adult children:
daughters Kelly and Sandy and sons Gordie and Rusty.
57

the michigan staff
Berenson’s Career Numbers
Season
Post-Season
Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1959-60 Michigan WCHA 12 12 6 18 22 - - - - -
1960-61 Michigan WCHA 28 24 25 49 49 2 1 1 2 7
1961-62 Michigan WCHA 28 43 27 70 40 4 7 2 9 10
Michigan Totals 68 79 58 137 111 6 8 3 11 17
1961-62 Montreal NHL 4 1 2 3 4 5 2 0 2 0
1962-63 Hull-Ottawa EPHL 30 23 25 48 28 - - - - -
Montreal NHL 37 2 6 8 15 5 0 0 0 0
1963-64 Montreal NHL 69 7 9 16 12 7 0 0 0 4
1964-65 Quebec AHL 65 22 34 56 16 5 1 2 3 8
Montreal NHL 3 1 2 3 0 9 0 1 1 2
1965-66 Quebec AHL 34 17 36 53 14 6 1 5 6 2
Montreal NHL 23 3 4 7 12 - - - - -
1966-67 NY Rangers NHL 30 0 5 5 2 4 0 1 1 2
1967-68 NY Rangers NHL 19 2 1 3 2 - - - - -
St. Louis NHL 55 22 29 51 22 18 5 2 7 9
1968-69 St. Louis NHL 76 35 47 82 43 12 7 3 10 20
1969-70 St. Louis NHL 67 33 39 72 38 16 7 5 12 8
1970-71 St. Louis NHL 45 16 26 42 12 - - - - -
Detroit NHL 24 5 12 17 4 - - - - -
1971-72 Detroit NHL 78 28 41 69 16 - - - - -
1972-73 Detroit NHL 78 13 30 43 8 - - - - -
1973-74 Detroit NHL 76 24 42 66 28 - - - - -
1974-75 Detroit NHL 27 3 3 6 8 - - - - -
St. Louis NHL 44 12 19 31 12 2 1 0 1 0
1975-76 St. Louis NHL 72 20 27 47 47 3 1 2 3 0
1976-77 St. Louis NHL 80 21 28 49 8 4 0 0 0 4
1977-78 St. Louis NHL 80 13 25 38 12 - - - - -
NHL Totals 987 261 397 658 305 85 23 14 37 49
Berenson Against Opponents
Opponent W-L-T Pct
Alabama-Huntsville 2-0-0 1.000
Alaska Anchorage 2-0-1 .833
Alaska 35-6-0 .854
Alberta 1-0-1 .750
Boston College 5-6-0 .455
Boston University 7-5-0 .583
Bowling Green 58-24-3 .700
Brown 2-0-0 1.000
Clarkson 1-0-0 1.000
Colgate 2-1-0 .667
Colorado College 3-3-0 .500
Connecticut 1-0-0 1.000
Cornell 2-2-1 .500
Denver 2-0-0 1.000
Ferris State 55-22-2 .709
Guelph 2-0-0 1.000
Harvard 1-0-1 .750
Illinois-Chicago 27-15-2 .636
Kent State 9-0-0 1.000
Lake Superior State 45-41-4 .522
Maine 4-3-0 .571
Massachusetts-Lowell 2-0-0 1.000
Mercyhurst 2-0-0 1.000
Merrimack 4-0-0 1.000
Miami (Ohio) 60-16-3 .778
Michigan State 39-53-15 .435
Michigan Tech 17-2-0 .895
Minnesota 12-13-0 .480
Minnesota-Duluth 0-1-0 .000
Nebraska-Omaha 22-4-3 .810
New Hampshire 3-3-0 .500
Niagara 4-1-0 .800
North Dakota 2-4-1 .357
Northeastern 1-2-0 .333
Northern Michigan 26-9-5 .713
Notre Dame 43-10-3 .795
Ohio State 54-22-11 .684
Princeton 1-0-0 1.000
Providence 2-0-0 1.000
Quinnipiac 4-0-0 1.000
Rensselaer 1-4-0 .200
St. Cloud State 2-0-0 1.000
St. Lawrence 3-0-0 1.000
Waterloo 1-0-0 1.000
Western Michigan 54-21-9 .696
Windsor 1-0-0 1.000
Wisconsin 13-7-1 .643
Yale 2-0-0 1.000
York 1-0-0 1.000
Head coach Red Berenson coached in his
1,000th career game for U-M on Feb. 22,
2008, at Michigan State. Prior to U-M’s
game vs. the Spartans the next night at
Joe Louis Arena, CCHA Commissioner Tom
Anastos presented Coach Berenson with a
trophy commemorating the achievement.
