Adam Bartholomay is about to start his fourth season in the EHL as head coach and general manager of the Philadelphia Hockey Club.

After having previously coached in places such as Nashville and Salt Lake City and playing high-level junior, NCAA Division I and pro hockey, the Agoura Hills native has found a home in Pennsylvania.

“What attracted me to coaching in the EHL was the professionalism, structure and ability to move players to the NCAA Division III levels,” said Bartholomay. “The biggest key to being successful in this league is sticking to your team’s structure and culture and giving the players the experience they deserve, working with players to move them on to college or the higher levels and committing to a standard above the rest.

“The EHL prides itself in having qualified owners who are invested and involved in the league on a monthly basis, if not more. The league relies on its coaches, owners and operators to give input and make the league what it is today. I believe even before I was a part of the league they did things that kept themselves separate from other leagues. Our main focus has always been moving players to the NCAA Division III level and or other college Levels like the ACHA Division I that makes the player experience worth it.”

Over the course of his coaching career, Bartholomay has proven to possess strong morals and an impressive work ethic, an ability to recruit and promote players, and an in-depth knowledge of the game.

Before joining the Philadelphia Hockey Club, Bartholomay built and ran the Nashville Jr. Predators youth program while also coaching the 18U and 15U teams. He was responsible for all aspects of the program, including player procurement. Prior to Nashville, he spent four years coaching the 15U and 16U West Coast Renegades teams in Utah and served as the hockey director as well.

In his playing days, Bartholomay spent three years in the USHL with the Topeka Scarecrows and the Lincoln Stars before earning a scholarship to play NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. After three years, he was invited to the Los Angeles Kings free agent/rookie camp and decided to pursue professional hockey. Over six professional seasons, Bartholomay had stops in the IHL, ECHL, CHL and SPHL before injuries led to his retirement.

“It is always a privilege to play at the Division I level and then make it to the pro ranks,” said Bartholomay. “Every moment of being in those scenarios was a highlight, even the low parts of the journey. UNO was one of the best places to play Division I hockey and seeing my ugly mug pop up on the jumbotron as you came out of the tunnel was amazing. The friends I still have from those years make it all the best.”

Back in California, Bartholomay played youth hockey when that realm looked far different than it does today.

“I started playing hockey in California for the Thousand Oaks Thunder, then the West Valley Wolves, then in midgets to the Bay City Hurricanes and then they merged into the LA Jr. Kings under Brian Schoenle and Konstantin Ludnia,” remembered Bartholomay. “One of my favorite memories is making it to USA Hockey Nationals with the Hurricanes after beating the Alaska All-Stars in regionals. Other memories that stand out are getting tendered by the Topeka Scarecrows the following season under Bliss Littler, Thomas Rudrud and Joe Coombs and later playing for Steve Johnson with the Lincoln Stars.

“The landscape in California has changed dramatically. USHL teams used to protect one midget team in the entire nation and then tender four players from there. To my knowledge, that is how the process used to be. There was only the USHL, BCHL and NAHL when I came up playing. We had great players coming out of California then with Ryan Hollweg, Gabe Gautier, Brett Sterling, Robbie Earl, Keith McWilliams, Noah Clark, Alex Kim and many more.”

So what made Bartholomay want to be behind the bench and behind the scenes?

“My father had always coached and after my knee injury and knowing I wasn’t going to be playing professionally any more, he kind of pushed me into coaching and I fell in love with it from the start,” Bartholomay said. “Took over a 16U A team out of Simi Valley. The kids put the team together themselves and it was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. I had lost my career and grandmother that same year, so it was the biggest blessing in disguise. They were truly a great group of kids and parents and that is how I am now here in Philly doing the same thing.”

Now with the 2026-27 season fast approaching, Bartholomay has simple goals for the year in the City of Brotherly Love.

“We want to maintain our standards of being one of the best in the league, whether that is on or off the ice,” Bartholomay said. “We also want to keep preparing our players for college and the experience they will have in college and continue giving them all the tools they need to succeed in college through mentorships and everyday preparation.”

Photos/Dan Hickling/Hickling Photography

— Matt Mackinder

(September 8, 2026)