Former Michigan hockey players sue university over alleged decades-old sexual hazing

More than a dozen former University of Michigan men’s ice-hockey players have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the program’s coach and staff knew about, but failed to stop, a pattern of sexual hazing that included forced genital shaving, excessive alcohol consumption and other abusive acts between 1984 and 2001. The 72-page complaint, filed in Detroit federal court, says the abuse was organized and required for team membership.

The plaintiffs, identified only by numbered pseudonyms, describe being compelled to shave hair around their genitals, eat live fish, and endure other humiliating treatment. One former player said he was taunted with a blowtorch while on a table. The suit accuses former head coach Red Berenson, who led the team from 1984 to 2017, of being aware of the misconduct and not intervening.

University spokesperson Paul Corliss called the allegations “disturbing” but denied liability, noting that the school adopted an anti-hazing policy in 1982 and that any hazing would have violated university rules. Berenson declined to comment to the Associated Press and previously told a local outlet that while some “mishaps” may have occurred, they were not directed or encouraged by coaching staff.

The lawsuit seeks damages and aims to bring attention to the alleged systemic abuse within the program.