Hazing Ends Here: Protecting Players in 2025–26 Zero tolerance, full accountability, stronger hockey culture

As the 2025–26 AAA and junior hockey season gets underway, rosters are filling, stalls are claimed, and the annual scramble for spots is in full swing. For many veterans, this is the moment they’ve been waiting for—the chance to welcome rookies into the fold. But for too long, “welcome” has been code for hazing, initiation rituals, and kangaroo courts that have no place in the modern game. This year, the message is unequivocal: hazing is over. Players who continue these outdated practices will find themselves removed from teams, and coaches who condone or ignore them will see their careers stall. The culture shift is real, and it’s backed by league policy, SafeSport enforcement, and a growing awareness that respect and safety are non‑negotiable.

Hazing isn’t defined by whether someone laughs or “goes along with it.” It’s defined by the harm it causes—physical, emotional, or psychological—and the imbalance of power it exploits. The formal definition used by SafeSport and many leagues is clear: any mental or physical requirement, request, or obligation placed upon any person that could intentionally or unintentionally cause discomfort, pain, fright, disgrace, injury, or personal degradation for the purpose of initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition of continued membership in a group or organization. Consent does not negate this standard. That means even if a rookie says “I’m fine with it,” the act can still be hazing—and still be a violation.

Hazing can take many forms, and understanding them is key to prevention. Subtle hazing includes the “harmless” rituals veterans often defend as tradition, such as making rookies perform duties veterans avoid, forcing pointless physical drills, imposing sleep deprivation during road trips, restricting communication or movement, or requiring specific public greetings and props. Harassment hazing crosses into emotional distress and intimidation, with tactics like yelling, public humiliation, assigning demeaning chores or pranks, forced confinement with loud music, or dropping rookies in unfamiliar locations and making them find their way back. Violent hazing is the most extreme and dangerous, involving physical assault, forced consumption of alcohol or unpleasant food mixtures, branding or cutting, compelled sexual activity or nudity, and kidnapping or physical restraint.

Some teams still spend more energy plugging leaks than fixing problems, trying to keep incidents quiet in the hope that secrecy will protect the program. But with rosters turning over 40–50 players a season, word always gets out. In 2025–26, the risk isn’t just bad press—it’s SafeSport investigations, suspensions, and loss of scholarships or pro opportunities. The truth is, hazing doesn’t build team chemistry; it builds resentment, fear, and division. The strongest teams in the modern game are those that replace hazing with mentorship, skill‑building, and genuine inclusion.

SafeSport treats hazing as a serious misconduct category, and allegations can trigger immediate suspension pending investigation, mandatory education programs, or permanent bans for severe or repeated violations. For coaches, the stakes are just as high. Turning a blind eye is considered facilitation, and league offices are making it clear: if hazing happens on your watch, your future in hockey is in jeopardy.

Before participating in or allowing any activity, players and coaches should ask themselves: Would I be comfortable if my family watched? Would my team owner or league commissioner approve? Am I being asked to keep it secret? Is it illegal or against team values? Is it causing emotional distress to anyone involved? If the answer to any of these is “yes,” it’s hazing—and it needs to stop.

Ending hazing isn’t about removing fun; it’s about replacing toxic rituals with positive ones. Mentorship programs that pair veterans with rookies for skill and life guidance, team challenges that build cooperation without humiliation, community service projects that unite players around a shared purpose, and open forums where rookies can voice concerns without fear all strengthen the locker room. When veterans lead with respect, rookies integrate faster, performance improves, and the team becomes a place of trust.

If you see hazing, document what happened—times, dates, and witnesses—then report it to your coach, GM, or league office. Contact SafeSport directly if internal channels fail, and support the victim, because isolation is one of hazing’s most damaging effects.

Hazing is not a rite of passage—it’s a violation. This season, leagues are backing up their words with action. Players and coaches who cling to old habits will find themselves out of the game. Those who embrace respect, inclusion, and accountability will not only protect their teammates—they’ll build the kind of culture that wins championships. The choice is simple: be the leader who ends hazing, or be the cautionary tale others learn from.

In the 2025–26 season, SafeSport compliance isn’t just a box to tick—it’s a living part of team culture. Every player, coach, and staff member should understand that prevention starts with awareness and consistent action.

Teams must ensure that all members complete annual SafeSport training before the first puck drops, with refreshers scheduled mid‑season to keep the standards fresh in everyone’s mind.

Coaches should integrate respect‑based discussions into regular team meetings, making it clear that hazing, harassment, and abuse are not tolerated under any circumstances.

Locker rooms, buses, and hotels should be treated as professional spaces, with clear behavioral expectations posted and reinforced. Any incident, no matter how small it may seem, must be documented promptly and reported through the proper channels—either to team management, the league office, or directly to SafeSport.

Confidentiality should be respected to protect victims and witnesses, but secrecy must never be used to shield misconduct.

Teams should also appoint a designated SafeSport liaison, someone players can approach without fear of retaliation, and ensure that this person is visible and accessible throughout the season.

By embedding these practices into daily operations, compliance becomes second nature, and the focus stays where it belongs—on building a safe, respectful, and high‑performing hockey environment.