Former Penguins goaltender Frank Pietrangelo has joined a federal lawsuit against former University of Minnesota goaltending coach Thomas Adrahtas, the school, the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) and USA Hockey alleging he was the victim of sexual abuse by Adrahtas.

Pietrangelo, now 56, alleges Adrahtas conducted mandatory weekly “visualization practices” for goaltenders only throughout the 1984-1985 season when Pietrangelo was a junior at the school. According to a statement from a law firm representing Pietrangelo, Adrahtas sexually assaulted, abused and molested Pietrangelo without his knowledge or consent, in acts disguised as training sessions done for Adrahtas’ pleasure and self-gratification during these “visualization practices.”

According to the statement, Pietrangelo complained to both Adrahtas and Minnesota head coach Brad Buetow that the “visualization practices” were a waste of time, and that he did not want to partake in them because he was uncomfortable with them. Buetow is alleged to have responded by telling Pietrangelo that he “didn’t want to get better or improve (his) goaltending” because he did not want to participate in Adrahtas’ “visualization practices.”

According to the Associated Press, other plaintiffs allege they were abused by Adrahtas at the school and while playing for him at the youth level in Illinois.

In an interview with WBBM, a television station in Chicago, Pietrangelo alleged, in graphic detail, how he was assaulted by Adrahtas.

“It was just inappropriate,” Pietrangelo said. “You know, he’d touch you everywhere. He’d just do whatever he wanted to you.”

A seven-year veteran in the NHL, Pietrangelo spent parts of five seasons with the Penguins. A member of the 1991 Stanley Cup championship team, Pietrangelo is renowned for a glove save in Game 6 of a 1991 Patrick Division semifinal series against New Jersey Devils forward Peter Stastny. The play has become known as “The Save.”

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