Red Berenson

Gordon "Red" Berenson (born December 8, 1939 in Regina, Saskatchewan) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey center and a current NCAA hockey head coach.

File:SIGordonBerensen.jpg

Red Berenson on the April 9, 1968 issue of Sports Illustrated

Playing Career

Berenson played collegiately at the University of Michigan, winning All-American honors there with a NCAA-leading 43 goals in his final year.

He signed thereafter with the Montreal Canadiens, playing five years in their system and being on a Stanley Cup-winning squad in 1965 before being traded to the New York Rangers, where he played parts of two seasons without success.

In 1967, he was selected in the expansion draft by the St. Louis Blues. It was with the Blues where he became one of the new Western Division's first great stars, leading the Blues to three straight Stanley Cup finals and being named the division's best player by his peers in The Sporting News' annual poll each of those years.

His most notable scoring feat came on November 7, 1968, in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Berenson scored six goals, including four over a nine-minute span. The six-goal total was one shy of the all-time NHL record, and has been accomplished only once since.

Berenson was named team captain in 1970; however, already 31 years old, the Blues felt his skills could only decline, and traded him in what was considered a shocking deal to the Detroit Red Wings, a multi-player trade receiving center Garry Unger in return. He was an impact player for Detroit for four seasons, but was having a poor fifth season when he was dealt back to the Blues. The trade rejuvenated him, and he was an effective player for three and a half more seasons before he retired after the 1977-1978 campaign.

Berenson played in the legendary eight-game Summit Series for Team Canada against the Soviet Union in 1972, as well as in the “old-timers” rematch of the Canada Cup in 1987. He played in six NHL All-Star Games.

Altogether, in 17 NHL seasons, Berenson recorded 261 goals and 397 assists in 987 games.

Coaching Career

Berenson retired from playing in 1978 and joined the Blues' coaching staff. He became the team's head coach midway through the 1979-80 season. A year later, he won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year. He returned to his alma mater as head coach in 1984 and has remained in the position ever since. Berenson has led the Wolverines to nine Frozen Four appearances and NCAA championships in 1996 and 1998. In CCHA competition, his teams have won eight regular-season and six tournament titles, and the Wolverines under his guidance have not failed to secure a winning record in a season since his second year. His record as Michigan's coach is 564-263-58. He presently ranks eighth in NCAA history for career victories.

External link

Profile from University of Michigan official site