The second game of the weekend Ice Hockey double-header for the CBR Brave was a close-fought affair, which saw them have to come from behind to take the points from the Melbourne Ice, winning 7-3.
The home team hit the scoreboard first, with import Mario Trabucco scoring in the first minute of play.
Courtesy of Sam Hodic, the visitors levelled the scores a few moments later – and after a stretch of defensive hockey, they took the lead after a neat one-two play which saw Zach Boyle beat Brave goaltender Aleksi Toivonen. The period ended with the visitors having a 2 to 1 lead – and the normally-vocal Canberra crowd being silenced.
The second period saw great scoring chances for both teams – with their defences working overtime, but both holding firm. The scoring drought was broken in the middle of the period, when the scores were tied by Brave forward Andy Camenzind, who beat his defender and slotted a backhander past Melbourne Ice goaltender Michael James.
The Brave re-established their lead minutes later when Jordon Brunt scored his first goal on home ice after a shot rebound was not controlled and he was there to tap in to an undefended goal. The Brave led going into the second intermission 3 goals to 2.
The third period shaped up as a battle of the defences – and there were clear scoring chances for both teams early. After a missed clearance from defence, the Melbourne Ice turned over the puck and the home team’s lead was doubled in the eighth minute, with Mario Trabucco netting his second goal for the evening while the Brave were in the process of killing a penalty.
Shortly after, a snipe from the hash-marks by Brave forward Wehebe Darge made the score 5-2. This did not last long, with a brilliant solo effort from the Ice’s Josh Walt netting a goal and cutting the lead to 5-3.
Enter Brave forward Andy Camenzind, who struck twice with two typically-gritty efforts to complete his hat-trick of goals for the evening.
The weekend’s games saw extended periods of end-to-end hockey, where both team’s defences stood tall. The goaltenders – the Brave’s duo of Alex Tetreault and Aleksi Toivonen and the Ice’s Michael James – were the standout performers.
Brave defenceman Bayley Kubara, who is acting assistant coach as he returns from an injury sustained playing overseas during the off-season, credits the goaltending as being one of the main reasons for the Brave’s early-season success. He does see areas for improvement for the team.
“We just need to tighten up our Defensive end. Help our Goalies out a little bit more. We have the scoring power – the goals will come,” Kubara said.
Following a bye weekend, the Brave’s next opponent will be the defending AIHL champion Sydney Bears on Sunday 29 May at the Phillip Swimming and Ice Skating Centre. This will be the first time these two teams have faced off since the Bears ended the Brave’s title hopes in 2019 – and the Brave will be looking for redemption.
Goals
CBR Brave: Andy Camenzind (3); Mario Trabucco (2); Jordon Brunt, Wehebe Darge (1)
Melbourne Ice: Sam Hodic, Zach Boyle, Josh Walt (1)
Match report by: Scott Stevenson
