Red Berenson

Michigan Coach Red Berenson directs his team in the game against Minnesota at Yost Arena on Saturday, January 10, 2015. Nicole Hester | The Ann Arbor News

(NICOLE HESTER)

ANN ARBOR, MI - Red Berenson wore a calm expression as he shook hands with Minnesota coach Don Lucia and walked off the ice following his team's 7-5 win Saturday.

To the Michigan hockey coach, it was just the next game on the schedule. But to his players, his staff and the 5,800 people in attendance at Yost Ice Arena, it was a victory worthy of a standing ovation.

Berenson became just the fourth coach in college hockey history to reach 800 career wins, putting him in elite company with Jack Parker (897), Ron Mason (924) and Jerry York (974).

"I think it's good (to get No. 800) before it became too much of a conversation piece," Berenson said. "It's not really about me. Something like this happens every 100 games I guess."

The 75-year-old Berenson said he remembers his first win, which came against Miami, and his 300th, which came in the 1996 NCAA championship against Colorado.

Other than that, they all clump together.

"I can tell you I'm not big on all that stuff," he added. "When I came to Michigan, I wanted us to have a program that could become a college hockey dynasty and I just like the way Montreal used to play in the 70s, and the Oilers in the 80s and Red Wings in the 90s. That's the kind of program we've tried to have at Michigan."

In his 31st season coaching the Wolverines, Berenson's resume is long and unquestionably impressive. It includes NCAA championships in 1996 and 1998, 11 Central Collegiate Hockey Association titles, and a national-best 22-straight NCAA tournament appearances.

Before he began coaching for his alma mater, Berenson earned All-American and Michigan Most Valuable Player honors while playing for the Wolverines in 1961 and 1962. He went on to play and coach in the NHL before making his way back to Ann Arbor in 1984.

Of the top four winningest college coaches in the sport, only York and Berenson are still active, the latter leading the Boston College program.

With Saturday's victory, Michigan moves improves to 12-7, including 9-2 at Yost Ice Arena this season. The Wolverines have won four-straight since losing to York's Eagles on Dec. 13, 5-1.

During the stretch, unranked Michigan has knocked off then-No. 5 Michigan Tech and No. 9 Minnesota twice, while picking up its 16th Great Lakes Invitational title.

Though Berenson isn't the kind of guy to show emotion over such a milestone, his players said he did crack a smile as they gave him a second ovation in the locker room.

"It's pretty special. It's pretty amazing that he's got 800 wins considering how little games we play in college," said senior Zach Hyman. "It's pretty incredible ... He really is humble and you don't see it on his face but he was pretty happy back there. You saw the smile when we were singing the song. I think he's going to enjoy it."

Up next, Michigan will look for Berenson's 801st win Friday when the team travels to Columbus to face Ohio State. The Wolverines beat the Buckeyes on Dec. 5, 8-3.

Justin P. Hicks is a sports reporter and storyteller for MLive / The Ann Arbor News. He can be reached at jhicks3@mlive.com. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and MLive.