58

The Michigan staff
Berenson Against His Coaching Peers
Coach School W-L-T Pct.
Mike Addesa Rensselaer 1-4-0 .200
Frank Anzalone Lake Superior State 15-22-2 .410
Tim Army Providence 1-0-0 1.000
Val Belmonte Illinois-Chicago 11-12-1 .479
Dick Bertrand Ferris State 3-5-0 .375
Dean Blais North Dakota 1-2-1 .250
Enrico Blasi Miami (Ohio) 18-4-1 .804
Scott Borek Lake Superior State 12-5-1 .694
Herb Boxer Michigan Tech 4-0-0 1.000
Dave Burkholder Niagara 3-0-0 1.000
Newell Brown Michigan Tech 2-0-0 1.000
Steve Cady Miami (Ohio) 2-2-0 .500
Don Cahoon Princeton 1-0-0 1.000
Len Ceglarski Boston College 2-2-0 .500
Kelvin Christiansen Alaska Anchorage 1-0-1 .750
Rick Comley Northern Michigan 11-5-3 .658
Michigan State 9-11-8 .464
Greg Cronin Maine 1-0-0 1.000
Northeastern 1-1-0 .500
Bruce Crowder Northeastern 0-1-0 .000
Jim Culhane Western Michigan 20-3-3 .827
Craig Dahl St. Cloud State 2-0-0 1.000
Bob Daniels Ferris State 31-11-2 .727
Bill Davidge Miami (Ohio) 13-3-0 .813
Doc DelCastillo Alaska 2-0-0 1.000
Mark Dennehy Merrimack 1-0-0 1.000
Mike Eaves Wisconsin 4-3-0 .571
Guy Gadowsky Alaska Fairbanks 8-4-0 .667
Gino Gasparini North Dakota 1-0-0 1.000
Bob Gaudet Brown 2-0-0 1.000
Rick Gotkin Mercyhurst 2-0-0 1.000
George Gwozdecky Miami (Ohio) 14-3-2 .789
Denver 2-0-0 1.000
Dave Hakstol North Dakota 0-2-0 .000
Charlie Holt New Hampshire 1-1-0 .500
Jeff Jackson Lake Superior State 14-12-1 .537
Notre Dame 4-4-0 .500
Mike Kemp Nebraska-Omaha 22-4-3 .810
Walt Kyle Northern Michigan 15-4-2 .762
Dave Laurion Alaska Fairbanks 16-0-0 1.000
Darren Lowe Toronto 1-0-0 1.000
Don Lucia Colorado College 2-1-0 .667
Minnesota 3-9-0 .250
Blaise MacDonald Niagara 1-1-0 .500
Tavis MacMillan Alaska Fairbanks 5-2-0 .714
Bob Mancini Michigan Tech 2-0-0 1.000
Ferris State 7-2-0 .778
In his 24 seasons as head coach at Michigan, Red Berenson:
• Has guided Michigan to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 18 seasons
and to the Frozen Four on 10 occasions.
• Is 88-42-0 (.677) in 130 postseason games.
• Is 48-28-3 (.627) against WCHA competition.
• Is 27-18-1 (.598) against Hockey East competition.
• Is 17-7-2 (.692) against ECAC competition.
• Is 5-1-0 (.833) against College Hockey America competition.
• Is 6-0-0 (1.000) against Atlantic Hockey competition.
• Has faced 84 different coaches.
• Has victories over 80 of the 84 coaches he has faced.
• Is unbeaten against 34 of the 84 coaches he has faced.
• Is .500 or better against 72 of the 84 coaches he has faced.
• Is 163-54-26 (.724) against the other 11 active CCHA coaches.
• Has more victories against Bill Wilkinson (34) than against any other
coach.
• Has coached the most games (79) against Ron Mason.
• Has a 100-100-20 record (.500) against the other active coaches listed
among the top 20 in all-time collegiate victories.
• Has pitted strategy against 13 coaches who have won NCAA championships
(Frank Anzalone, Dean Blais, Rick Comley, Mike Eaves, Gino Gasparini,
George Gwozdecky, Jeff Jackson, Don Lucia, Ron Mason, Jack Parker, Jeff
Sauer, Shawn Walsh and Jerry York) and holds a record of 155-147-26 (.512)
against that group of coaches.
