Sixteen former University of Michigan hockey players have filed a sex discrimination lawsuit alleging a pattern of "sadistic" sexual hazing and abuse that occurred between 1984 and 2001. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Detroit, claims that the coach at the time, Red Berenson, and other university staff were aware of the alleged misconduct by teammates.
According to the 72-page lawsuit, the abuse was ritualized and meticulously planned, with enduring sexual abuse being a requirement for membership on the team. Allegations include players being forced to consume excessive amounts of alcohol and eat live fish. A common claim is that players were compelled to have hair around their genitals shaved by teammates. One plaintiff, identified as John Doe 7, alleged he was taunted with a blowtorch while on a table.
Lead attorney Michael Pitt described the alleged abuse as "sadistic," stating that it was required to be a member of the Michigan Men's Ice Hockey team. The lawsuit reportedly grew out of conversations among several former teammates in 2024.
The University of Michigan issued a statement calling the allegations "disturbing" but denied responsibility. Spokesperson Paul Corliss stated that any player who engaged in hazing or misconduct violated university policy. He added that the university adopted an official anti-hazing policy in 1982 and has been a leader in this area.
Berenson, who coached the team from 1984 to 2017, has declined to comment directly but told MLive.com that while there was "a certain element of initiation" by seniors, no one had complained to him. He questioned the characterization of the events as sexual, suggesting the term was being "stretched." Berenson announced the end of "freshman hazing" in 2012, which he largely described as first-year players carrying equipment and eating team meals last.
One plaintiff, John Doe 3, alleged he told Berenson he did not want to participate in hazing, but the coach allegedly coerced him by telling him to be a "Michigan Man" and a "good teammate."
In its defense, the university may argue that the statute of limitations has expired, a stance it took in 2020 when former athletes sued over sexual misconduct by a campus sports doctor. That case resulted in a $490 million settlement for over 1,000 claimants.