CAHA Moves to eliminate fighting in Youth and Adult League Hockey

By Brad Hoffman, 10/19/25, 6:30PM EDT

New penalties for Fighting for 2025-26 season

ELIMINATING FIGHTING IN YOUTH/GIRLS & ADULT HOCKEY

Effective August 1, 2025 CAHA has taken steps to increase suspensions for Fighting Majors:

8.5 Progressive Suspensions for Fighting (Rule 615) - Whereas a player is assessed a major and game misconduct penalty under Rule 615 (Fighting), they are subject to the following progressive discipline:

Youth Hockey Programs - for the purposes of this rule, the USA Hockey season is from September 1 to August 31.

First Offense - Player will serve the one (1) game suspension mandated by USA Hockey plus an additional (1) game suspension mandated by CAHA (total 2-game suspension).
Second Offense - Player will serve the three (3) game suspension mandated by USA Hockey plus an additional three (3) game suspension mandated by CAHA (total 6 game suspension).
Subsequent Offenses - Player shall be suspended until a hearing is conducted by the proper authorities under Rule 410 Supplementary Discipline.

Adult Hockey Programs – for the purposes of this rule, the USA Hockey season is from September 1 to August 31. These suspensions are the minimum that Adult leagues may impose. Adult leagues may add game suspensions at their discretion.

First Offense - Player will serve the one (1) game suspension mandated by USA Hockey plus an additional four (4) game suspension mandated by CAHA (total 5 game suspension).
Second Offense - Player will serve the three (3) game suspension mandated by USA Hockey plus an additional three (3) game suspension mandated by CAHA (total 6 game suspension).
Subsequent Offenses - Player shall be suspended until a hearing is conducted by the proper authorities under Rule 410 Supplementary Discipline.

My Carolina Hockey Story – highlighting exceptional people who tell their “My Carolina Hockey Story” on our YouTube channel. In honor of Women’s History Month, we highlight Kaitlyn Boerst from Charleston Youth Hockey and the Jr Hurricanes….

Updated Policies from USA Hockey and CAHA

USA Hockey has clarified Discipline policies for Discriminatory Language reporting and CAHA has implemented supplemental discipline policy effective 2022-23 and 2023-24. Learn more here….

2025 USAH and CAHA NC/SC Boys & Girls Player Development Tryouts

2025 USAH-NC/SC Boys & Girls Player Development Tryouts will be held April 11-13 in Raleigh, NC.

While these are open to all players in NC/SC, these are competitive tryouts, and we encourage only travel-level skilled players to register and try out. All players must be legal residents of North or South Carolina to participate.

Click here for more info and to sign up

Honor the game winners – winners for Nov/December have been announced and can be viewed here….

December-Feb winners will be announced in late March and the ROLE MODELS OF THE YEAR will be announced in early April!

For more information on how to nominate someone click here.

CAHA State Champions

State Championships – congratulations to our North Carolina and South Carolina State Champions! These teams will be moving on to USA Hockey Nationals or Southeastern District Championships. See more here….