Brave determined for Goodall success

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In just their second season, the CBR Brave enters the AIHL Finals for the second time after fighting off the Adrenaline, Mustangs and Bears to grab the fourth and final position. Last years’ fairy tale story entered the 2015 season with high hopes yet mid-season the Brave were right in the midst of the four-way battle that has been waged through a majority of the season. However, with a strong finish, the Brave have rocketed back into Goodall Cup contention.
 
With import goalkeeper-turned-coach Josh Unice taking the reins of the team with seven games remaining, the team has had a huge run into the finals, winning six of the last seven games with a 5-1-1-0 record under the American’s leadership. Following the teams’ great run into the playoffs, the sudden death nature of the AIHL Finals has the Brave confident they can bring home the second Championship to Canberra after the ACT’s win in 1998.
 
As the Brave prepare for Finals, Unice said the team was “focused and determined to do whatever it takes to bring the Goodall Cup back to Canberra”.
 
“The preparations are like any other week,” Unice said. “We identify areas that we did well, bad, and what we need to improve on to be even better in the future. We have the opportunity to do something very special this weekend, and after the traumatic loss last season, I know everyone involved is driven to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Last season, the Brave brought the enthusiasm and passion but went down to the experienced Melbourne Ice 6-1. Back a year wiser and more experienced, the Brave are determined not to suffer the same fate as last season.
 
“Any time you lose in a final it hurts, but the way we lost last year, even as an outsider, motivates me to prepare harder, and be more focused,” Unice said. “I lost in the final of the English league, and it reignites the fire and competitiveness anytime there’s a trophy on the line when you have come so close, and not won.”

For the Brave, there have been some outstanding contributions including Kelly Geoffrey with 28 goals and 61 points, Kyle Mariani with 28 points from defence and David Dunwoodie with 22 points from 20 games, However, Stephen Blunden has been the undoubted star with 79 points from 24 games, finishing the regular season in second overall in points. Blunden’s record was actually on track to beat Geordie Wudrick’s 91 points if he’d continued on the same points per game.
 
The Canberrans will need all the firepower they have to overcome the minor premiers in the Newcastle North Stars. The season series has been close between the Brave and the North Stars. However, the Novcastrians have taken points from every game, with the Brave’s two wins going to shootout, while the North Stars won both in regular time. What should fill the Brave with confidence is that they defeated the North Stars, their only loss in the past eight starts.
 
While that was two games ago, the Brave’s last start against the Ice Dogs was disappointing for Unice and he knows that they’ll need to shake it off to get past the impressive North Stars.
 
“The general vibe of the team is focused,” Unice said. “We know that we have to get back to our form in the weeks before the Ice Dogs game. The guys know what areas we need to work on, and will be spending a lot of time on them this week.” 

The CBR Brave take on the Newcastle North Stars in the first semi-final on Saturday afternoon at 3:00pm at the Medibank Icehouse.