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The Red Baron flies into the sunset: A Red Berenson Retrospective.

A condensed version of the following post ran in the Winter Classic Alumni Game issue:

Berenson File Photo

Gordon "Red" Berenson (File Photo; St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Red Berenson was the first real star for the young St. Louis Blues Franchise. Despite his nickname, he wasn't exactly a colorful player; personified with a quiet, stubborn excellence. His speed and scoring touch were masterful enough attract attention, but with his incredible mind he left an indelible mark on the game [of course he did.]

Berenson’s high-scoring junior career with the Regina Pats and international tournaments caught the eye of Frank Selke and the Montreal Canadians, who acquired his rights out of junior hockey. Much to Selke’s consternation, Red was intent on attending university and enrolled at Michigan. Playing at an American University was a curious approach for a young Canadian men with NHL-grade talent. To be more deliberate, it had never been done before; NOT ONE Canadian had ever made it to the NHL after attending an American College - EVER. Red’s resume as a Wolverine was immaculate however, 79 goals and to two CCHA First Team All-Star nominations and the 1962 NCAA All-Tournament team. Selke preferred to have him in the Bleu, Blanc, et Rouge, and was able to sign after his ‘62 college season. [He would finish his MBA in the offseason, because of course he did.]

He enjoyed reasonable amounts of success on an otherwise stacked Canadiens squad. For those who are not aware, and my wife never lets me forget, the Canadiens won the lion’s share of Stanley Cups between 1950 and 1980 with rosters that were built with more Hall of Famers than not. This was especially true at Center which made playing time for the young Berenson scarce. Soon after tasting from the Stanley Cup in 1965, Red was traded to a dismal Rangers squad. He found very little success in that hopeless situation [of course he did.]

Early into the first season after the NHL expansion, the Blues gave up their top-scorer Ron Stewart and Ron Attwell to acquire Berenson and Barclay Plager. Scotty Bowman objective after departing Montreal was to collect as many of the lesser heralded Canadiens as possible [of course he did.] Like a true goal scorer, Berenson capitalized immediately on the opportunity to log top minutes and Bowman was happy to provide, calling Number 7 to play upwards of 30 minutes a game – on Power Play and Penalty Kill. His confidence in Berenson was well placed and he supercharged the offense. He scored 51 points for St. Louis in his shortened-campaign and led the upstart Blues into the Stanley Cup finals against his former team. The Canadiens won [of course they did.]

His first full season in a Bluenote was another success, scoring 82 points, but the goals didn’t come immediately. A frustrated Berenson only scored 3 goals in October despite having a number of opportunities. A visit to play the division-rival Philidelphia Flyers would start appropriately enough when the power went out at the hotel the night before the game. A deflated Berenson could only shrug and go to sleep early that night. The rest must have worked, as Dan Kelly’s call of "Berenson, around Van Impe" was the first of six in ‘Berenson’s Barrage’. His luck turned around that night and the infamously spiteful Flyers fans cheered the visitor, despite losing the game 8-0. The upstart Blues were a famously loose and jovial bunch and Glenn Hall ribbed him after the game, "at least you were ‘plus’ tonight." The hard-nosed Ed Van Impe, however, was on the ice for all six of Red’s goals and didn’t enjoy it. Berenson recalled, "I think Van Impe broke two or three sticks over my arms that game."

Berenson was a certifiable star in the Western Division at that point appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated despite being revered in throughout the locker rooms for years. The Blues appointed him captain for the 1969-70 campaign. The management, however, saw a good opportunity and parlayed his notoriety into a trade for the budding star, Gary Unger. The next Number 7 continued the excellence of his predecessor. Berenson meanwhile continued his high production in Detroit and was selected for the tumultuous Canada/USSR Summit Series in 1972. As his effectiveness with the Red Wings was waning, Berenson was traded back to the Blues just before the end of 1974 for Phil Roberto. The Red Baron took off once again in St. Louis and continued until he hung up his stakes after the 1977-78 season. Wrapping up his 17-year NHL career with 261 goals, 397 points and Six All-Star nominations.

His next job was only a few steps behind him, on the other side of the Blues bench. It proved to be a wise career shift. His calm, cerebral approach to the game made the transition effortless. During his second season he was promoted to Head Coach. That next year, he claimed the Jack Adams award after posting the second best record, but were upset in the first round of the playoffs – a traditionally impatient front office cut [coach]’s tenure short early in the next season despite successes. Then, [Coach] went onto accomplish great things elsewhere. [of course they did- Classic Blues!!!]

After a brief stopover in Buffalo reunited him with an old acquaintance, Mr. Scotty Bowman, the Michigan-Made Man returned to his Alma Mater in 1984. Berenson said at his opening press conference, "I'd like to improve the image of the Michigan hockey team on campus and with the alumni…I think that now people will be thinking more highly about the program." His words bore fruit, as the Wolverines have since shaped themselves into the perennial force he envisioned. Their 22-year qualification streak for the NCAA tournament is unmatched, winning twice in that span (1996 and 1998). In 2006, he won the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the U.S. Berenson shows no signs of slowing down either, taking the Big Ten Coach of the Year honor last year with a 25-8-5 record and winning the Big Ten Tournament [of course he did]. The lesson here is: ‘Never discount The Red Baron.'

-Matt Flick

on twitter: @MFlick_GT

Contributor; St. Louis Gametime

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