EHC Red Bull Münchens Adam Brooks in portrait

Monday, 19. August 2024 | EHC Red Bull Münchens Adam Brooks in portrait

Relaxation and hard work: Adam Brooks focuses on the right balanceOur new number 77 in portrait// PORTRAIT As a child, Adam Brooks chased the puck in every free moment. His big goal: the NHL. The dream came true. Now the Canadian is starting a new chapter with the Red Bulls. You can find out what kind of guy Brooks is in our portrait.

Brooks has been in Munich for a few weeks. His apartment is now furnished. “I can relax there. That’s very important to me,” says Brooks. When sport – ideally American football – is playing on the TV in the living room, he is happy. He also finds relaxation when he sits with friends or hits balls on the golf course. “I really enjoy playing. “I can switch off there,” says the 28-year-old newcomer.

“I wanted to be like Brett”

Brooks was born on May 6, 1996 in Winnipeg, a hockey-crazy city in the Canadian province of Manitoba. The NHL team Winnipeg Jets is also based there, which made it easier to decide which sport to start with as a boy. Adam started playing ice hockey at the age of four. His brother Brett, who was two years older, was already playing: “I wanted to be like him. Brett was a role model for me. I played a lot with him and his friends.”

The parents were happy about their sons' enthusiasm and supported the two Jets fans. They couldn't have imagined back then that one of the two would one day play for the team they loved.

Attitude towards work pays off

“I also tried lacrosse. This is a big thing in Canada. But I stuck with hockey,” says Brooks. He worked hard for his NHL dream: “You can train on ice all year round in Canada. In addition, there is work in the weight room to become stronger. That’s part of it, because talent alone is not enough.” His mentality took him far.

Brooks was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016. He was initially employed by the Toronto Marlies. With the Maple Leafs farm team, he won the AHL championship in 2018 - alongside Ben Smith, with whom he is reunited in Munich: “Winning the Calder Cup in my first year as a professional was the best moment in my career so far. That was something very special and something I will never forget for the rest of my life.”

A bittersweet and special moment

On January 2, 2020, he experienced his second major career highlight: “My first point in the NHL was a very emotional moment. It was my third game for Toronto. We played in my hometown of Winnipeg, my family and lots of friends were there. In that game I set up a goal for William Nylander. It was crazy!” His parents were happy - despite the two hearts beating in their chests. “It was of course a bittersweet moment for them because I scored against their club,” says Adam and laughs. They didn't hold it against him.

NHL career: Four teams, 45 games

From Toronto, Brooks went on to the Montreal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights. The trade to the Winnipeg Jets followed in 2022. “Playing for the team from our hometown was obviously something special for the whole family,” says Brooks.

He played a total of 45 NHL games (6 goals | 5 assists) before returning to the AHL - and starting a new chapter in the summer of 2024. Because it's the first time he's playing for a team outside of North America.

Der Videowürfel im SAP Garden ist in Betrieb genommen

European trip to Munich

“Last summer I was here in Munich with one of my best friends. We took a trip to Europe and visited, among other places, Prague, Amsterdam, Berlin, Barcelona and Munich. We went to the Kiss concert on Königsplatz. Of course we also did other classic tourist things,” says Brooks.

Then he adds: “But I haven’t been to Oktoberfest yet. I heard that we were going there with the team in costume. Even my dad has expressed interest in Lederhosen.”

Everything is great in Munich – the only thing missing is the air conditioning

This year he will celebrate his Oktoberfest premiere with the Red Bulls. And maybe he will speak a few sentences of German. “It's still difficult with the language, but I want to learn German so I can communicate,” says Brooks.

He only misses one thing so far: “Air conditioning. They are common in Canada, but apparently not in Germany. When I got here it was very hot,” said our number 77 with a wink. Otherwise he is happy: “I wanted to go to a club that was playing for the championship. And I wanted to go to a big, beautiful city. Munich is the perfect choice.”