Thursday, April 30, 2015
Brave edge Bears in ANZAC Day clash
The CBR Brave left the Sydney Bears out in the cold with a 4-2 win at the Phillip Swimming & Ice Skating Centre on ANZAC Day.
Two unanswered third period goals thrilled the capacity crowd, as the Brave finished over the top of the Bears to claim the points in the 2015 season opener.
It was a physical first round match with both sides coming out of the blocks strongly and physically.
The Bears were able to capitalise on early possession when import Tomas Landa beat new Brave goalkeeper Josh Unice with a shot from within the face off circle to open the scoring.
However it didn't last long before Brave import Scott Pitt stepped his way through Bears defence before beating Mario Passarelli to send the teams to the break tied 1-all at the first break.
The Sydney Bears were the livelier outfit to start the second period as they managed to maintain possession and build opportunities.
It was in the eight minutes, but the Bears were able to reclaim the lead when Saxon Air slotted his second ever AIHL goal.
The Brave hit back just before the break when Brave alternate captain Peter Taylor.
With both sides displaying control and patience with the puck and trading shots on net throughout the first two periods, it was only fair that the teams went to the second intermission locked at 2-all.
Although Bears coach Vlad Rubes felt the Taylor goal was “a little bit lucky”, Rubes felt that that was the turning point.
“The [Brave] started being a little bit more desperate and out-muscling our guys and towards the end of the second period they were getting a bit more control,” Rubes said.
Continue reading my article on theAIHL.com
Brave Hunt-ing for Goodall cup
The CBR Brave will enter its sophomore year in the AIHL still buzzing from the well-documented fairy tale 2014 season. Finished the 2014 regular season in third position with a 14-9-1 record, the Brave clinched a playoff position - the first time in AIHL history that a Canberra team had made the finals.
Although the team wasn’t able to go all the way to lift the Goodall Cup, it was an important season for hockey in our nation’s capital as they now enter the 2015 season with the expectations that come with that success as the Brave aim to bring the Goodall Cup back to the ACT for the first time since 1998, the only time the territory won the State competition.
With former goalkeeper Brad Hunt taking over the reins of coach, he is hungrier than ever to continue the success of the Brave. In fact, should the Brave claim their inaugural Goodall Cup, it will be the second time he will have his name on the trophy, having been one of the ACT goalkeepers in 1998.
Hunt has been faced with the challenge of transitioning from player-turned-coach.
“The transition from that to a position of authority took a bit of work and adjustment from both myself and the guys,” said Hunt. “I have a great leadership group that knows my background so I have had their support from the beginning.”
With over 20 years of playing experience in Canberra, Hunt said his expectations of the players are simple.
Although the team wasn’t able to go all the way to lift the Goodall Cup, it was an important season for hockey in our nation’s capital as they now enter the 2015 season with the expectations that come with that success as the Brave aim to bring the Goodall Cup back to the ACT for the first time since 1998, the only time the territory won the State competition.
With former goalkeeper Brad Hunt taking over the reins of coach, he is hungrier than ever to continue the success of the Brave. In fact, should the Brave claim their inaugural Goodall Cup, it will be the second time he will have his name on the trophy, having been one of the ACT goalkeepers in 1998.
Hunt has been faced with the challenge of transitioning from player-turned-coach.
“The transition from that to a position of authority took a bit of work and adjustment from both myself and the guys,” said Hunt. “I have a great leadership group that knows my background so I have had their support from the beginning.”
With over 20 years of playing experience in Canberra, Hunt said his expectations of the players are simple.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Game 1
I stepped out on the ice with a lot of nervous energy. Playing rugby, I’m used to that feeling of butterflies before kick-off, but this was a whole lot different. It was more intense. I guess it was because the only hockey experience I've ever had was on the Xbox.. or watching on ESPN.
The freshly cut ice got the better of me and I looked like Bambi taking its first steps. I had to compose myself with some slow laps and deep breaths. We started taking shots at our goaltender, but I decided to collect the loose pucks from around him as I doubted my ability to get a decent shot at him.. and I was right.
When I finally decided to participate in the warm-up drill and take a shot, I was glove side of the keeper in the face-off circle and tried to whip one at him but it went directly to my teammate on the other side of the ice. Pretty much a perfect pass.
The next warm up drill was the horseshoe drill where, again, I slid to the back of the queue. I started getting my voice and started calling for the distribution of the pucks and offering words of encouragement. I sent a pass to a receiver skating out (which was similar in quality to my previous pass/shot) then skated off to the blue line to receive my pass. I surprised myself and handled the puck nicely on the turn and skated towards the net to take the shot. I looked at the net, hoped for the best and whipped one at the goalie. It zoomed right by him, top right. It felt good, and all of a sudden a whole lot of pressure was lifted from my shoulders.
