Mann, Shields Fighting Discrimination, Abuse of Power at Michigan

Two San Jose Sharks goalies have been fighting to make things better at the University of Michigan’s men’s ice hockey program.

Law firm WilmerHale released an investigative report today, commissioned by the university, into potential COVID protocol violations, gender-based discrimination, and abuses of power by head coach Mel Pearson at Michigan’s men’s ice hockey program.

This investigation was instigated by a complaint from former Michigan goalie and volunteer assistant coach Steve Shields. Shields backstopped the San Jose Sharks from 1998 to 2001.

Shields contended in Sept. 2021 that he was terminated by Pearson for raising concerns about how the Michigan bench boss was turning a blind eye to how director of hockey operations Rick Bancroft was discriminating against female employees, Pearson’s treatment of now-San Jose Sharks prospect Strauss Mann, and other issues.

The Athletic has a thorough re-telling of what happened with Shields and Mann during the 2020-21 season here.

Today’s report advised the University of Michigan to address:

• The just-retired Bancroft’s “mistreatment of female staff members”
• Pearson’s “inability or unwillingness to hold Bancroft accountable for his conduct”
• “Pervasive fears among both student athletes and staff members of retaliation by [Pearson] for raising issues”
• “Inconsistencies in [Pearson’s] recollection, perception, and/or characterization of key incidents and issues as compared with other participants”

Shields told investigators that on Mar. 26, 2021, two Wolverines players called him from the NCAA tournament because Pearson had asked them “to provide false information on their COVID contact-tracing forms.” Michigan eventually left the tourney because of COVID concerns.

Shields also told investigators that he knew of three female employees that Bancroft allegedly mistreated. Shields testified that he informed Pearson, who responded, “I don’t want to fucking hear it.”

Associate director of external relations Kristy McNeil told investigators that Pearson and Bancroft discriminated against her by “belittling her, preventing her from entering the hockey locker room and excluding her from team activities and meals.”

Employees who took an anonymous university survey at that time described Bancroft as “toxic,” “rude,” and “unprofessional.”

In that survey, players alleged that Pearson made “inappropriate comments” to them (calling one of them a…