the CBR Brave The ice hockey team claimed a 5-2 victory over the Sydney Ice Dogs in their 2021 McCormack Cup home opener at the Phillip Swimming and Ice-Skating Center (aka The Brave Cave) last night, Saturday May 15.

The evening began with a moving pre-game ceremony which saw the puck-dropping ceremony performed by the parents of Lachlan Seary, the young Brave player who was killed in a car crash earlier this year. . The team have announced that they will dedicate this season to Lachlan.

A very tight and difficult first period gave chances to both teams – and the score remained tied at zero in the first intermission.

In the second half, the Braves opened the scoring with quick goals against Kai Miettinen and Hayden Dawes in the first minute. The visitors countered with an eleventh-minute goal, before Brave Captain Matt Harvey scored another to make it 3-1 in the second intermission.

The last period has been fluid and there were plenty of chances for the Braves and their visitors. A goal for Wehebe Darge and a second for Hayden Dawes put the result beyond doubt.

The only sour note of the evening was an injury to young forward Mitch Henning.

It was a great first home win for the Braves under new coach Stuart Philps.

Next Sunday, the Braves face the Sydney Ice Dogs at their temporary home in Erina. The Braves’ next home game is against the Ice Dogs on Saturday, June 5 at the Phillip Swimming and Ice-Skating Center.

• Match report by Scott Stevenson

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