ADHL ABOUT TO START

Meet the Teams

The teams are drafted, players traded, and tickets being sold. The Abu Dhabi Hockey League is going into the 2024/25 campaign with some very exciting changes. Starting with the annual Kaddas Cup, the managers will have the opportunity to set up the best lines and final adjustments to their teams. 

Let's have a look into the teams and what their management had to say!

UAE 71'S

After the Oryx won the Grover Cup last season, the team has gone through some tough times. First being sold to a New Delhi telephone scam agency, the ownership was handed quickly to a family-owned restaurant in south-east Mongolia, before finally a bid from an anonymous hardware store owner from Manila was accepted. With close family ties to newly appointed captain Bill Mellanby, championship maker Conor Doherty was released and traded to the farm team. 

Now in charge, Mellanby acquired the services of JP Pigat, last season's leader in goals and points. The additions of veterans Trevor Corey and John Sutherland should help youngsters like Charles-Antoine Plamondon, Andrey Itkin, and Fatima Al Ali to hone their skills and create depths into the squad. 

Mellanby: "I think this is a great team, that will not only dominate the Kaddas Cup, but the ADHL as well. Luring Matt Brown and Guenther Jahrmann from the Eagles, we not only weakened our competition, but also lowered the salary cap. I am sure, the guys will do their best to win the Grover Cup and if they are not, they will get to understand just how cold it can be on the bench when I don't play them."

The Godfathers

As the most successful team in ADHL history, the Godfathers heartbrokenly had to surrender the Grover Cup to the Oryx. This defeat did not only leave deep scars in the heart of the fans, but convinced owner Ali Kaddas to open the checkbook with an undisclosed amount of money. The local oil tycoon made Jon Marsh the highest paid player in the league and was able to trade top defenders Jaymes Pawluk and Brandon Riopelle from the Oryx. With the addition of the German Wall Frank Neudorfer, the Godfathers may have the best defense in the entire league. 

The Merineau brothers Julien and Jonathan remain put with the team, after rumors spread that they may leave hockey for good and open a poutine-based casino on the coast of Western Africa. After losing all their money, captain and manager Guillaume Laberge reluctantly welcomed them back. 

Ali Kaddas said earlier this week "I put a lot of money into this team and expect to win the Kaddas Cup, the ADHL Cup, and the Grover Cup this season. I told Laberge that the rookies need time and that he needs to assure we can dress highly skilled players in the future. I am proud of him that he started a top-5 by welcoming his daugher to the hockey world and although she is still young, I am sure he will begin her training soon."

The Tropicals

The team from Abu Dhabi's south-end is the great mystery this season. After former captain Adam Wilson left the team to start a career in crypto financing, the team's future was everything but bright. After a massive price drop, ADHL goaltender Jeff Strong purchased the team from an eBay website, fulfilling his lifelong dream of being a hockey club owner. Strangled by financial burdens, Strong was able to secure a loan from his wife dress a somewhat competitive squad. 

He was able to secure the services of former Eagle superstar and league bad boy Milan Rabas and convinced JF Aube to remain with the team. With Scottish hooligan Ross Hawkins and Canadian penalty collector Paul MacPherson, the team may lack in skilled depths but makes up for in physical strengths. While forward Josh Bryanton will be responsible for scoring goals, David Allan and Suhail Al Muhairi are the players of reason. 

After the draft Jeff Strong said "Well, I am a goalie and when I play against my own team, there is always a chance of a sudden injury. I feel very good about signing Milan, because not only is he a great hockey player and asset, but he also came super cheap: three vapes, 18 beers throughout the season, and a pair of semi-used underwear isn't really breaking the team's budget. Our rookies will have to adapt to the fast paced ADHL and I sincerely hope, there are fans buying enough merchandise so I can pay back my wife."  

The Eagles

After leading the ADHL for most of last season, the Eagles went from soaring high to a little more than quivering like spring chickens. Although team manager and captain Tim Thorenton was able to sign Finnish superstar-defender Tony Meski for another season, he is also faced with an almost brand new squad. ADHL veteran Hugo Blomfield and power-forward Steve Lunn burned through roughly 72% of the season's budget, leaving the Ottawa-born team leader with little more than hiring a rookie squad. 

With an almost entire team making the entry-level salary, the Eagles may be in a challenging season to rebuild the franchise. Ken Kontio and Andrey Kozehevin have the difficult task to motivate the team throughout the season. The team's proprietorship is also uncertain after accepting an unsolicited offer from a Nigerian prince, whom they met via an email, but was never realized. Another deal fell through, after a Bangkok-based nail salon owner thought he was purchasing the Philadelphia Eagles but instead made a bit for the Abu Dhabi Eagles. 

Captain Thoronten to the tumultuous situation: "This was a tough summer for us. Our fans were disappointed with us exiting the Grover Cup playoffs way too early and the constant lack in getting a deal for the team drained us mentally and physically. However, I have a lot of confidence in my team. I saw the guys working out and they are all in the best shape of their lives. Yes, we lost a few guys to other teams, but they will be the ones crying after the season."