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Posted on Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.

Red Berenson cancels trip to Cleveland, outdoor game at Progressive Field not finalized

By Pete Cunningham

Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson expected to be at Progressive Field in Cleveland today for the announcement of Michigan’s participation in another outdoor hockey game. Instead, he was in his office at Yost Arena.

Meetings between the Wolverines’ opponent for the potential game, Ohio State, and the Cleveland Indians haven’t gone as anticipated, delaying the announcement.

“If they can’t agree, if all the different people that want to get their fingers in the pie, if they can’t agree, then it’ll just go back on campus, but right now, we’ve agreed to play wherever they want to play,” Berenson said from his office on Friday. “I hope it works out that we play an outdoor game, but it’s too bad. Today was supposed to be a grand announcement.”

bigchill_bigscolumn.jpg

The Big Chill at the Big House drew a record crowd.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Michigan will play a road game against Ohio State in January 2012, that much is certain.

“We’ve got the game on our schedule, but it's still Ohio State’s home game, they have to work out the details,” Berenson said. “We’re a willing opponent, we were willing to play in the baseball field and we’re willing to play at Ohio State, obviously. Last night there was a bit of a hiccup, we were gonna announce the game today.”

Curtis Danburg, director of communications and creative services for the Indians, confirmed on Wednesday that conversations were ongoing with the universities about a game at Progressive as part of Indians Snow Days, a two-month winter festival at the park.

“Outdoor hockey is an exciting trend in today’s sports landscape. With the success of Indians Snow Days, it is something that could make sense for us but we do not comment on new initiatives until they have been finalized,” Danburg said in a statement on Friday. “An OSU-Michigan hockey game here at Progressive Field during Indians Snow Days would be incredibly exciting. Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm the event at this time.”

Michigan beat Michigan State in 'Big Chill at the Big House' last December and lost to Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Michigan and Michigan State also played to a 3-3 tie at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing in 2001.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.