NCAA Hockey All-Time Coaching Win List
Name School (s) Years Wins
1. Ron Mason LSSU, BGSU, Michigan State 1966-2002 924
4. Jerry York Clarkson, BGSU, Boston College 1972-SA 803
3. Jack Parker Boston University 1973-SA 778
2. Bob Peters North Dakota, Bemidji State 1964-2001 744
5. Rick Comley LSSU, NMU, Michigan State 1973-SA 739
6. Len Ceglarski Clarkson, Boston College 1958-92 689
7. Jeff Sauer Colorado College, Wisconsin 1971-2002 655
8. Red Berenson Michigan 1984-SA 644
9. John MacInnes Michigan Tech 1956-82 555
10. Jack Riley Army 1950-86 542
11. Don Brose Minnesota State-Mankato 1969-2000 536
12. Mike McShane St. Lawrence, Providence, Norwich 1980-SA 525
13. Don Lucia UAF, Colorado College, 1987-SA 518
Minnesota
14. Don Roberts Gustavus Adolphus 1963-97 515
15. Bill Beaney New England, Middlebury 1978-SA 505
16. Ed Saugestad Augsburg 1958-96 503
17. John Kelley Boston College 1932-72 501
18. John Rolli Mass.-Dartmouth 1985-SA 484
19. George Gwozdecky Wis.-River Falls, Miami, Denver 1982-SA 473
20. Murray Armstrong Denver 1956-77 460
John Markell Ohio State 27-10-6 .698
Joe Marsh St. Lawrence 4-0-0 1.000
Bruce Marshall Connecticut 1-0-0 1.000
Ron Mason Michigan State 30-42-7 .424
Mark Mazzoleni Miami (Ohio) 13-4-0 .765
Harvard 0-0-1 .500
Brian McCuthcheon Cornell 2-2-0 .500
Don McKee Waterloo 1-0-0 1.000
Bill Moores Alberta 1-0-1 .750
Marlin Muylaert Guelph 1-0-0 1.000
Jim Nahrgang Michigan Tech 0-1-0 .000
Scott Owens Colorado College 1-2-0 .333
Scott Paluch Bowling Green 13-2-1 .844
Jack Parker Boston University 7-5-0 .583
Rand Pecknold Quinnipiac 4-0-0 1.000
Larry Pedrie Illinois-Chicago 16-3-1 .825
John Perpich Ferris State 12-4-0 .750
Paul Pooley Providence 1-0-0 1.000
Dave Poulin Notre Dame 23-5-3 .790
Buddy Powers Bowling Green 21-4-1 .827
George Roll Clarkson 1-0-0 1.000
Jim Roque Lake Superior State 6-2-0 .750
Doug Ross Alabama-Huntsville 2-0-0 1.000
Jamie Russell Michigan Tech 5-0-0 1.000
Scott Sandelin Minnesota-Duluth 0-1-0 .000
Jeff Sauer Wisconsin 9-3-1 .792
Mike Schafer Cornell 0-0-1 .500
Ric Schafer Alaska Fairbanks 2-0-0 1.000
Notre Dame 16-1-0 .941
Chris Serino Merrimack 3-0-0 1.000
Mike Sertich Michigan Tech 2-1-0 .669
Bill Switaj Kent State 9-0-0 1.000
Dean Talafous Alaska Anchorage 1-0-0 1.000
Tim Taylor Yale 2-0-0 1.000
Ronn Tomassoni Harvard 1-0-0 1.000
Richa rd Umile New Hampshire 2-1-1 .625
Don Vaughan Colgate 2-1-1 .625
Shawn Walsh Maine 2-3-0 .400
Tim Watters Michigan Tech 2-0-0 1.000
Jerry Welsh Ohio State 27-12-5 .670
Tim Whitehead Massachusetts Lowell 2-0-0 1.000
Maine 1-0-0 1.000
Bill Wilkinson Western Michigan 34-18-6 .638
Graham Wise York 1-0-0 1.000
Doug Woog Minnesota 9-4-0 .692
Jerry York Bowling Green 24-18-1 .570
Boston College 3-4-0 .429
59

the michigan staff
Mel Pearson, Associate Head Coach
Mel Pearson, in his 21st year
as an assistant coach and
ninth season as the associate
head coach at U-M, has played
an integral role in developing the
Michigan program into one of the
most successful in the country. Since
his arrival, the Wolverines have posted
a 583-202-66 record while capturing
10 Central Collegiate Hockey
Association regular-season titles, two
NCAA Championships (1996 and
1998), and making 10 NCAA Frozen
Four appearances.
