The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Offseason Questions For Michigan Hockey Will next season be Red Berenson's last? Berenson has coached 31 seasons at his alma mater, winning 810 games and 11 conference titles, advancing to 10 Frozen Fours, and capturing the 1996 and 1998 national championships. However, a three-year drought from the NCAA Tournament has many proud supporters of the Maize and Blue calling for a regime change. Berenson told the media he'll be back for his 32nd campaign, but there is no guarantee his career will continue after that. "I know Red would not make a fuss if Michigan decided not to extend him another contract offer, but I also know he has a burning desire to make things right and re-establish Michigan as a national power," a source told The Wolver- ine. "With the way it's working out with one year left on his deal, he deserves that opportunity, but he's going to have to win next season if he wants to come back [in 2016-17]." Will Michigan add a goalie? The Wolverines' struggles in net have been well documented, and the coaching staff is eager to add a potential starting netminder to the locker room, but doing so this late in the recruiting season will not be easy. Michigan has a commitment from Hayden Lavigne, but the 18-year-old needs another year in the United States Hockey League to develop his game after two underwhelming seasons in the USHL. U-M briefly began a courtship of New Hampshire goalie Casey DeSmith, who has one year of eligibility remaining after he was removed from the UNH team in August 2014 for what turned out to be a false accusation of domestic vio- lence by his then-girlfriend. However, DeSmith did not keep up with his studies, even after he was re- admitted to the university, and would need 30 credits between now and Sep- tember to graduate from New Hampshire and become eligible for the NCAA's graduate-transfer rule. There may be a graduate transfer available, though — Canisius senior Keegan Asmundson. The 6-5, 234-pound, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., native posted a 1.96 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage in leading the Golden Griffins to a second-place finish in the Atlantic Hockey Association this past year. One thing is certain, Michigan wants to add a goalie, but who that netminder is remains to be seen. Will Michigan suffer more early departures? More because it has already lost its first — junior captain Andrew Copp signed an NHL entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets March 26. Copp did so under the promise he would have the opportunity to play with the Jets during their final seven regular- season games and in the playoffs, if Winnipeg qualified.