Blashill, Larkin are Red Berenson admirers

Detroit — The Red Wings’ practice ended about four hours before the start of the Michigan-Michigan State game at Joe Louis Arena, Friday, but Red Berenson already had two big fans in the building.

Jeff Blashill and Dylan Larkin made clear, they think the world of the Wolverines’ coach and former Wings player.

“His impact on college hockey is as big as anyone’s in the game,” said Blashill, a former collegiate coach. “He’s certainly right up there with the biggest legends in college hockey.

“When he took over Michigan, they had not had great success there in a bit, and took a big-time university and made it big time in hockey. And that helped evolve and change the landscape of college hockey.”

Blashill asserted that the establishment and growth of hockey at some schools happened by fashioning programs after Berenson’s work in Ann Arbor.

For Larkin, it seems his decision to leave the Wolverines after his freshman year is not entirely without some sense of loss.

The biggest lesson learned from Berenson?

“How to be a well-rounded person,” Larkin said. “He cares a lot about hockey. He loves hockey. I admire his passion for the game, and how he’s spent his whole life about hockey.

“But he really preaches school first. Student athlete, the student comes first. I’ve heard him say that. And he wants his guys to be positive impacts in the community.”

gregg.krupa@detroitnews.com

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