When we finally started playing I felt comfortable. I knew what my basic role was whilst on the wing, and who to look for when we were changing lines, but a spanner was thrown into the works when another team member arrived - which in turn - screwing up the wing pairings. My whole system in my head was screwed. We basically had to rotate the wingers, which in hindsight, is quite simple. HA!
My first time I was out there I got myself between a pass, I patrolled my zone and kept on my man and got back to the bench to some nice pats on the back when we changed lines.
As the game went on, admittedly, the minor details of the game caught me out a number of times such as my positioning during our penalty kill, having my stick on the ice for the face off and calling for the puck whilst I was in an offside position. The offside one was due not being able to see which side of the line my team mate was on, and I blame the poor line markings for that! HA! I tried to scramble towards back towards the neutral zone to get back onside, but - as luck would have it - I tripped over and ended up on all-4's crawling towards the blue line in a comical fashion, much to the entertainment of my team.
Overall I was extremely satisfied with my first performance. A personal achievement. Even though we went down 3-2 in the last minute of the game, I still enjoyed every minute of it and am now determined to get better - and the best part is that I know I CAN!
Until next time.
The freshly cut ice got the better of me and I looked like Bambi taking its first steps. I had to compose myself with some slow laps and deep breaths. We started taking shots at our goaltender, but I decided to collect the loose pucks from around him as I doubted my ability to get a decent shot at him.. and I was right.
When I finally decided to participate in the warm-up drill and take a shot, I was glove side of the keeper in the face-off circle and tried to whip one at him but it went directly to my teammate on the other side of the ice. Pretty much a perfect pass.
The next warm up drill was the horseshoe drill where, again, I slid to the back of the queue. I started getting my voice and started calling for the distribution of the pucks and offering words of encouragement. I sent a pass to a receiver skating out (which was similar in quality to my previous pass/shot) then skated off to the blue line to receive my pass. I surprised myself and handled the puck nicely on the turn and skated towards the net to take the shot. I looked at the net, hoped for the best and whipped one at the goalie. It zoomed right by him, top right. It felt good, and all of a sudden a whole lot of pressure was lifted from my shoulders.
When we finally started playing I felt comfortable. I knew what my basic role was whilst on the wing, and who to look for when we were changing lines, but a spanner was thrown into the works when another team member arrived - which in turn - screwing up the wing pairings. My whole system in my head was screwed. We basically had to rotate the wingers, which in hindsight, is quite simple. HA!
My first time I was out there I got myself between a pass, I patrolled my zone and kept on my man and got back to the bench to some nice pats on the back when we changed lines.
As the game went on, admittedly, the minor details of the game caught me out a number of times such as my positioning during our penalty kill, having my stick on the ice for the face off and calling for the puck whilst I was in an offside position. The offside one was due not being able to see which side of the line my team mate was on, and I blame the poor line markings for that! HA! I tried to scramble towards back towards the neutral zone to get back onside, but - as luck would have it - I tripped over and ended up on all-4's crawling towards the blue line in a comical fashion, much to the entertainment of my team.
Overall I was extremely satisfied with my first performance. A personal achievement. Even though we went down 3-2 in the last minute of the game, I still enjoyed every minute of it and am now determined to get better - and the best part is that I know I CAN!
Until next time.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Day one.
Hi guys,
Please join me in my adventures as volunteer writer for the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) and write on the CBR Brave, and my [hopeful] rise as social 'D' grade ice hockey star.
Within the last 18 months, I've been increasingly interested in creative writing and sports journalism, so when the oppourtunity to write for the AIHL popped up, I decided to take a chance and put my hand up. Thankfully, they said yes and I am now writing for the CBR Brave - our local Ice Hockey team here in Canberra.
I've never whipped out my credit card faster to register and buy the appropriate equipment when I found out I could play social ice hockey. My wife is still shaking her head as I walk around the house with a helmet on and reciting 'Mighty Duck's' lines. Please follow me on twitter and on this blog to read my work on the CBR Brave AND my social ice hockey career.
-- KB.
Please join me in my adventures as volunteer writer for the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) and write on the CBR Brave, and my [hopeful] rise as social 'D' grade ice hockey star.
Within the last 18 months, I've been increasingly interested in creative writing and sports journalism, so when the oppourtunity to write for the AIHL popped up, I decided to take a chance and put my hand up. Thankfully, they said yes and I am now writing for the CBR Brave - our local Ice Hockey team here in Canberra.
I've never whipped out my credit card faster to register and buy the appropriate equipment when I found out I could play social ice hockey. My wife is still shaking her head as I walk around the house with a helmet on and reciting 'Mighty Duck's' lines. Please follow me on twitter and on this blog to read my work on the CBR Brave AND my social ice hockey career.
-- KB.
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