Canberra and the Cup - Finals Preview

The CBR Brave have punched their ticket to the 2017 AIHL Finals presented by Air Canada this 2-3 September, but what will it take for them to go one better and take home the Goodall Cup? After starting the season with an AIHL Special Report, looking into the Brave’s off-season preparations and campaign to go One Better in 2017, CBR Brave Head Coach Rob Starke shed some light on where the Brave are in their push to become the 2017 AIHL Champions.

“The Brave have been Cup contenders for the past few seasons and came very close to winning it all last season,” said Starke.

“The Finals weekend is all about big stage hockey and we feel ready and well equipped to achieve success on the big stage. The top four are all strong and well balanced teams which should make for a great weekend of Finals hockey.”

Big ice testing the Brave

After an almost trademark mid-season slump, the Brave are back on their way up, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing this year. July in particular, was unkind to the Brave after dropping all four games against the Perth Thunder, and splitting a weekend with the Melbourne Mustangs.  Overall, the Brave only won four of their nine games in July and struggled to adapt to the ‘big’ ice over in Perth.

These are not the results you're looking for. Perth clean sweep the Brave in their four meetings this season. Photo: Richard Sak.

The Brave closed the season with four games on the road and importantly, the last two a double-header in Melbournce against the Melbourne Ice played on the big ice of the O’Brien Group Arena where the playoffs will be held.

While the last weekend of regulation presented the Brave with the opportunity to fine tune their big ice game and make any adjustments prior to the big dance, the encounter provided little encouragement, going down 2-5 to the Ice on Saturday and the same again on Sunday.

While the Brave would no doubt rather finish the season in front of a home crowd – where they recorded wins like the dominant 8-5 victory over minor premiers, the Melbourne Ice – Starke is pleased that they have had time to adjust their systems in the lead up to the Finals.

“Playing on the big ice to finish the season is handy. It will provide us with some familiarity and assist with our preparations”.

No matter the game result, preparation on the big ice of the O'Brien Group Arena in Melbourne is valuable. Photo: Andrew McNamara.

Thunder rolling into Finals

The Brave will encounter the Perth Thunder in the second AIHL Semi-Final at 6pm AEST on the 2^nd of September, and the Thunder present a strong challenge: coming in confident after winning the last weekend’s double-header in Adelaide 11-3 and 12-1 against the Adrenaline.

Thunder’s top scorer Ben Breault also clinched the AIHL’s points leader position for the 2017 season, with 22 goals and 36 assists for 58 points.

The Thunder's Ben Breault pictured here on home ice in Perth, tallied 2.1 goals per game in 2017. Photo: Corey Lunt. 

Of the top five AIHL points leaders, the Thunder take 1 and 4 with Breault and Christian Oullet (48 points, 14 goals, 34 assists), while the Brave take 2 and 4 with Geordie Wudrick (54 points, 20 goals, 34 assists), and Dominic Jalbert (53 points, 16 goals and 37 assists). With firepower like that, fans can expect this Semi-Final match up to deliver end-to-end hockey.

Listen to Thunder's Jamie Woodman talk about their Finals preparation and Breault on his overall points leader milestone on this week's AIHL Podcast. 

Taking it to the next level

Starke is optimistic that the Brave will be able to rise to the occasion.

“The Thunder is the only team that we did not beat in the regular season. I expect the Thunder to be tagged as favourites to win our semi-final game. However, I also expect our team to take our game to the next level and get the job done.”

When asked whether there were any superstitions in the CBR Brave locker room, Coach Starke was happy to indulge his players if it can turn into success on the ice.

“My guess is that there are plenty superstitions floating around in the locker room - some secretive and some not. If our superstitions equate to puck luck and winning hockey games then happy days“.

The CBR Brave will look to turn around their season performances against the Perth Thunder in the second Semi-Final at 6pm on Saturday 2 September at the O’Brien Group Arena.

Whether you’re rink-side or watching all the action live with an AIHL Finals pay per view pass, get into the game using #AIHLFinals.