WELCOME TO THE 2026–27 ADHL SEASON

The Road to the Grover Cup Begins Again

Many hockey players have won Olympic gold medals. Some have had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup. A select few have even had streets, arenas, or questionable drinking establishments named after them. But only a truly elite group of athletes has ever had the privilege of putting their hands on the most glorious, prestigious and fiercely contested trophy in the hockey universe: THE GROVER CUP.

And now, after months of preparation, sacrifice and occasionally remembering where they left their equipment, the Abu Dhabi Hockey League is back. Hockey bags have been reopened and aired out. Jerseys have been washed. Skates have been sharpened. Sticks have been taped. Fitness levels have been carefully brought to their annual October peak.

The players of the ADHL are ready.

As the 2026–27 season gets underway, four franchises once again begin the long and unforgiving journey toward hockey immortality. Rosters have been adjusted, rookies signed, veterans traded and several questionable management decisions made as each team attempts to assemble the squad capable of lifting the Grover Cup.

Eagles Look to Defend the Throne

Defending champions Abu Dhabi Eagles enter the season with the largest target on their backs.

Last season, the Eagles ripped the Grover Cup from the hands of record champions The Godfathers in a thrilling overtime victory that left one team celebrating and the other spending the summer explaining how they were "actually the better team".

Eagles captain Tim Thornton has refused to stand still. In perhaps the biggest transaction of the offseason, Thornton traded ADHL superstar and renowned beer enthusiast Milan Rabas to the Tropicals. Officially, the move was made to free up valuable room under the ADHL salary cap, but details have yet to be confirmed. Rabas is reportedly looking forward to joining the Tropicals and has already begun familiarizing himself with his new teammates, their system and the location of the nearest bar.

Trouble in the Family

Meanwhile, The Godfathers enter the new season determined to reclaim what they continue to regard as their property.

Their offseason, however, was not without controversy. Fan favorite Julien Merineau was sensationally traded to the UAE71's following what sources close to the organization described as a "complete breakdown in the relationship" with captain Guillaume Laberge. The dispute reportedly began after Laberge accused Merineau of stealing his jock strap and a pair of used hockey socks. Merineau has denied the allegations and both, the jock strap and socks remain missing.

Despite the turmoil, expectations surrounding the Godfathers remain high. The league's most successful franchise knows how to win, and anything short of another serious Grover Cup run will likely result in several strongly worded WhatsApp messages.

New Ownership, Same Tropicals

Perhaps the biggest organizational change comes at the Tropicals, where the franchise has officially changed hands.

New captain Robert Desormeau has acquired last season's fourth-place team from former owner Brent Brough in a transaction believed to involve a set of spar tires and possibly a deluxe cheeseburger. As part of the sale, Brough was reportedly required to sign a waiver agreeing to continue playing for the Tropicals for free this season.

Whether this represents sound franchise management or a violation of UAE labor law remains under review. Desormeau inherits a team that finished at the bottom of the standings but immediately strengthened its roster with new acquisitions and therefore fan expectations are considerably higher this year. A third place would ease tensions and apiece a violent fanbase.

UAE71's Begin Another Rebuild

Then there are the UAE71's.

Captain Bill Mellanby faces perhaps the greatest challenge of all as he attempts another ambitious rebuild centered around young talent, veteran leadership and convincing enough people to show up. The acquisition of some of the most notorious players in the league, gives the 71's an immediate boost in experience and offensive ability — while simultaneously raising serious questions about security inside the dressing room. 

Management has also announced an aggressive growth strategy for the coming season, with a clear objective: Increase the UAE71's fanbase into double digits, do the same with points, and perhaps win more than four games. Sources within the organization remain cautiously optimistic.

The Road to Glory

And so another ADHL season begins. Four teams. Dozens of players. Hundreds of excuses.Thousands of dirhams worth of hockey equipment that everyone insists their wives and girlfriends believe cost significantly less.

There will be goals. There will be penalties. There will be questionable line changes, controversial referee decisions, spectacular saves, missed open nets and at least one player explaining that he normally scores those.

Friendships will be tested. Bodies will hurt. WhatsApp groups will explode. And somewhere at the end of it all, one team will raise the greatest prize in hockey: The Grover Cup.

The Abu Dhabi Hockey League wishes all players the best of luck for the 2026–27 season, thanks our referees for voluntarily placing themselves in harm's way, and welcomes our families, friends, sponsors and fans back for another year of ADHL hockey.

To our fans: cheer loudly, bring your friends and remember — the referees can hear you. To our players: play hard, play fair and try to make it to work the next morning. And to the four teams chasing glory: May the best team win.