The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN HOCKEY HOCKEY NOTEBOOK SCHEDULING • Michigan will announce its 2012-13 hockey schedule sometime in the summer, and if a certain talked-about matchup materializes it will include a rematch with Cornell, which ousted U-M in the first round of this year's NCAA Tournament, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. "I hope it becomes more than a rumor, but nothing has been finalized or announced," head coach Red Berenson said. "But that would be something. "I think it's a good chance for Michigan to spread our foot- print a little more, into a major-league arena, and look at all the Michigan graduates in New York. And we were asked also, 'Would we be interested?' Absolutely. And then it just happens that Carl [Hagelin] is there [playing for the Rang- ers], and that's a twist on the Michigan thing. Michigan Tech either next year or down the road after for- mer assistant coach Mel Pearson assumed the head coach- ing job with the Huskies for 2011-12. There wasn't enough time to add MTU to the schedule this past year, but it's a discussion the two programs will have this spring. "It'll happen at some point," said Berenson, who noted • U-M fans should also be on the lookout for a series with " much will change in 2013-14 with the arrival of the Big Ten. "Now that we'll be in a different schedul- ing world, there may be an opportunity. And we are definitely going to travel. I can't tell you if we play 20 league games and 14 non-conference games that we'll play seven on the road, that's not going to happen, but we will play some. "You'll see a lot more variety of teams come in here, and you'll see us travel a bit more non- conference." IN NO HURRY • Berenson has just com- pleted the second of a three-year contract, and while many continue to speculate that the 72-year old — he turns 73 in De- cember — must be draw- ing near the end of his coaching career following 27 seasons at the helm of the Michigan program, he doesn't seem to be in any rush to retire. "We'll see. I'm going year to year," he said. "I feel good about our team, about our program, our Rising senior defenseman Lee Moffie has been tabbed as an alternate cap- tain for the 2012-13 campaign. 66 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2012 PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL coaching staff, and I'm looking forward to next year. "I just want to do what's best for our program. I'm happy with our staff, the progress of our program, and if I feel this way next year then I'll be asking them if they want me around. "It's a two-way street. I'm not the athletic director. I think " it's important they feel they have the right people. Right now, I feel fortunate, I feel lucky but I feel like we've earned the right to be here, but I don't want to be delusional and think I'm the only coach that can coach Michigan hockey. There still remains the void of a natural heir, though Pear- son could be that successor with a few more good seasons in Houghton. Berenson is, however, unlike Florida State's Bobby Bowden and Penn State's Joe Paterno (in football), more than a figurehead. He's active in every coaching deci- sion made and actively participates in day-to-day practices. NEW CAPTAINS • With seniors Luke Glendening, Shawn Hunwick, Greg Pateryn and David Wohlberg leaving, Michigan doesn't just lose four important contributors but also all four of its captains. after the season ended, the Maize and Blue picked rising senior forward A.J. Treais to wear the 'C' while senior defenseman Lee Moffie and junior defen- seman Mac Bennett will be the alternate captains. "A.J. is a uniter — he'll be a glue-type player," Beren- In a team vote shortly son said. "He's not a rah- rah guy, but he can score the winning goal and make the big play when his team needs him to. His game is growing, and he can back it up on the ice. "The other two are more rah-rah types, so to have a combination of those traits will be good. "That doesn't mean other seniors aren't ex- pected to lead. I think Kevin Lynch wil have a big role on this team whether he wears a letter or not. Jeff Rohrkemper could be a leader, and Lindsay Sparks could be. "And we're leaving the door open if another true leader emerges this sum- mer or in the fall. But right now, these are our cap- tains, and I think they'll do a good job. "