The Colorado Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) filed a lawsuit on July 28, 2024 in Grand County District Court, seeking to enforce a $606,812 judgment against former president Randy Kanai. The complaint alleges that Kanai attempted to evade the award by transferring a Granby property to a privately held investment vehicle.
Kanai served as CAHA’s president from 2012 through 2023, a period marked by allegations that he diverted more than half a million dollars of the association’s money for personal use. In December 2023 a court found him liable for civil theft, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment, ordering the monetary judgment that is now at the center of the new litigation.
Judgment and Allegations
According to the filing, the contested property — located in Granby, Colorado — was conveyed via quitclaim deed on September 30, 2023, just days after USA Hockey suspended Kanai for refusing to cooperate with an internal investigation into CAHA’s finances. The transfer, the complaint says, was a calculated move to place the asset beyond the reach of creditors.
The legal dispute traces back to a July 2023 demand letter sent by CAHA’s counsel, which requested repayment of $150,000 and the production of financial records. Kanai did not respond, prompting the association to pursue formal discovery and, ultimately, the judgment that has now been contested in court.
Appeal and Ongoing Dispute
Kanai has appealed the judgment pro se, arguing that the trial court applied the wrong legal standards to the claims brought against him. His appeal remains pending, and the case continues to highlight the complexities of financial governance within state‑level sports organizations.
The lawsuit underscores CAHA’s role as the state affiliate of USA Hockey, the national governing body for youth hockey in the United States. Both organizations have been drawn into a broader conversation about transparency and accountability in amateur sports administration.