Sixteen former University of Michigan men's hockey players have filed a lawsuit against the university and its board of regents, alleging a pattern of sexual abuse and disturbing hazing practices that occurred between 1984 and 2001. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, describes rituals that include forced shaving of genitals and anal penetration, describing the abuse as "ritualized, meticulously planned, and sadistic."
One former player claims teammates singed his pubic hairs with a blowtorch while he was on a trainer's table. Another account details an incident where older teammates allegedly tied a player's penis to a bucket filled with pucks. The period covered by the lawsuit coincides with a highly successful era for the Wolverines hockey program, which included four conference titles, seven Frozen Four appearances, and two national championships.
The complaint specifically names former coach Red Berenson, alleging he was aware of the abuse but failed to intervene. The lawsuit states Berenson instructed upperclassmen to "shave only from the neck down" so that the abuse would be "invisible when Plaintiffs were clothed." It further claims Berenson's coaching style involved "demanding extreme interpersonal deference, arbitrarily benching disfavored players, cultivating hostility to lowerclassmen, and other tactics that served to demoralize players."
Berenson, who coached the Wolverines from 1984 to 2017, denied direct knowledge of sexual abuse when contacted by MLive. "We knew there was a certain element of initiation on our team, and it was usually orchestrated by the seniors," Berenson told MLive. "We didn't promote it. We didn't encourage it." He did, however, acknowledge addressing hazing during his tenure, stating he stopped the practice of freshmen carrying upperclassmen's equipment bags and admitting that "captains got too carried away" on occasion.
A university spokesperson called the allegations "disturbing" but did not issue a denial. "To the extent any former student athlete engaged in hazing or other misconduct, they were violating university policy," spokesperson Paul Corliss said in a written statement. "The university first adopted an official anti-hazing policy in 1982. It was one of the first universities in the country to do so, and it has earned its standing as a leader in this area."
This lawsuit adds to a series of scandals that have affected the University of Michigan Athletic Department. In December, football coach Sherrone Moore was fired amid accusations of an improper affair and threats. The university also reached a $1.2 million settlement with a woman who accused a football program staff member of sexual assault. In January, Michigan paid $490 million to settle hundreds of sexual assault claims against former team doctor Robert Anderson. Additionally, assistant football coach Matt Weiss was fired in 2023 and later charged with hacking into students' online accounts to access intimate photos. Athletic director Warde Manuel has announced plans to step down at the end of the year.