Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson wants CCHA to take action against goaltender abuse
Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson is taking exception to the way his Hobey Baker award-nominated goaltender is being treated, and he's letting the CCHA office know about it.
On three occasions during Michigan's 4-1 win over Miami on Friday, fifth-year senior Shawn Hunwick was run into his own goal by a Red Hawks player. On two occasions, his helmet went flying. On a play that was eventually called roughing on Miami's Curtis McKenzie, he laid on the ice in a daze in need of assistance from the training staff.
Michigan goaltender Shawn Hunwick, right, collides with Miami forward Tyler Biggs.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
"We’ll keep sending the information to the league, but the league has to respond," Berenson said. "I don’t know that they’ve done a good job of it so far."
When Blake Coleman took a run at the 5-foot-7, 166-pound Hunwick in the final seconds of the game, a melee that lasted several minutes broke out when Michigan players retaliated. Coleman was called for a five minute charging major following the play.
Even Miami coach Enrico Blasi seemed upset with the tactics, getting in the face of his players after the game.
"I think their coach was upset with a couple of his players taking liberties," said Berenson, who doesn't anticipate the incident to muddle Saturday's series finale. "I think you’ll see an emotional game tomorrow, but I don’t think it’ll be out of hand."
Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
Doug
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 4:44 p.m.
It was a rough game and Miami did take liberties in hitting Hunwick. I think the game was fairly officiated and Enrico Blasi was particularly upset with the hits on our goalie as evidenced by his actions at the end of the game. He rushed to one of his players, grabbed him by the mask and admonished him. He then found Berenson and shook his hand. I think tonight's game will be hard fought but much cleaner.
umichjim
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.
I am not sure it is bias so much as general incompetence on the part of the officials. Sergott was a terrible linesman before he got promoted to referee. He is incredibly inconsistent in his calls, ignoring blatant penalties and then calling some ticky-tacky thing. The CCHA should fire him. That being said it is the responsibility of the CCHA and its officials to put a stop to this before someone is seriously hurt. Calling a five minute major on a player who runs the goalie with two seconds left in the game does nothing. That player needs to be suspended for the next game, at least.
Ethics Advocate
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.
I was at the game and felt that there definitely was referee bias to help Miami. Not only were two penalties not called that should have been when our goalie was knocked down, there was also bias by the tall referee's calling penalties against us that he did not call against Miami with the same sort of hit. I think he should be penalized by the league, perhaps suspending him. I also wish that this had been the first game this year with bias against our team, but there have been several. (I've been a season-ticket holder for over 35 years.)