Pearson assists head coach Red
Berenson with on-ice coaching and performs many of the program’s
administrative functions. He is also heavily involved in
the Wolverines’ recruiting efforts, helping Michigan land the
core of its 1996 and 1998 NCAA champion teams.
After he helped Michigan to the 1999-2000 CCHA regularseason
championship, Pearson was awarded the Terry Flanagan
Award by the American Hockey Coaches’ Association, which
honors an assistant coach’s career body of work. Pearson also
served as a coach with the 1996 United States World Junior
Championship team, and helped the Americans to a silver medal,
the country’s second-best finish
at the event.
Perhaps destined to
coach with the Wolverines,
Pearson’s prep (Willard Ikola)
and college (John MacInnes)
mentors earned varsity letters
as goaltenders at Michigan.
Pearson was a standout high
school player for Ikola (1952-
54) at Edina East (Minn.) High
School, while playing his collegiate
career out at Michigan
Technological University
under MacInnes (1946-50),
one of college hockey’s legendary
coaches.
As a collegian (1977-81), Pearson collected 56 points (21-35-
56) in 97 games, helping Michigan Tech to a third-place finish
at the 1981 NCAA Championship. Ironically, Pearson’s most
“famous” goal was scored against the Wolverines in the championship
game of the 1979 Great Lakes Invitational. He broke a
4-4 tie at 2:28 of the third overtime to give the Huskies the GLI
title. The game still stands as longest in the 43-year history of the
tournament.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration
in 1981, Pearson remained at his alma mater to serve as an
assistant ice hockey coach on the Huskies’ staff from 1982-88. He
joined the Michigan staff as an assistant coach in 1988 and was
promoted to associate head coach in 1999.
The Vancouver, B.C., native comes from a hockey family. His
father, George “Mel” Pearson, played 15 seasons of professional
hockey with the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins of
the National Hockey League and with Minnesota of the World
Hockey Association. His brother, Ted, played for the University of
Wisconsin and spent time in the Calgary Flames organization.
Pearson and his wife, Susie, have three children – Kim (22),
Sarah (19) and Paul (16) – and reside in Saline, Mich.
Billy Powers, Assistant Coach
Billy Powers is in his 17th season
as an assistant ice hockey coach
at the University of Michigan.
He shares responsibility for planning
and running strategy sessions and
daily on-ice practices, as well as evaluating
current players and recruiting
future Wolverines. He was instrumental
in bringing together the talented
group of Michigan players who
eventually brought home the NCAA
Championships in 1996 and 1998.
In 2006, Powers received the Terry
Flanagan Award from the American
Hockey Coaches’ Association for his career body of work as an
assistant coach.
A native of Somerville, Mass., Powers was a ninth round
selection (184th overall) of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1984
NHL draft. Powers began his collegiate hockey career at NCAA
Division II St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., where he
earned the 1984-85 NCAA Division II Rookie of the Year award
after totaling 35 goals and 60 points.
Powers transferred to Michigan the following year, becoming
a member of head coach Red Berenson’s first recruiting class in
1985. He went on to earn three varsity letters (1986-87-88) at
right wing, totaling 107 career points (50-57-107) in 114 games.
A career highlight for Powers was his first Michigan hat trick on
Jan. 18, 1986, in the Wolverines’ 11-10 overtime victory over
defending NCAA Champion Rensselaer. Powers led all U-M goal
scorers in his senior season with 22 markers.
When his playing career concluded, Powers remained with
the Wolverine ice hockey program as a graduate assistant coach,
serving the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons under Berenson. He
then spent two seasons (1990-92) as an assistant on the staff
of former Michigan assistant Larry Pedrie at the University of
Illinois-Chicago before returning to Ann Arbor in his present
capacity at the start of the 1992-93 campaign.
Powers and his wife, Mary Jo (Cuppone), were married in
August 1999 and have a one-year-old son, Shane.
60

The Michigan staff
RICK BANCROFT
Athletic Trainer
Rick Bancroft is in his 18th season as an
assistant athletic trainer in the University
of Michigan Athletic Department. Bancroft
supervises athletic medicine operations for
the ice hockey and men’s tennis programs,
in addition to assisting with the Wolverine
football team. Noted for his knowledge of ice
hockey related injuries, Bancroft has worked
professional hockey camps, is the author of several published
articles and works with USA Hockey elite teams.
