Former University of Michigan hockey players have filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging that they were subjected to severe sexual hazing, including forced genital shaving and other abuses by teammates, during their time playing between 1984 and 2001. The plaintiffs claim that coach Red Berenson was aware of the abuse but did not intervene, despite players reporting incidents to him. In response, the university denies responsibility while asserting its early adoption of an anti-hazing policy in 1982 and emphasizing the voluntary nature of reported misconduct by team members.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
More than a dozen former University of Michigan hockey players are suing the university, alleging that they were subjected to sexual hazing by teammates and that coaches and staff were aware of the abuse. The plaintiffs, who played between 1984 and 2001, claim that enduring this abuse was required for membership on the team. The lawsuit alleges that players were forced to shave their genitals and endure other forms of sexual misconduct.
Attorney Michael Pitt stated in a sex discrimination lawsuit filed in federal court in Detroit that the abuse was "ritualized, meticulously planned, and sadistic." The university responded by denying responsibility and asserting that any hazing or misconduct violated its policy. University spokesperson Paul Corliss noted that Michigan first adopted an official anti-hazing policy in 1982, emphasizing their commitment to addressing such issues.
The lawsuit emerged from conversations among former teammates in 2024 and includes 16 male plaintiffs alleging systematic abuse during their time on the team. The university faces potential legal challenges similar to those it faced in 2020 when former athletes sued over sexual misconduct by a campus sports doctor, with the defense arguing that the plaintiffs waited too long to file their claims.
Written for “Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Hockey Players” on 2026-09-17,
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No political leaning scored for article 10508 · logged 2026-09-15
More than a dozen former hockey players are suing the University of Michigan, alleging their coach and other staff were aware of sexual hazing that included the forced shaving of their genitals and other abuse by teammates decades ago.
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that → sue → teammates
“The abuse was ritualized, meticulously planned, and sadistic. ...
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abuse → plan → ?
Enduring sexual abuse was required to be a member of the Michigan Men’s Ice Hockey team,” attorney Michael Pitt said in a sex discrimination lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Detroit.
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Pitt → require → Detroit
The plaintiffs are 16 men who played at Michigan between 1984 and 2001.
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who → play → 1984
The lawsuit apparently grew out of conversations among several former teammates in 2024.
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lawsuit → grow → 2024
The university said the allegations are “disturbing,” but denies responsibility.
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allegations → say → responsibility
“To the extent any former student athlete engaged in hazing or other misconduct, they were violating university policy,” spokesperson Paul Corliss said in a written statement.
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Corliss → engage → statement
“The university first adopted an official anti-hazing policy in 1982.
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university → adopt → 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 said.
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he → do → area
The 72-page document describes players being forced to consume excessive amounts of alcohol and eat live fish.
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players → describe → fish
A common allegation: They were forced to have hair around their genitals shaved by teammates.
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hair → force → teammates
A player identified as John Doe 7 said he was taunted with a blowtorch while on a table.
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he → identify → table
The lawsuit says Red Berenson, who was coach from 1984 to 2017, was aware of the abuse and did not intervene.
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who → say → abuse
John Doe 3 said he told Berenson that he didn’t want to participate in the hazing.
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he → say → hazing
The coach coerced him by telling him to be a “Michigan Man” and a ”good teammate,” according to the lawsuit.
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coach → coerce → lawsuit
Berenson, 86, declined to comment when reached by The Associated Press.
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Berenson → decline → Press
He told MLive.com there was a “certain element of initiation” by the team’s seniors, but no one had complained to him.
“Were there some mishaps?
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one → tell → him
Possibly, but it wasn’t a matter of direction or encouragement from the coaching staff or from the administration,” Berenson, a former NHL player, said.
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Berenson → say → administration
“When they say sexual, I’m guessing they’re stretching this,” he said.
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he → say → this
Berenson announced the end of “freshman hazing” in 2012, mostly referring to first-year players being forced to carry equipment and eat team meals last.
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players → announce → meals
He made no mention of physical abuse but acknowledged “captains that got too carried away,” according to news reports at the time.
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that → make → time
The university could argue that the hockey players waited too long to file a lawsuit, a position it took in 2020 when former athletes sued over sexual misconduct committed decades earlier by a campus sports doctor.
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athletes → argue → doctor
The university ultimately agreed to pay US$490-million to settle claims by more than 1,000 people.
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university → agree → people
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