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.