16 Former Michigan Hockey Players Sue University Over Alleged Decades-Long Sexual Hazing

Sixteen former University of Michigan men's ice hockey players have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the university, coaches and other staff members of turning a blind eye to decades of ritualised sexual hazing within the programme.

The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, 9 September, in federal court in Detroit, alleges that players were subjected to sexualised abuse between 1984 and 2001, with some victims reportedly as young as 17. The 16 plaintiffs are identified anonymously as John Does because of the sensitive nature of the allegations.

According to the 72-page complaint, the alleged initiation rituals included forced genital shaving, simulated sex acts, excessive alcohol consumption and the tying of players' testicles to hockey helmets or buckets weighted with hockey pucks. Some former players also allege that razor handles were forcibly inserted into their anuses and that pubic hair was singed with a blowtorch.

'The abuse was ritualized, meticulously planned, and sadistic,' attorney Michael Pitt said. The lawsuit claims participation was effectively a condition of belonging to the Michigan hockey team.

Coaches Accused of Knowing About Hazing

The lawsuit places particular focus on former head coach Red Berenson, who led Michigan from 1984 until 2017. Plaintiffs allege that Berenson knew about the practices and, in some instances, helped facilitate them.

The complaint alleges that Berenson instructed older players to shave freshmen only 'from the neck down' so the abuse would not be visible when players were dressed. It also claims other members of the coaching staff knew about the rituals and failed to intervene.

One former player allegedly approached assistant coach Mel Pearson for help. According to the lawsuit, Pearson responded: 'keep your head down, don't piss them off, and just get through it.' Pearson was an assistant coach from 1988 to 2011 before becoming head coach in 2017.

Berenson, now 86, has previously acknowledged that some form of freshman initiation existed within the programme but has denied knowing about sexual abuse. Speaking to MLive, he said there was a 'certain element of initiation' conducted by senior players and that nobody had complained to him. He also questioned the characterisation of the allegations as sexual.

University Denies Responsibility for Allegations

The University of Michigan has rejected responsibility for the alleged misconduct, while acknowledging the seriousness of the claims.

'The allegations outlined in the plaintiffs' complaint are disturbing, but many elements of the complaint are misleading,' university spokesperson Paul Corliss said.

He added that any students who engaged in hazing were violating university rules and noted that Michigan adopted an official anti-hazing policy in 1982, describing the university as an early leader in the area.

The lawsuit alleges Berenson publicly announced the end of 'freshman hazing' in 2012. It claims, however, that the university failed to investigate his acknowledgement that some team captains had 'got too carried away'.

The former players are seeking unspecified damages for alleged physical and emotional injuries, lost opportunities and earnings, as well as changes to university policies and additional hazing-prevention training. The case could also face legal questions surrounding the statute of limitations, given that many of the alleged incidents occurred decades ago.