This is a real, actively developing legal story, not a rumor or an unverified report. The core facts have been independently confirmed by the Associated Press, ESPN, the Detroit News, and ClickOnDetroit, among others, all citing the same federal court filing. What follows is a full breakdown of what’s actually been alleged, what the University of Michigan and former coach Red Berenson have said in response, and the important legal context surrounding the case.
Who Filed the Lawsuit and What They’re Alleging
Sixteen former University of Michigan men’s hockey players filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan, naming the University of Michigan and its Board of Regents as defendants. The plaintiffs, who played for the program between 1984 and 2001, are identified only as “John Does” in the complaint. The suit was filed by the Royal Oak law firm Pitt, McGhee, Palmer, Bonanni & Rivers, with attorney Michael Pitt describing the alleged abuse as ritualized, meticulously planned, and sadistic.
The lawsuit alleges violations of Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education, claiming the university maintained a policy of deliberate indifference toward sexualized hazing and failed to investigate or stop it despite having warning signs.
What the Lawsuit Specifically Alleges Happened
According to the complaint, incoming freshmen were subjected to hazing rituals at the hands of upperclassmen that the plaintiffs describe as conduct that would be immediately recognized as torture in any other context. The lawsuit alleges that new players — some as young as 17 and dependent on hockey to access their education at Michigan — were forcibly stripped and shaved by older teammates, with several plaintiffs stating their pubic hair was removed using a blowtorch. Some players alleged they were further victimized in ways that meet the legal definition of sexual assault. Multiple reports indicate that equipment managers and team trainers were present for the alleged abuse during at least some of the years described.
What the Lawsuit Alleges About Red Berenson’s Involvement
The lawsuit directly implicates Hall of Fame coach Red Berenson, who ran Michigan’s program from 1984 to 2017 and led the Wolverines to 11 Frozen Four appearances along with national championships in 1996 and 1998. According to the complaint, Berenson knew about and “directed and facilitated” the hazing, allegedly instructing upperclassmen to shave younger players “from the neck down” specifically so the practice would remain hidden beneath their clothing.
The lawsuit also includes a specific allegation involving one plaintiff, identified as John Doe 3, who claims he told Berenson directly that he didn’t want to participate in the hazing. According to the complaint, Berenson responded by pressuring him to “be a Michigan man” and a “good teammate” — effectively coercing his continued participation. The suit further alleges that mistreatment was part of a broader pattern in Berenson’s coaching style, which the complaint describes as involving demanding extreme deference from players, arbitrarily benching those he disfavored, and fostering a hostile environment toward underclassmen.
Red Berenson’s Response to the Allegations
Berenson, now 86, has publicly responded to the allegations, though his comments have been limited. Speaking with MLive, Berenson denied that coaches encouraged the hazing activities, acknowledging only that there was “a certain element of initiation” carried out by the team’s seniors, but maintaining that no player had ever complained to him directly. He stated that while there may have been some “mishaps” or “bad experiences,” he denied it stemmed from any direction or encouragement by the coaching staff or university administration. When later contacted by other outlets, Berenson declined to comment further, saying he wanted time to absorb more information about the situation.
It’s worth noting the discrepancy in the public record: in 2012, Berenson told the Ann Arbor News that he was ending freshman hazing, but his comments at the time referenced relatively minor traditions — such as freshmen carrying upperclassmen’s equipment bags — and made no reference to the kind of sexual abuse now described in the lawsuit.
Mel Pearson’s Alleged Role in the Hazing Cover-Up
The lawsuit also names former assistant and later head coach Mel Pearson as someone who allegedly knew about the conduct and failed to intervene, reportedly telling freshmen to “just get through it.” Pearson took over as Michigan’s head coach following Berenson’s retirement in 2017, before resigning in 2022 after a separate university investigation raised broader concerns about the program’s culture — an issue that has continued to affect the program’s public image. Pearson did not respond to ESPN’s request for comment on the new lawsuit.
Michigan’s current head coach, Brandon Naurato, played under Berenson from 2005 to 2009 and later served as Pearson’s assistant for more than a season before being promoted to head coach after Pearson’s departure. Naurato is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
The University of Michigan’s Official Response
University spokesman Paul Corliss issued a formal statement acknowledging the allegations as disturbing while disputing key elements of the complaint. Corliss noted that the alleged conduct occurred more than 25 years ago and that, to the extent any hazing or misconduct took place, it would have violated university policy at the time. The university’s statement emphasized that Michigan adopted an official anti-hazing policy in 1982 — among the first universities in the country to do so — and pointed to current annual training requirements for student-athletes covering hazing, discrimination, and other misconduct.
Importantly, the university explicitly denied that it bears legal responsibility or liability for the claims outlined in the lawsuit.
Why the Plaintiffs Say They’re Only Coming Forward Now
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs did not fully understand at the time that what they experienced constituted sexual abuse, or that university officials may have known about and tolerated the conduct. The suit states that the former players began comparing their individual experiences starting in September 2024, and it was through those conversations that they realized similar hazing practices had occurred across multiple graduating classes over an extended period.
Legal experts note the university could attempt to argue that too much time has passed since the alleged conduct occurred — a defense strategy Michigan has used in prior litigation, including a 2020 lawsuit involving decades-old sexual misconduct by a former campus sports physician.
This Isn’t Michigan’s First Major Sexual Abuse Scandal
This lawsuit arrives against a difficult backdrop for the university. Four years ago, Michigan agreed to a $490 million settlement — the largest in school history — with victims of Dr. Robert Anderson, a now-deceased physician who allegedly sexually abused more than 1,000 people, mostly men, during his nearly four decades working at the university, including as team physician for Michigan’s athletic department. Many of Anderson’s victims were current or former Michigan student-athletes, a pattern that adds significant context to how seriously this new lawsuit is likely to be scrutinized.
What the Plaintiffs Are Seeking
The 16 former players are seeking damages for both physical and emotional injuries, along with compensation for lost educational and professional opportunities, lost earnings, and medical expenses. The plaintiffs have also reported experiencing long-term effects including substance abuse, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of their alleged experiences. Beyond financial damages, the lawsuit also seeks a court order requiring the university to implement sexualized-hazing prevention training specifically for its student-athletes going forward.
What Happens Next in the Michigan Hockey Hazing Case
This case is still in its early stages, and none of the allegations have been proven in court. With the University of Michigan disputing liability and Red Berenson denying that coaches directed or encouraged the alleged abuse, this lawsuit is likely to play out over an extended legal process. Given the university’s history with the Robert Anderson case and the seriousness of the allegations involved, this is a story that will likely continue generating national attention as it moves through the federal court system.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) provides free, confidential support.
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