The Utah hockey team has been sued by many parents for the missing of their are children who are their players.

The Utah hockey team has been sued by many parents for the missing of their are children who are their players.

Salt Lake City, Utah – A serious and deeply troubling development has emerged from the Utah hockey community, as several families of players on the University of Utah’s hockey team have filed a lawsuit against the organization, alleging gross negligence and possible misconduct related to the disappearance of multiple team members.

The case, which has drawn statewide attention and ignited public outrage, centers around the alarming and unexplained absence of three players who were last seen together nearly two weeks ago. Despite ongoing searches and official statements, there have been no confirmed sightings or leads, prompting desperate families to take legal action and demand answers.

The Missing Players

The players at the heart of the case are Anthony Vega (20), Declan Reeves (21), and Marcus Lee (19)—all rostered members of the University of Utah Men’s Hockey Team. According to official reports, the trio was last seen leaving a team facility late on the evening of March 30th after what was believed to be a routine late-night workout. Surveillance footage captured them exiting the building and walking toward the team’s shared transportation van—but the vehicle never reached its intended destination.

Authorities reported that the van’s GPS signal was lost shortly after midnight in a remote area on the outskirts of Salt Lake County. Initial searches yielded no significant clues, and despite the involvement of local police, search and rescue teams, and even private investigators hired by the families, the players remain missing.

The Lawsuit

On Monday morning, attorneys representing the families of the missing players filed a civil lawsuit against the University of Utah Hockey Program, its coaching staff, and affiliated administration, citing negligence, failure to provide adequate safety protocols, and lack of transparency.

“Our clients are living a nightmare,” said attorney Rachel Mendez, who is leading the legal effort. “They trusted the program with their sons’ well-being. Instead, they’ve been met with silence, deflection, and zero accountability while their children remain missing. We will not stop until the truth is uncovered and justice is served.”

The lawsuit alleges that the coaching staff failed to report the players missing in a timely manner, claiming a 36-hour delay before university officials were informed. It also accuses the team of violating university travel protocols and allowing unsupervised late-night workouts without proper transportation or staff oversight.

University Response

The University of Utah has acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and issued a formal statement in response to the lawsuit.

“We are deeply concerned about the disappearance of our student-athletes,” the statement reads. “The University is fully cooperating with law enforcement and remains committed to supporting the families and the investigation. Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, we cannot comment further on the lawsuit at this time.”

Privately, some university staff members have expressed frustration over the limited communication between departments during the early stages of the players’ disappearance, highlighting possible flaws in how incidents involving student-athletes are reported internally.

Ongoing Search Efforts

Local police, the Utah Department of Public Safety, and the FBI have been assisting in the search, treating the case as a possible abduction or foul play situation. Drones, search dogs, and divers have been deployed in remote areas surrounding the GPS dropout zone, but no signs have emerged.

“We are treating this case with the utmost urgency,” said Sgt. James Houghton, spokesperson for the Salt Lake Police Department. “While we cannot rule out any possibilities, we are pursuing every lead.”

A tip line has been set up, and authorities are urging anyone with information about the players’ whereabouts to come forward immediately.

Parent Statements

The families of the missing players have been vocal in both their grief and frustration, holding vigils and public press conferences to maintain pressure on the university and law enforcement.

“We wake up every day praying for a miracle,” said Carla Reeves, mother of Declan. “But we’re also angry—angry that our sons were put in a situation where they could vanish without a trace, and nobody even noticed they were gone for a day and a half.”

Anthony Vega’s father echoed similar concerns. “This isn’t just a tragedy—it’s a betrayal. We trusted this program. We trusted the people who were supposed to look out for them.”

A Community on Edge

The news of the lawsuit and the missing players has deeply rattled the university community. Students have organized marches and demanded increased transparency from the athletics department, calling for an independent investigation into the team’s leadership and safety measures.

“I’ve never seen the campus this shaken,” said Lauren Taylor, a senior at the university. “Everyone’s talking about it. We don’t feel like we’re being told the whole story.”

Hockey practices and games have been indefinitely suspended, and several assistant coaches have reportedly been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Wider Implications

This troubling case raises larger questions about student-athlete safety and institutional oversight. Experts in collegiate sports governance are warning that programs across the country need to reassess how they monitor and protect their players—particularly during travel or after-hours activities.

“There’s often a dangerous gray area in how off-the-clock team functions are handled,” said Dr. Ken Bradley, a sports ethics professor at the University of Oregon. “Programs have to understand that the duty of care doesn’t end when the game does.”

Looking Forward

As the search continues and legal battles begin, the fate of the missing players remains unknown. The families, while hopeful, are preparing for any outcome and continue to demand accountability from the university and those entrusted with the care of their children.

“This isn’t about blame—it’s about answers,” said Mendez. “And we will keep pushing until those families have them.”

A court hearing is scheduled for later this month, during which university officials are expected to respond formally to the allegations. Meanwhile, students, parents, and fans of the Utah hockey program wait with heavy hearts, hoping for a resolution to a story that has brought heartbreak, confusion, and anger to a once-proud sports institution.