ADHL Rookie Camp: Dreams Made, Egos Broken

As the ADHL gears up for the 2025‑26 season, it isn’t just the veterans preparing for battle. A whole pool of new talents of questionable skills is fighting for the ultimate prize: a spot on a team. While rookies dazzle (or stumble) through their showcase, team captains will be watching with eagle eyes, trying to figure out which of them might be the next ADHL superstar... and which might be better off selling nachos at the concession stand.

The format is simple: two games, two chances to prove you belong. To earn a contract, rookies must demonstrate three things: prowess, poise, and puck handling. One captain summed it up best: “Fitness alone won’t cut it. You’ve got to play both ends of the ice: create offense, defend your zone, and leave with at least one scar. If you finish a game without a black eye, broken bone, or stitches, you simply didn’t give enough.”

ADHL fans will get the chance to witness the chaos firsthand on Monday, September 15 and Wednesday, September 17, both at 9:15 p.m. Besides evaluating fresh talent, it’s also the perfect opportunity to grab autographs, take pictures, and (with enough shouting) possibly sway a captain toward drafting your rookie of choice.

No one understands the pressure better than those who’ve already survived rookie camp. One former rookie explained: “You can’t prepare for it. The stress is unreal. I only felt that kind of pressure twice in my life: first when I had food poisoning with no bathroom in sight... and then when I laced up for ADHL rookie camp.”