Sixteen former University of Michigan men’s hockey players have filed a federal lawsuit alleging they were subjected to years of sexualized hazing and degrading initiation rituals while playing for the team between 1984 and 2001. The former athletes claim members of the coaching staff were aware of the conduct but failed to prevent it. The university has rejected responsibility and said hazing violated its policies.
Former Players Describe Decades of Alleged Abuse
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Detroit, describes a pattern of alleged hazing that former players say became embedded in the team’s culture. According to the complaint, some players were subjected to forced genital shaving, excessive drinking, humiliating physical rituals and other forms of sexualized abuse.
The plaintiffs, who are identified anonymously in the lawsuit, say some of the incidents occurred when they were as young as 17. The complaint alleges that new players were pressured to participate because of the importance of earning acceptance from teammates and maintaining their position within the hockey program.
The filing also describes allegations involving players being forced to eat live fish and endure other humiliating initiation activities. One former player reportedly alleged that a blowtorch was used during an incident involving the shaving of pubic hair.
The former athletes are seeking damages for alleged physical and emotional injuries, as well as other remedies including changes to policies and additional hazing-prevention measures.
Lawsuit Accuses Coaches and Staff of Knowing About Hazing
A major focus of the lawsuit is the conduct of longtime Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson, who led the program from 1984 until 2017. The plaintiffs allege that Berenson and other members of the coaching and support staff knew about the hazing and did not take sufficient action to stop it.
The lawsuit claims that some staff members allegedly witnessed aspects of the initiation rituals. It also alleges that at least one player who objected to the hazing sought help from an assistant coach but was encouraged to endure the situation rather than challenge his teammates.
Berenson has denied knowing about sexual abuse within the program. He has acknowledged that some form of player-led initiation existed, while saying that any inappropriate behavior was not directed or encouraged by the coaching staff or university administration.
In 2012, Berenson announced an end to what was described publicly as freshman hazing. At the time, the practices discussed included activities such as carrying equipment and being placed last during team meals. The former players’ lawsuit alleges that the misconduct they experienced was significantly more serious than the hazing practices publicly acknowledged at the time.
University Rejects Responsibility for Allegations
The University of Michigan has described the allegations as disturbing but disputed elements of the lawsuit. A university spokesperson said that any hazing or misconduct by former student-athletes would have violated university rules.
The university also pointed to its anti-hazing policy, saying it adopted an official policy in 1982 and has continued to strengthen protections and training for student-athletes.
The lawsuit emerged after former teammates began discussing their experiences in 2024. Those conversations eventually led some former players to investigate the history of hazing within the program and pursue legal action.
The case could also face legal questions concerning the amount of time that has passed since the alleged incidents. The university previously faced litigation involving former athletes who alleged sexual misconduct by a campus sports doctor decades earlier and eventually agreed to a $490 million settlement involving more than 1,000 people.
The new lawsuit alleges violations of Title IX and seeks accountability for what the former players describe as a longstanding culture of sexualized hazing within the Michigan hockey program.
