A group of former hockey players at the University of Michigan has launched a lawsuit alleging they were subjected to severe sexualised abuse during their time on the team from 1984 to 2001. This complaint, filed on 9 September, exposes harrowing claims that the victims endured acts resembling torture under the guise of hazing rituals.
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The lawsuit details graphic incidents, including disturbing initiation practices where players were coerced into acts such as having their genitals shaved by teammates. The abuse described extends to cases of extreme humiliation and violence, including claims of anal penetration and the tying of players’ testicles to equipment like hockey helmets or pails filled with ice hockey pucks. The plaintiffs, aged as young as 17 at the time of the alleged incidents, assert that the treatment they experienced would unequivocally be recognised as torture in any other context.
Describing common hazing rituals, the lawsuit indicates that one of the more alarming practices involved upperclassmen shaving all genital hair from younger players. One particularly distressing allegation involved a player who reported having his genitals handled while being subjected to the singeing of his pubic hair with a blowtorch. Such revelations bring to light the disturbing culture surrounding the hockey programme during this period.
The complaint further alleges that there was a ritual called the “shocker,” which involved inserting the handle of a disposable razor forcibly into a freshman’s anus during these shaving ceremonies. The revelations bring an entirely new and unsettling dimension to the concept of hazing, suggesting systemic issues within the hockey team and the university’s broader athletic culture.
Former head coach Red Berenson, who led the team for over three decades, is implicated in the lawsuit. The allegations suggest that he was aware of the abuse and in some cases may have facilitated it. The lawsuit argues that Berenson instructed players to keep abuse concealed, directing upperclassmen to shave below the neck to avoid visible signs of the abuse when the players were clothed.
Allegations within the lawsuit also extend to the coaching staff, suggesting they were complicit in the abuse culture. It claims that when a player sought help from then-Assistant Coach Mel Pearson after reporting the abuse, he was advised to “keep your head down” and endure the situation rather than pursue any form of action. This reflects a troubling mentality that prioritised team loyalty over player safety and well-being.
While it is asserted that many players believed their initiation was solely the handiwork of their peers, the complaint reveals that the environment fostered by the university staff normalised the abuse. The lawsuit criticises Berenson for allegedly failing to take action despite having previously acknowledged instances of extreme hazing in 2012, a point which many players believe reflects the university’s neglect of their safety.
The document states that Berenson should have acted to prohibit hazing in 2012 but instead chose to overlook the more grave instances of abuse. Coaches and staff like Equipment Manager Ian Hume and Trainer Rick Bancroft also face similar allegations of complicity, which adds further depth to the claims of an enduring environment of abuse.
The 16 plaintiffs have opted to remain anonymous, citing the sensitive nature of the claims they have brought forward. The lawsuit is poised to draw significant attention to the broader issues of culture and accountability in athletic programmes, particularly those involving hazing and abuse.
As inquiries into these allegations continue, the University of Michigan has yet to respond publicly to the complaint. The potential implications of this lawsuit could reverberate through collegiate sports and challenge how institutions handle issues of hazing and abuse within their programmes.