Gordon Berenson was better known as Red Berenson or even as The Red Baron. No matter what you call him, he was one of the greatest and most influential coaches of young players the hockey world has ever known. As Brian Kilrea is to Canadian junior hockey, so is Berenson to NCAA hockey.

On Monday, after 33 years behind the bench of the University of Michigan, Berenson retired. The 77-year-old had done it all, and now it was time to pass the reigns to someone else.

“It’s time,” he said simply.

The first person to call to offer congratulations was Brendan Morrison, who won the Hobey Baker Award under Berenson before embarking on a stellar NHL career. The second call came from current Maple leafs coach Mike Babcock, a longtime admirer from the next generation of coaches.

As a player, Berenson played junior with the Regina Pats, going to the Memorial Cup finals in 1956 and 1958. In 1959, he was part of the Belleville McFarlands team that won gold at the World Championship in Prague.

Berenson was also a pioneer of sorts. He attended U of M for three years (1959-62) at a time when virtually no Canadians considered U.S. college a route to the NHL. From the Wolverines, Berenson joined the Montreal Canadiens, enjoying a five-year stay and winning the Stanley Cup in 1965.

He later played for the New York Rangers and Detroit, but his longest stay was with St. Louis where he played for parts of eight years. During this time he set an NHL record by scoring six goals in a road game, a feat never achieved before or since.

Berenson was also part of Canada’s Summit Series team in 1972, playing two games in the historic eight-game series.

After retiring in 1978, he soon moved into coaching, earning the Jack Adams Award in 1980-81, his first full season with the Blues. But in 1984, Berenson returned to where he developed, Michigan, taking over head coaching duties of the Wolverines and remaining there until yesterday, some 33 seasons later.

The numbers are impressive: two national championships (in 1996 and 1998), 11 appearances in the Frozen Four finals, 22 consecutive seasons in NCAA championship play, more than 800 career wins (achieved by only three other coaches).

But Berenson’s contributions are far more significant than just numbers. He coached hundreds of young men, helping them to develop character and a work ethic. He earned the players’ respect, and he helped so many of them go on to a successful career in hockey or in life.

Consider some of the names who were guided by Berenson during their U of M years who later played in the NHL: Morrison, Marty Turco, Mike Cammaelleri, Mike Comrie, Jeff Tambellini, Max Pacioretty, Eric Nystrom, Carl Hagelin, John Madden, Jeff Norton, Mike Knuble, Mike Komisarek, Mike van Ryn, Aaron Ward, Blake Sloan, Chris Tamer, Jason Botterill, David Harlock, Dwight Helminen, Al Montoya, and Jack Johnson.

Berenson will be missed, but his influence lives on in the many players still in the NHL under his tutelage or who, having being influenced by him, will go on to coach and lead in their own rights.

ANDREW PODNIEKS