Canberra Brave takes to the ice at AIS Arena as basketball court transforms into hockey rink
Reigning Australian Ice Hockey League champions, the Canberra Brave, have officially taken to the ice for the first time in their temporary home in Bruce.
The new rink will allow spectators to watch games from full bowl seating — a first for any team in the league.
Canberra Brave CEO Stephen Campbell said playing out of AIS Arena was a "significant step" for the team, with hopes it will increase exposure and participation in the sport.
"As soon as you walk in the building, you immediately know it's an ice rink, there is that crisp freshness on your face … not unlike a cold Canberra morning," he said.
"The boys are playing a top tier sport and it's appropriate they play in a top tier venue."
The arena can accommodate more than 2,700 spectators, significantly more than the club's previous venue at the Phillip Swimming and Ice Skating Centre.
Eleven Brave home games will be hosted at the arena this season, with the first on Saturday against against Adelaide Adrenaline expected to be a sell out.
"It really reinforces the decision to move here was the correct one," Mr Campbell said.
"There is simply nothing like it. This is a first for not just Canberra, it's a first for Australia.
Brave player Matt Clark said he was "excited" to get on the ice in the team's new home.
"It's going to be a lot of fun when there is tonnes of people in here," he said.
"We came here a couple of weeks ago and there was no ice down, no glass up … the right people have got it done.
The rink has been assembled on the floor of the arena using a protective system that prevents damage to the surface beneath.
The move to the arena was first announced in April, and Mr Campbell said it was a "massive project" to undertake in a short amount of time.
"We have had a fantastic call up from our volunteers who have spent some tireless days and nights … some of these nights have gone until 4am in the morning," he said.
Kerry Goulet, who has overseen the transformation, said it started out as a "blank canvas".
"We brought some boards, put some mats down, threw some ice on and now we have one of the best facilities I would say not only in Australia but I think it's going to be in South Pacific," he said.
"It's like a young boy or girl going to the Christmas tree for the first time and seeing those presents and then opening them up and, 'Wow, we have got an ice rink'."
At the end of the season, the rink will be packed down and put into storage, before being constructed again for next winter.
The AIS Arena is a temporary home for the team, as it waits for a new multi-purpose ice sports facility, dubbed Canberra Arena, to be built in Tuggeranong.
The facility was an election promise made by the ACT government during the 2016 territory election campaign. Environmental concerns have slowed down the timeline, with construction yet to begin.
Mr Campbell, who is also one of the developers of the new site, said he hoped the new venue would be ready for the 2028 ice hockey season.
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