Former Colorado Hockey President Ordered to Pay Over $544,000 in Civil Theft Case
A Colorado court has ruled that Randy Kanai,the former president of the Colorado Amateur Hockey association (CAHA),must pay the organization $544,189 after being found liable for civil theft,breach of fiduciary duty,and unjust enrichment. The ruling, issued Tuesday by Colorado District Court Judge Chantel Contiguglia, concludes a lengthy legal battle and marks a notable moment for the USA Hockey affiliate organization.
The legal proceedings stemmed from allegations that Kanai, who led CAHA from 2010 to 2023, misused organization funds for personal gain. Following a two-day bench trial in April, Judge Contiguglia found Kanai liable for diverting funds through his company, International Sports Event Management (ISEM). The judge also dismissed a separate defamation claim brought by kanai against his successor, Bryan Smith, determining that Smith’s accusations of impropriety were based on “significant truth.”
The court found that beginning in 2021, Kanai operated CAHA-sponsored events through ISEM, which also managed youth hockey teams and tournaments. Registration fees for these events were channeled through ISEM, accumulating over $1 million in CAHA money within the company’s bank accounts. ISEM also received approximately $80,000 in apparel rebates from Northwest Designs.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that Kanai transferred $181,396.58 from ISEM’s accounts into his personal bank account without authorization or disclosure to the CAHA board, using the funds for personal expenses.An additional $180,000 was transferred to the personal account of Jason Schofield, a former Colorado Avalanche employee and member of the CAHA executive commitee.Schofield had previously publicly defended Kanai in statements to Sporty.
While the court determined these transfers were illicit, it rejected CAHA’s claim for unjust enrichment related to Kanai’s use of complimentary Colorado Avalanche tickets. Despite initially claiming he never sought personal profit from CAHA activities, Kanai reportedly testified during the trial that he believed he was entitled to the payments due to his personal efforts.
In the final judgment, the court awarded CAHA $181,396.58 in actual damages, which were then trebled to exceed $544,000. CAHA released a statement indicating the outcome held Kanai “accountable for his improper conduct.” Kanai and his legal counsel have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the ruling or potential appeals.
the decision brings closure to a contentious chapter for Colorado’s amateur hockey community, following Kanai’s removal as president in the summer of 2023 and the subsequent lawsuit filed by the new CAHA board led by Smith.
why did this happen? Randy Kanai, as president of CAHA, allegedly misused organization funds for personal gain through his company, International Sports Event Management (ISEM). Who was involved? Randy Kanai, CAHA, Bryan Smith (Kanai’s successor), jason Schofield, and Judge Chantel Contiguglia were key figures.what occurred? Kanai diverted over $1 million in CAHA funds through ISEM and transferred $181,396.58 to his personal account, plus $180,000 to Schofield. How did it end? The court found Kanai liable for civil theft, breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment, ordering him to pay CAHA $544
