Former Northeastern hockey player Michelle Lorion filed a civil action suit against current Northeastern coach Joy Woog and the university in March.
Lorion, who was a senior on the Northeastern women’s hockey team, was removed from the team last December, along with fellow senior captain Pam Pachal, after the two had a confrontation with the coach.
Lorion, who refused to comment on the issue, and Pachal alleged that Woog had struck Lorion during a practice shortly before the players’ removal from the team. They also stated that there were several other problems with Woog’s leadership that were brought forth to Director of Athletics Dave O’Brien.
The law suit, written by Lorion’s attorney, Frank J. Teague of McCullough, Stievater and Polvere, LLP, who was unavailable for comment Tuesday evening, contains several isolated incidents involving the coach’s alleged behavior including “verbal abuse, rage, ridicule and shouting.” The suit contains a specific incident where, in a November practice, Woog “began screaming at the Plaintiff [Lorion] during a routine ice drill. Defendant Woog became visibly upset and agitated and physically punched Plaintiff with her fist twice on the shoulder with great force.”
However, during an April interview with The News, Director of University Communications Ed Klotzbier said the incidents weren’t factual.
“What the players allegedly said happened, did not happen,” Klotzbier said. “After an extensive investigation, including conversations with the team members, coaching staff and personnel who work near the team and have daily exposure to that team, we cannot corroborate with the allegations made by the players.”
Lorion, along with Pachal, lost her scholarship and, according to the suit, was asked to leave the locker room and not return. The lawsuit also says that Lorion and Pachal were shouted at to leave the premises by the coach later on in the locker room in front of the other players.
The lawsuit is claiming that Woog caused “Plaintiff extreme emotional distress” and “the actions and words of Defendent Woog’s conduct was severe” and that “Woog should have known emotional distress was the likely result of her conduct.” It says that Lorion suffered emotional distress after the alleged incidents and the article written in The News January 29.
The suit blames Northeastern saying that Woog is an employee of NU and claims negligence on the hiring of Woog as “an oversight.”
“Defendant Northeastern failed to take action to reprimand Defendant for her actions or to control Defendant Woog’s activities and failed to exercise reasonable care in the supervision of its employee,” the suit said.
Lorion and her attorney have requested a trial by jury and are looking for “monetary damages against Defendant Woog and Northeastern in such amount as the Court determines.” Lorion is also looking to recover her scholarship and other relief which will be determined by the court.
A settlement may still be on the horizon.
“We’re confident that both sides will reach a mutually satisfying resolution,” Klotzbier said.
