Sixteen former University of Michigan men’s hockey players have initiated a federal sex discrimination lawsuit in Detroit. They claim they suffered sexual abuse and hazing rituals during their time in the program between 1984 and 2001.
The complaint details that freshmen were subjected to forced genital shaving, excessive alcohol consumption, and eating live fish as part of initiation rituals. One individual accused upperclassmen of threatening him with a blowtorch while he lay on a table.
Michael Pitt, the former players’ attorney, stated, “The abuse was ritualized, meticulously planned, and sadistic. Enduring sexual abuse was required to be a member of the Michigan Men’s Ice Hockey team.”
The lawsuit alleges that Red Berenson, head coach from 1984 to 2017, was aware of the abuse but did not take action. A former player, identified as John Doe 3, reportedly informed Berenson about his unwillingness to partake in hazing. The complaint claims Berenson pressured him to participate, emphasizing the ideals of being a “Michigan Man” and a “good teammate.”
Berenson, now 86, has denied any involvement. He admitted that senior players managed some initiation rites but insists no complaints reached 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 commented.
He contested the lawsuit’s interpretation of events. “When they say sexual, I’m guessing they’re stretching this,” Berenson remarked.
Berenson announced a halt to “freshman hazing” in 2012, mainly addressing the tradition requiring new players to carry equipment and dine last. He admitted some “captains got too carried away.”
The lawsuit claims Berenson’s comments should have led Michigan to investigate the team’s hazing practices. University spokesperson Paul Corliss termed the allegations “disturbing,” adding the university does not bear responsibility for the alleged misconduct. “To the extent any former student-athlete engaged in hazing or other misconduct, they were violating university policy,” Corliss mentioned. The university adopted an anti-hazing policy in 1982. It was among the first in the nation, earning recognition as a leader in this area.
These allegations emerged after discussions among former players in 2024. Michigan may contend that the former players delayed too long to file the lawsuit, as the alleged misconduct occurred decades ago.
In similar litigation, Michigan argued that athletes accusing campus sports doctor Robert Anderson of misconduct waited too long to proceed legally. Nonetheless, the university consented to pay $490 million, settling claims from over 1,000 athletes. The current hockey allegations remain unproven in court.
Fox News Digital inquired for a comment from the University of Michigan, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.