Sixteen former University of Michigan men’s hockey players 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 alleges freshmen endured 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 lay on a table.
The former players’ attorney, Michael Pitt, described the alleged team culture.
“The abuse was ritualized, meticulously planned, and sadistic,” Pitt said. “Enduring sexual abuse was required to be a member of the Michigan Men’s Ice Hockey team.”
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The lawsuit accused Red Berenson, Michigan’s head coach from 1984 to 2017, of knowing about the alleged abuse and failing to intervene.
One former player, identified as John Doe 3, allegedly told Berenson he wanted no part in the hazing. The complaint claims Berenson pressured him to participate 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, while maintaining that no one had complained to him.
“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 said.
He also disputed the lawsuit’s characterization of the alleged conduct.
“When they say sexual, I’m guessing they’re stretching this,” Berenson said.
Berenson announced the end of “freshman hazing” in 2012. At the time, he primarily referred to first-year players being forced to carry equipment and eat team meals last. He also acknowledged that some “captains got too carried away.”
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The former players’ lawsuit argues that Berenson’s comments should have prompted Michigan to investigate the team’s hazing practices.
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.
“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,” he added.
The allegations surfaced after former players began discussing their experiences in 2024. Michigan could argue that the former players waited too long to file the lawsuit because the alleged abuse occurred decades ago.
The university made a similar argument in litigation involving former athletes who accused campus sports doctor Robert Anderson of sexual misconduct. Michigan ultimately agreed to pay $490 million to settle claims involving more than 1,000 former athletes. The allegations in the hockey lawsuit have not been proven in court.
Fox News Digital followed up with the University of Michigan for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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