Following his graduation from Michigan in 1987, Bancroft spent
two seasons as an athletic trainer for the University of North Dakota
ice hockey team. Bancroft has also spent time as an athletic trainer
at Catholic Central High School in Detroit.
JOSH BLACKBURN
Volunteer Goalie Coach
Josh Blackburn is in his second year as
Michigan’s volunteer goaltending coach. He
became a goaltending consultant after he
retired from professional hockey at the end of
the 2004-05 season. He has operated his own
goaltending school in southeast Michigan
since 2006.
The North Pole, Alaska, native was a
four-year starter for the Maize and Blue from 1999-2002. He backstopped
the Wolverines to consecutive NCAA Frozen Four appearances
in 2001 and 2002. In addition, he helped U-M win two CCHA
regular-season titles (2000, 2002) and two CCHA playoff crowns
(1999, 2002). He was an All-CCHA second team selection in 2001
and a CCHA All-Rookie team honoree in 1999.
Blackburn, who posted a career record of 92-37-20, ranks
highly in numerous U-M career goalie records: goals-against average
(2.29, 1st), games played (151, 2nd), shutouts (14, 2nd), save
percentage (.905, 3rd) and wins (92, 3rd).
After graduating in 2002, Blackburn spent the 2002-03
and 2003-04 seasons in the ECHL with the Augusta Lynx and the
Columbia Inferno. He played the 2004-05 campaign with the CHL’s
Corpus Christi Rayz.
HUGH BRAY
Team Psychologist
Dr. Hugh Bray, Ph. D. is in his 20th season as
the Michigan hockey team psychologist.
A native of Royal Oak, Mich., Bray graduated
from Michigan in 1980 with a B.A. degree
in psychology and earned his doctoral degree
in psychology at St. Louis University in 1986.
Dr. Bray was formerly the team psychologist
for the Detroit Red Wings and has also
worked with the St. Louis Blues. He served as team psychologist for
the 1992 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, and worked closely with Tara
Lipinski when she won a gold medal at the 1998 Olympics in Japan.
Currently, he is assisting the U.S. National Team Development
Program in Ann Arbor.
Dr. Bray is in private practice and teaches in the Behavioral
Sciences Department at U-M Dearborn. Bray, his wife, Susan, and
sons, Matthew and Andrew, reside in Northville, Mich.
Lora Durkee
Ice Hockey Secretary
Lora Durkee is in her fourth season working with
the Michigan ice hockey and men’s soccer programs.
She coordinates all office routines and
secretarial needs for both teams. Additionally,
Durkee is the contact person for both teams
for all special events and camps. She resides in
Tecumseh, Mich., with her husband, Scott. They
have two children, Erin and Kendra.
IAN HUME
Head Equipment Manager
Ian Hume is in his 18th season as the equipment
manager for the Michigan hockey
team. Hume oversees all equipment acquisitions,
repair, skate sharpening and any other
equipment needs for the Wolverines. He
also works with Michigan’s baseball, field
hockey and men’s soccer programs. Hume is
a certified member of the Athletic Equipment
Managers Association and an affiliate member of SPHEM (Society of
Professional Hockey Equipment Managers).
A native of St. Thomas, Ont., Hume graduated from Central
Elgin Collegiate Institute in 1976 and attended Wilfrid Laurier
University in Waterloo, Ont. Hume worked with the St. Thomas
Stars (1982-88) and the London Diamonds (1988-90) of the Western
Junior B League. He was a staff member of the 1987 Ontario Junior
B championship team in St. Thomas.
Hume’s sports background also includes experience in basketball
and softball. He has officiated basketball at the high school level
and coached the Ted Dilts Gems to the 1986 Canadian National
Women’s Slowpitch title. An avid golfer, Hume and his wife, Joyce,
reside in Ann Arbor.
JIM PLOCKI
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Jim Plocki enters his 20th year as weight training
and conditioning coach for Michigan. He
spends time with each player setting up goals
and individual conditioning programs.
Plocki earned a B.S. degree in exercise science
from Penn State in 1988. While in State
College, he was an assistant in strength and
conditioning for three years with the Nittany
Lion football team. Plocki went on to receive a master’s degree in
kinesiology from Michigan in 1990.
A native of Natrona Heights, Pa., Plocki earned letters in football,
wrestling and swimming during his high school career. Plocki
resides in Saline with his wife Bev, the Michigan women’s gymnastics
head coach. They have a daughter, Elizabeth, and a son, Tyler.
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the michigan staff
JOSH RICHELEW
Director of Hockey Operations
Josh Richelew is in his fifth year as the
director of hockey operations for the Michigan
program. He spent the previous two seasons as
the team's administrative assistant.
