Report: 16 former Michigan hockey players sue, alleging ‘sexualized abuse’ hazing
According to multiple reports, 16 ex-members of the University of Michigan men’s hockey program filed a lawsuit in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan on Wednesday, alleging that they were subject to hazing rituals that came in the form of “sexualized abuse.”
The lawsuit stated that players who were on the Wolverines roster from 1984-2001 were forced to be involved in events that would be “immediately recognized as torture under any other circumstance.” Such actions include being forced to shave their genitals and having their testicles tied to helmets or buckets filled with hockey pucks. Some players reported that they had pubic hair burned by blowtorches and were penetrated by handles of disposable razors.
The complaint alleged that the rituals, carried out by older players, were “known to, directed and facilitated for years” by former coach Red Berenson. The lawsuit states that the hazing was part of the Hockey Hall of Famer’s “abusive coaching style.” It also says the Wolverines coaching staff knew what was going on, concealed the abuse, and told players who complained to “be a Michigan man.”
In 2012, Berenson told the Ann Arbor News that hazing would no longer be tolerated, pointing out that he “never liked the whole hazing thing.” Berenson ran the program for 33 years, guiding Michigan to 11 Frozen Four appearances and NCAA championships in 1996 and 1998.
In a statement, Michigan spokesman Paul Corliss noted that some of the testimony in the complaint is false.
“The allegations outlined in the plaintiffs’ complaint are disturbing, but many elements of the complaint are misleading,” Corliss said. “The former student-athletes, who attended the university more than 25 years ago, describe behavior at the hands of fellow teammates that allegedly happened in the 1980s and 1990s. To the extent that any former student-athlete engaged in hazing or other misconduct, they were violating university policy.
“The university denies that it is any way responsible or liable for the claims alleged. 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. Today, all university student athletes are required to complete annual training on university policies and protections against hazing, discrimination, and other forms of misconduct. We are committed to an environment of safety for all of our students.”
The plaintiffs, identified as John Does in the complaint, noted that the results of the hazing led to them developing substance abuse, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The former players are in search of “punitive and liquidated damages in the amount they are entitled to.”
The lawsuit states that Mel Pearson, Berenson’s assistant and the team’s head coach following Berenson’s retirement in 2017, also knew about the hazing. He resigned in 2022 after a separate investigation raised concerns about the program’s culture, which has plagued the team’s image to this day.
The Wolverines’ current bench boss, Brandon Naurato, played under Berenson from 2005-09 and served as Pearson’s assistant for more than a season before taking the head coaching role following the latter’s departure.