Professional Hockey Coach Forced Players to Do Illegal Things and More Disturbing Acts Revealed
According to the report obtained by MLive/The Ann Arbor News, University of Michigan hockey head coach Mel Pearson lied to investigators repeatedly during the WilmerHale investigation into his program, according to the report.
Pearson has been under fire since the fall of 2021 after a complaint was filed against him and former director of hockey operations Rick Bancroft about multiple allegations in the hockey program.
Allegations detailed in the report include:
Pearson is "instructing students to lie on their COVID-19 tracing forms" ahead of the 2021 NCAA Tournament opener in North Dakota.
Pearson and Bancroft discriminated against female staffers and "created a toxic work environment for female support staff."
Pearson retaliated against a student athlete for "raising concerns" about the hockey team's culture.
Bancroft knew about sexual misconduct committed by the late UM athletic doctor, Dr. Robert Anderson.
Investigators with Washington, D.C.-based law firm WilmerHale determined the "issues facing the hockey programme require attention" and "despite prior efforts to assess and respond to allegations regarding the culture of the program, additional work remains to be done," according to the report.
"Specifically, the university should review whether (Pearson's) conduct violates other university policies, including but not limited to Standard Practice Guide 601.90, Protection from Retaliation. In addition, the athletic department should take steps to address a number of issues discussed in this report, including (1) the mistreatment of female staff members by Mr. Bancroft; (2) (Pearson's) inability or unwillingness to hold Mr. Bancroft accountable for his conduct; (3) pervasive fears among both student athletes and staff members of retaliation by (Pearson) for raising issues; and (4) inconsistencies in (Pearson's) recollection, perception, and/or characterization of key incidents and issues as compared with other participants, "according to the report."
Pearson and UM spokespeople have been contacted for comment.
The investigation was sparked by former UM goalie and volunteer assistant Steve Shields in October 2021. The investigators concluded their review of the complaint in May, according to multiple people close to the investigation.
Bancroft retired from UM effective Monday, June 20, university athletics spokesman Kurt Svoboda said. He did not provide a reason for his retirement, officials said. Pearson has also been acting as head coach without a contract since May 1.
Shields filed the complaint to UM's Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office last fall, alleging that Pearson retaliated against him by firing him for reporting these allegations. While the investigators did not determine that Shields was retaliated against, they raised multiple concerns about the programme related to Shields' complaint.
The investigation also focused on issues of sexual or gender-based discrimination within the program. The issues with the COVID-19 protocol were not the focus of the investigation, the report states.
However, the report does show that Bancroft bullied female hockey staff, and that Pearson did not do enough to reprimand Bancroft or stop the behavior.
"Mr. Bancroft has been reprimanded on a couple of occasions in regards to his behavior," the report states. "Several witnesses stated that Mr. Bancroft bullied colleagues, possibly based on their gender, and that (Pearson) was aware of this behaviour but took no action to stop it."
Concerns over team culture were brought to Pearson's attention in the spring of 2021 by former goalie Strauss Mann, as well as other rising seniors, the report shows. Shields alleged that Mann left the team after the 2020-21 season to play minor league hockey in Sweden, which Shields alleged was due to Pearson retaliating against Mann.
The report states that Pearson initially told investigators he never spoke with Mann about issues with team culture, until witness interviews and recordings showed Pearson did in fact have those conversations, the report states.
"We do not find (Pearson's) account of his interactions with and regarding Mr. Mann around April 2021 credible," the report states.
Investigators also determined that Pearson told Mann "his position in the hockey programme was at risk" after the April 2021 interactions, the report states.
The entire senior class also approached UM administrator Josh Richelew after the 2021-22 season to express their concerns, the report states. The team made it to the Frozen Four before losing in the national semifinals to the University of Denver.
"Senior student athletes on the hockey team told Mr. Richelew that (Pearson) would dock playing time for raising complaints and described their fears of suffering the same damage to their future careers that they believed (Pearson) had inflicted on Mr. Mann," the report states.
UM author and historian John Bacon said in his blog that it is hard for UM to claim Pearson cares about students and employees with these findings.
"The hockey program's problems likely don't rise to the criminal level, but no employee or student should be expected to put up with such behavior," Bacon said.
Michigan has remained optimistic about Pearson's future as head coach all summer. When asked on June 17 if Pearson would be the Wolverines' coach next season, Athletic Director Warde Manuel said, "He's our hockey coach, and I anticipate him being our hockey coach."
Michigan is coming off its best season under Pearson. The Wolverines hit the 30-win mark for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign and reached the Frozen Four for a second time under Pearson, who was hired ahead of the 2017-18 season.
Last year's team featured an NCAA-record seven first-round draught picks, although five signed pro contracts this offseason.