Richelew, a native of Southfield, Mich.,
returns to Ann Arbor after a brief career in
Phoenix, Ariz., where he developed business
training software delivered over the Internet.
Prior to his move, he served as video coordinator (1997, 1999-2000)
and student equipment manager (1991-1996) for the Michigan ice
hockey program, and was on the staff for the Wolverines’ 1996
NCAA Championship season.
Richelew has a bachelor of science degree in physical education
and a masters of science degree in educational technology from the
University of Michigan. Richelew lives in Dundee with his wife, Laura
(Rebb).
L.J. SCARPACE
Video Coordinator
L. J. Scarpace is in his fifth season as
the video coordinator for the University of
Michigan hockey program.
A native of Dearborn, Michigan, Scarpace
began his collegiate hockey career in 1996
as a goalie at Western Michigan University.
Following the 1997-1998 season, Scarpace
transferred to the University of Michigan. At
Michigan, Scarpace went on to earn two varsity letters while compiling
a career record of 6-2-0 along with a 1.94 GAA and a .910 save
percentage. He earned CCHA Rookie of the Week honors during the
1999-2000 season. He lists winning the CCHA Championship in
2000 and going to the Frozen Four in 2001 as career highlights.
Following graduation, Scarpace played briefly in the ECHL with
the Dayton Bombers and the Cincinnati Cyclones. Prior to coming
back to the University of Michigan, Scarpace spent the last two years
in the mortgage business.
Scarpace and his wife, Stacy, reside in Canton, Michigan with
their daughters Kylie (4) and Chloe (1).
SUE COLLINS SHAND
Academic Advisor
Sue Collins Shand enters her 20th year
in the Michigan Athletic Department. She is
working in her ninth season as the academic
counselor for the ice hockey team. Shand was
promoted to Associate Athletic Director in
2004. She became co-director of the Academic
Success Program for Student Athletes in 2002.
As a member of the department’s executive
staff she advises the athletic director and Board of Regents concerning
academic performance and student-athlete issues. She also represents
the department at Big-Ten conference and NCAA activities.
Additionally, Shand’s responsibilities include overseeing all
advising activities, all elements of the Program for Students with
Learning Differences and recruiting. Shand also coordinates programs
with the University’s academic advising units, staff development,
coaches' meetings, university outreach, graduation rates,
student advocacy and compliance within the Academic Success
Program. She is the faculty, student-affairs and admissions liaison
for the athletic department. She is the department consultant
to the Academic Performance Committee of the Advisory Board
on Intercollegiate Athletics and recently served on the Academic
Integrity sub-committee of the University’s committee for re-certification
by the NCAA. She is a member of the National Association
of Academic Advisors for Athletics and the National Association of
Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators.
Shand received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the
University of Michigan and earned her teacher certification in psychology
and social sciences from Eastern Michigan University. She
also earned her master’s degree in guidance and counseling from
EMU.
Shand lives in Saline with her 13-year-old twins Kevin and
Mackenzie.
MATT TREVOR
Media Relations
Matt Trevor is in his fifth season as the
Michigan ice hockey sports information
director. He handles all of the daily publicity
needs and publications for U-M’s ice hockey
and women’s rowing teams.
Trevor was chosen as the 2007-08 CCHA
Sports Information Director of the Year, as
determined by the league’s media.
A native of Ann Arbor, Mich., Trevor joined the media relations
staff in 2000 as a student assistant while pursuing his undergraduate
degree at Michigan. Trevor graduated from the Division of
Kinesiology in May of 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management
and communication.
Trevor, 26, is single and resides in Ann Arbor.
CRAIG WOTTA
Yost Arena Manager
Craig Wotta is in his 12th year as the Yost
Arena Manager and Michigan Hockey Event
Manager. In that capacity, he is responsible
for facility operations, scheduling, programming,
maintenance and budget control. He
also oversees the Facility Management Intern
Program, which gives U-M Kinesiology students
opportunities to gain experience by
assisting the Yost Arena Staff.
Wotta, 38, is a 1991 graduate of the University of Michigan.
While a student, he worked as a football manager and served as an
intern in the athletic department for Yost Ice Arena, media relations
and development. He returned to Michigan and Yost Ice Arena
in 1997 after working at ice facilities in Mount Clemens, Mich.,
Washington D.C., and Bay City, Mich.
Wotta lives in Ann Arbor with his wife, Carrie, and sons, Drew
and Zachary.
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