The long wait for ice hockey fans finally comes to an end this week, with the CBR Brave kicking off the 2022 Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) this weekend against the Melbourne Ice in Melbourne.
This year’s competition sees a return to normality for ice hockey in Australia, with the Goodall Cup up for grabs for the first time since 2019. The season will stretch for 20 regular season games from April through to September, with finals to be played in Melbourne across the opening weekend of September.
Despite having played some ice hockey at exhibition level during a Covid-19 interrupted 2021 season, the return of the AIHL is welcomed by many, as the Canberra club looks to secure its second Goodall Cup (last won in 2018). CBR Brave veteran, Kai Miettinen says that the return to competitive hockey has brought a sense of excitement to the playing group and that the team are more enthused than ever to bring home another championship.
“Having the opportunity to play for the Goodall Cup again this season is exciting because you have the chance to get your name inscribed on one of the oldest trophies in ice hockey in the world,” Miettinen said.
“Regardless if you’ve won it before, I don’t see it taking away any desire to lift that trophy over your head again. It’s a feeling I’ll never forget and I’m determined to experience it again this season.”
Despite the lack of hockey over the past few years, the Brave will roll out with a similar looking squad to the one that fans last saw in 2019, with the exception of a few faces. Fan favourites in the Kubara brothers, Joey Hughes, and Andy Camenzind will all return in Brave colours, with the addition of two imports into the team leaving CBR Brave CWO Sunny Singh with high hopes of a successful season.
“This is as strong a squad as we’ve assembled in a number of years,” Singh said.
“To have been able to hold onto our core group, particularly from a team chemistry perspective, gives us a red hot chance to be there come the business end of the season. Throw in the imports we’ve got coming into the team and I’ve got every faith that we’ll be right up there with the best if and when it all clicks.”
The Brave will be coached once again by Stu Philps, who will make his long awaited return to managing at AIHL level, following his appointment in AIHL Season 2022. Without a puck being dropped, Philps has remained with the club, leading the team through exhibition games in 2022 and is ready to lead the club forward.
“The past two years has been very tough and frustrating for everyone. With the easing of restrictions, we have the opportunity to reunite the community through sport,” Philps said.
“That’s the beauty of sport. It gives people something to look forward to each week, an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the team they support. For the players, it reintroduces structure. It brings a group of individuals together to work as one to reach a common goal. So for me, being able to play my role in seeing all this come together, it’s very exciting.”
The CBR Brave will return to Canberra for their first home game on Saturday 7 May 5.30pm against the Sydney Ice Dogs. All CBR Brave games will be broadcast this season via Kayo & Synergy Sports, with memberships and ticketing available via shop.cbrbrave.com.au.
CBR Brave vs Melbourne Ice at O’Brien Ice House, Melbourne on Saturday 30 April 5pm and Sunday 1 May 2pm.
