Former Michigan hockey players file lawsuit alleging sexualized hazing
20 sources • 3 min read • Latest: Sep 12, 2026, 4:33 PM
Last updated Sep 12, 2026
Sixteen former University of Michigan men's hockey players filed a federal lawsuit in Detroit on Wednesday claiming they were subjected to ritualistic, sexualized abuse between 1984 and 2001. The anonymous plaintiffs allege that coaches and administrators were aware of and mandated the abuse as a condition of participation. According to the filing, senior players forced younger team members into acts including non-consensual shaving and physical assaults. The lawsuit names the university and its board of regents as defendants, specifically alleging that coaches Mel Pearson and Red Berenson encouraged the team culture. The legal action follows previous inquiries into misconduct within the men's hockey program that led to the departure of Pearson in 2022. Representatives for the university and the former coaches did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding these claims.
- •Sixteen unidentified former players filed the lawsuit in federal court on September 9.
- •The allegations involve abuse occurring within the hockey program from 1984 to 2001.
- •The suit names the University of Michigan and its board of regents as defendants.
- •Previous investigations into team culture led to the 2022 ouster of coach Mel Pearson.
- •Plaintiffs are represented by the law firm Pitt, McGhee, Palmer, Bonanni & Rivers.
- 4:33 PMYahoo Sports — University of Michigan hockey lawsuit: Blowtorches, goldfish, booze
- 4:06 PMThe Hill — Former University of Michigan hockey players sue, alleging years of hazing, sexual abuse - The Hill
- 12:56 PMFox News — Former Michigan hockey players allege coaches ignored years of abusive hazing rituals - Fox News
- 7:04 AMNBC News — Former hockey players at University of Michigan sue, say they were sexually abused decades ago - NBC News
- 9:38 PMYahoo Sports — Michigan hockey incident in 1980 offers glimpse into the sport's hazing culture
- 8:46 PMThe Guardian Sport — Former University of Michigan hockey players say they were sexually hazed decades ago
- 8:21 PMYahoo Sports — Former Michigan Hockey Players Claim They Suffered Sexualized Hazing in Bombshell Lawsuit
- 7:46 PMESPN — 16 ex-Michigan hockey players sue over alleged sexual hazing
"More than a dozen ex-players are suing the University of Michigan, alleging coach and staff were aware of abuse 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. “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,” attorney Michael Pitt said in a sex discrimination lawsuit filed on Wednesday in federal court in Detroit. Continue reading...
"More than a dozen former hockey players are suing the University of Michigan. They say their coach and other staff were aware of sexual hazing that included the forced shaving of their genitals and other abuses by teammates decades ago. The plaintiffs are 16 …
"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.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 12, 2026, 4:33 PMUniversity of Michigan hockey lawsuit: Blowtorches, goldfish, booze
Michigan hockey lawsuit graphically describes alleged hazing within program under ex-coach Red Berenson. A U-M spokesman denied culpability.
- The HillSep 11, 2026, 4:06 PMFormer University of Michigan hockey players sue, alleging years of hazing, sexual abuse - The Hill
The sixteen plaintiffs were members of the University of Michigan Men’s Hockey Team from 1984 to 2001.
- Fox NewsSep 11, 2026, 12:56 PMFormer Michigan hockey players allege coaches ignored years of abusive hazing rituals - Fox News
Sixteen former University of Michigan hockey players allege freshmen endured forced genital shaving, excessive drinking and blowtorch hazing rituals.
- NBC NewsSep 11, 2026, 7:04 AMFormer hockey players at University of Michigan sue, say they were sexually abused decades ago - NBC News
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.
- Yahoo SportsSep 10, 2026, 9:38 PMMichigan hockey incident in 1980 offers glimpse into the sport's hazing culture
Incident from over 46 years ago showed this wasn't the first alleged incident of its kind with the school's hockey program.
- The Guardian SportSep 10, 2026, 8:46 PMFormer University of Michigan hockey players say they were sexually hazed decades ago
More than a dozen ex-players are suing the University of Michigan, alleging coach and staff were aware of abuse 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. “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,” attorney Michael Pitt said in a sex discrimination lawsuit filed on Wednesday in federal court in Detroit. Continue reading...
- Yahoo SportsSep 10, 2026, 8:21 PMFormer Michigan Hockey Players Claim They Suffered Sexualized Hazing in Bombshell Lawsuit
The lawsuit claims the victims “were subjected to sexualized abuse that would be immediately recognized as torture under any other circumstance”
- ESPNSep 10, 2026, 7:46 PM16 ex-Michigan hockey players sue over alleged sexual hazing
Sixteen former Michigan hockey players sued the university Wednesday, alleging that the team's former coaches and other school leaders turned a blind eye to decades of ritualized hazing that was sexual in nature.
- Associated PressSep 10, 2026, 7:24 PMFormer hockey players at University of Michigan sue, say they were sexually abused decades ago - AP News
More than a dozen former hockey players are suing the University of Michigan. They say their coach and other staff were aware of sexual hazing that included the forced shaving of their genitals and other abuses by teammates decades ago. The plaintiffs are 16 …
- Yahoo SportsSep 10, 2026, 4:34 PMEx-Michigan hockey players allege sex abuse in lawsuit. What we know
A University of Michigan spokesman denied responsibility for the alleged abuse, but former players say leaders knew about and failed to prevent it.
- Yahoo SportsSep 10, 2026, 4:05 PMMichigan hockey lawsuit alleges decades of sexualized hazing, 'torture'
A new lawsuit brought by former Michigan hockey players alleges sexual abuse described as 'torture' went on for decades within the program.
- WXYZSep 10, 2026, 10:30 AM16 former University of Michigan hockey players file lawsuit, allege pattern of sexualized hazing - WXYZ Channel 7
Sixteen former University of Michigan hockey players have filed a lawsuit against the university and its board of regents, alleging they were sexually abused as part of hazing traditions.
- Yahoo SportsSep 10, 2026, 2:48 AMFormer Michigan hockey players sue, alleging years of sexualized hazing
The federal lawsuit alleges UM hockey players were stripped, sexually abused and tortured as part of hazing traditions dating to the 1980s.
- Detroit Free PressSep 10, 2026, 2:30 AMLawsuit claims sexualized 'torture' of hockey players at U-M - Detroit Free Press
None of the 16 plaintiffs are identified in the suit, which includes graphic and shocking allegations
- Yahoo SportsSep 9, 2026, 11:59 PMMichigan Hockey Accused of Years of Sexualized Hazing
Sixteen former Michigan hockey players have filed a federal lawsuit alleging severe sexualized hazing inside the program from 1984 through 2001.
- Yahoo SportsSep 9, 2026, 11:15 PMLawsuit claims sexualized 'torture' of hockey players at U-M
None of the 16 plaintiffs is identified in the suit, which includes graphic and shocking allegations
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