However, Michigan signed another talented freshman class, including three players who were selected in the top 50 of the 2022 NHL draft: forward Frank Nazar (No. 13 overall, Chicago Blackhawks), forward Rutger McGoarty (No. 14 overall, Winnipeg Jets) and defenseman Seamus Casey (No. 46 overall, New Jersey Devils).
Pearson also served as an assistant coach at Michigan from 1988�2011.
Michigan hockey assistant linked to toxic, discriminatory climate resigns
A law firm is looking into allegations of COVID deception and a toxic environment in Michigan hockey.
Investigators with Washington, D.C.-based law firm WilmerHale determined the "issues facing the hockey programme require attention" and "despite prior efforts to assess and respond to allegations regarding the culture of the program, additional work remains to be done," according to the report.
"Specifically, the university should review whether (Pearson's) conduct violates other university policies, including but not limited to Standard Practice Guide 601.90, Protection from Retaliation. In addition, the athletic department should take steps to address a number of issues discussed in this report, including (1) the mistreatment of female staff members by Mr. Bancroft; (2) (Pearson's) inability or unwillingness to hold Mr. Bancroft accountable for his conduct; (3) pervasive fears among both student athletes and staff members of retaliation by (Pearson) for raising issues; and (4) inconsistencies in (Pearson's) recollection, perception, and/or characterization of key incidents and issues as compared with other participants, "according to the report."
Pearson and UM spokespeople have been contacted for comment.
The investigation was sparked by former UM goalie and volunteer assistant Steve Shields in October 2021. The investigators concluded their review of the complaint in May, according to multiple people close to the investigation.
Bancroft retired from UM effective Monday, June 20, university athletics spokesman Kurt Svoboda said. He did not provide a reason for his retirement, officials said. Pearson has also been acting as head coach without a contract since May 1.
Shields filed the complaint to UM's Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office last fall, alleging that Pearson retaliated against him by firing him for reporting these allegations. While the investigators did not determine that Shields was retaliated against, they raised multiple concerns about the programme related to Shields' complaint.
The investigation also focused on issues of sexual or gender-based discrimination within the program. The issues with the COVID-19 protocol were not the focus of the investigation, the report states.
However, the report does show that Bancroft bullied female hockey staff, and that Pearson did not do enough to reprimand Bancroft or stop the behavior.
"Mr. Bancroft has been reprimanded on a couple of occasions in regards to his behavior," the report states. "Several witnesses stated that Mr. Bancroft bullied colleagues, possibly based on their gender, and that (Pearson) was aware of this behaviour but took no action to stop it."
Concerns over team culture were brought to Pearson's attention in the spring of 2021 by former goalie Strauss Mann, as well as other rising seniors, the report shows. Shields alleged that Mann left the team after the 2020-21 season to play minor league hockey in Sweden, which Shields alleged was due to Pearson retaliating against Mann.
The report states that Pearson initially told investigators he never spoke with Mann about issues with team culture, until witness interviews and recordings showed Pearson did in fact have those conversations, the report states.
"We do not find (Pearson's) account of his interactions with and regarding Mr. Mann around April 2021 credible," the report states.
Investigators also determined that Pearson told Mann "his position in the hockey programme was at risk" after the April 2021 interactions, the report states.
The entire senior class also approached UM administrator Josh Richelew after the 2021-22 season to express their concerns, the report states. The team made it to the Frozen Four before losing in the national semifinals to the University of Denver.
"Senior student athletes on the hockey team told Mr. Richelew that (Pearson) would dock playing time for raising complaints and described their fears of suffering the same damage to their future careers that they believed (Pearson) had inflicted on Mr. Mann," the report states.
UM author and historian John Bacon said in his blog that it is hard for UM to claim Pearson cares about students and employees with these findings.
"The hockey program's problems likely don't rise to the criminal level, but no employee or student should be expected to put up with such behavior," Bacon said.
Michigan has remained optimistic about Pearson's future as head coach all summer. When asked on June 17 if Pearson would be the Wolverines' coach next season, Athletic Director Warde Manuel said, "He's our hockey coach, and I anticipate him being our hockey coach."
Michigan is coming off its best season under Pearson. The Wolverines hit the 30-win mark for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign and reached the Frozen Four for a second time under Pearson, who was hired ahead of the 2017-18 season.
Last year's team featured an NCAA-record seven first-round draught picks, although five signed pro contracts this offseason.
However, Michigan signed another talented freshman class, including three players who were selected in the top 50 of the 2022 NHL draft: forward Frank Nazar (No. 13 overall, Chicago Blackhawks), forward Rutger McGoarty (No. 14 overall, Winnipeg Jets) and defenseman Seamus Casey (No. 46 overall, New Jersey Devils).
Pearson also served as an assistant coach at Michigan from 1988�2011.
Read more from MLive:
Michigan hockey assistant linked to toxic, discriminatory climate resigns
A law firm is looking into allegations of COVID deception and a toxic environment in Michigan hockey.
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Should this head coach receive a life-time coaching ban? | ||
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