Sixteen former University of Michigan men's hockey players have filed a federal sex discrimination lawsuit in Detroit, alleging they were subjected to sexual abuse and hazing rituals as members of the program between 1984 and 2001.
The complaint details allegations of freshmen enduring forced genital shaving, excessive drinking, and being made to eat live fish as part of team initiation. One player also alleged that upperclassmen taunted him with a blowtorch while he was on a table.
The former players' attorney, Michael Pitt, described the alleged team culture as "ritualized, meticulously planned, and sadistic," stating that "enduring sexual abuse was required to be a member of the Michigan Men’s Ice Hockey team."
The lawsuit accuses Red Berenson, who coached the Michigan men's hockey team from 1984 to 2017, of knowing about the alleged abuse and failing to intervene. One former player, identified as John Doe 3, claims that when he expressed reluctance to participate in hazing, Berenson pressured him by invoking the ideals of being a "Michigan Man" and a "good teammate."
Berenson, 86, has disputed allegations of coaching involvement. He previously acknowledged that senior players oversaw some initiation practices but maintained that no one had complained to him directly. "Were there some mishaps? Were there some bad experiences? Possibly, but it wasn’t a matter of direction or encouragement from the coaching staff or from the administration," Berenson stated. He also disputed the lawsuit’s characterization of the alleged conduct, suggesting that claims of sexual abuse were an overstatement.
Berenson announced the end of "freshman hazing" in 2012, which at the time primarily involved first-year players carrying equipment and eating team meals last. He also acknowledged that some "captains got too carried away." The former players' lawsuit argues that Berenson's comments should have prompted the university to investigate the team's hazing practices.
University of Michigan spokesperson Paul Corliss called the allegations "disturbing" but denied that the university was responsible for the alleged misconduct. "To the extent any former student-athlete engaged in hazing or other misconduct, they were violating university policy," Corliss said. He added that the university adopted its first official anti-hazing policy in 1982, positioning it as a leader in the area.
The allegations surfaced after former players began discussing their experiences in 2024. The university may argue that the former players waited too long to file the lawsuit, as the alleged abuse occurred decades ago. This argument was used in litigation involving former athletes who accused campus sports doctor Robert Anderson of sexual misconduct, which led to a $490 million settlement for over 1,000 former athletes. The allegations in the hockey lawsuit have not yet been proven in court. Fox News Digital followed up with the University of Michigan for comment.