Former University of Michigan hockey players sue, alleging years of hazing, sexual abuse

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. ( WOOD ) – Sixteen former University of Michigan hockey players say coaches and staff turned a blind eye to sexualized hazing inside the program for years.

In a 74-page lawsuit filed Wednesday against the school and the board of regents, the plaintiffs, identified only as John Doe 1 through 16, allege that team members in the hockey program were subjected to “standard hazing traditions.” The sixteen plaintiffs were members of the University of Michigan Men’s Hockey Team from 1984 to 2001.

The lawsuit claims coaches knew about the hazing but failed to stop or report it, claiming the behavior was even encouraged as “a form of team bonding.” Nearly all the players listed in the suit were at the university on an athletic scholarship.

“Enduring sexual abuse was required to be a member of the Michigan Men’s Ice Hockey team during this time period,” the lawsuit alleges.

The alleged hazing included being forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and, in some cases, live goldfish. A significant part of the abuse included upperclassmen shaving freshman players’ genitals.

One of the former players, who is unnamed in the lawsuit, said Coach Red Berenson was “aware of the freshman hazing incident and instructed the team to conduct hazing ‘behind closed doors.'” The lawsuit alleges Berenson told upperclassmen to “shave only ‘from the neck down,’ so the abuse would be invisible when Plaintiffs were clothed.”

The freshman hazing allegedly caused multiple players to abuse alcohol through college and into their adult years, the lawsuit says. A few reported sexual dysfunction and difficulty in intimate relationships. One said he “engaged in self-destructive behavior” and struggled with substance abuse. Another developed “significant anxiety and depression.” Multiple reported experiencing reoccurring flashbacks and memories of the hazing as well as insomnia. One dropped out before completing his college degree. Many reported lost educational and career opportunities.

The lawsuit further alleges staff let players into locker rooms where hazing would take place and even arranged training tables and plastic razors in the locker room to help set up.

During some instances, “the training and equipment staff was present and standing inside the door of the room during the hazing,” according to the lawsuit.

At least two players reported the abuse to coaching staff, who they say did not take action to stop it or report it to authorities. In some cases, players said they were reprimanded or retaliated against for speaking up, including having their playing time cut.

In 2012, Berenson allegedly banned the extreme hazing, the lawsuit says.

“He knew of the hazing at all times and could have stopped the sexual abuse at any time before 2012,” the lawsuit reads. “Instead, he had knowingly accepted and facilitated the abuse.”

The plaintiffs are accusing the University of Michigan of being complaint in sexual abuse and violating Title IX. They’re asking for damages and changes they say would help prevent hazing in the future, including hazing prevention training for all athletes.

University administrators told The Detroit News that the allegations are “disturbing,” but called many elements of the complaint “misleading.”

“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 obtained by the Associated Press.

“The university first adopted an official anti-hazing policy in 1982,” Corliss added. “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.”

Teresa Weakley of Nexstar’s WOOD contributed to this report.