ARLINGTON, V.A. — When free agent defenseman Ayodele Adeniye's phone rang as his offseason was getting underway, he picked up expecting a call from Antonio Briggs-Blake about potentially playing for the Coast team. Instead, it was the Washington Capitals, telling him he'd been invited to attend development camp.
He dropped his phone and started shaking, and after recollecting himself, phoned his family to tell them the news. His sights had been set on pro hockey for a long time, and this was another step toward making that a reality.
"It was a surreal experience," Adeniye said.
It's been a long road to get to this point for the 6-foot-5 blueliner, who is not only trying to make a name for himself but also blaze a trail for other Black hockey players.
"It's just cool to be one of the first people to ever do something like this, it's just cool," Adeniye said. "I don't want to say (I'd be) like a pioneer, but a leader that kids can look up to just to know that it's possible for them."
Adeniye's journey started in Columbus, Ohio. When he was three years old, his mother took him to a hockey skating birthday party, but wouldn't take him out on the ice. So, he went to the other rink and took in some high school hockey, where he was instantly hooked.
"Columbus High School hockey is honestly nothing but chipping and banging and a lot of hitting in front of the boards and I remember turning around and telling my mom, 'I want to play hockey, and she didn't believe me,'" Adeniye grinned." She put me in basketball classes, and I guess during the games, I'd just pretend to skate up and down (the court)."
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His mother enrolled him in hockey, and the rest is history.
"My grandma was like, 'He'll fall twice, and he'll quit.' But now I'm here," Adeniye said.
At the age of 13, Adeniye decided to make the switch from forward to defenseman, wanting to do more with his ability to read the game. It earned him a spot playing at the University of Alabama — Huntsville, but he hit another roadblock when his team folded after just one year.
"It was super crazy because I got a call from my mom, and she found out on Twitter. Our coaches hadn't hold us," Adeniye said. "So we kind of went into a frantic mode, there was probably about a month where I didn't know where I was going to be."
He got the call, though, from Adrian College, and would fit in well at the NCAA Division III level. Adeniye's physical, shutdown style of play helped his team to a national championship in his sophomore season, and he also impressed in his junior and senior years, too.
"I'm a big, physical defenseman, a puck mover... not afraid to shake it up a little bit," the 25-year-old said of his game.
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His playing style, and testimonials from coaches and scouts, led to a spot with the Capitals this past week. The invite from D.C. was even more meaningful to him because of the team's history and background, as well as the impact of players like Joel Ward and Devante-Smith Pelly. He also grew up playing for a program in Columbus that's similar to the District's Fort Dupont Cannons.
"It definitely gives me representation, it makes it feel like it's actually possible (to go pro)," Adeniye said of Washington.
Adeniye hung in well with the team's top prospects, skating efficiently and moving the puck well. His team made the semifinals in the 3-on-3 tournament to close out camp, and he had no problem making an impression.
"Really just trying to be grateful, take it one rep at a time," he said of the camp experience. "The sky's the limit for me, trying to manifest miracles. You never know where you'll end up. Just work as hard as I can."
The next step for Adeniye is a big one, but he's confident that it's possible. And ultimately, he hopes that opportunity could come with the Capitals organization.
"I will play a game in the NHL," he declared. "That's my goal."
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