The Canberra Brave have been locked out of the Phillip ice rink, leaving the ice hockey team without a training venue ahead of their season opener this weekend. The standoff with facility owner Geocon has forced the three-time Goodall Cup winners to rely on off-ice conditioning and yoga to prepare for the Australian Ice Hockey League season.
Brave owner Stephen Campbell said the team was blindsided by the move, having used the rink for training on Tuesday and Thursday nights for years. Geocon, however, stated it informed the Brave in January that their agreement would expire on March 31 and would not be renewed, with other ice sports groups now booked into the training slots.
The dispute highlights ongoing venue shortages in Canberra. The ACT government promised a feasibility study for a new ice rink in Tuggeranong in 2016, but a decade later no construction has begun. The Brave relocated their games to the AIS Arena last year, boosting attendance, but the venue lacks a permanent ice rink.
Campbell said the Brave struck a deal with the AIHL to start the season with away games in Perth, Newcastle, and Melbourne to allow time to prepare the AIS Arena for a home opener on May 9. However, fast-tracking the arena's transformation is impossible due to a Guy Sebastian concert scheduled there on Saturday night.
Geocon said it is committed to fair access for all ice sports groups and noted that the Brave's cancellation of 11 home games and training sessions freed up ice time for community groups. The Brave's existing deal was set to expire on March 31, 2026, but Geocon said community commitments now prevent renewal.
Campbell expressed disappointment, saying, 'Canberra is a small community and it would be nice if we all worked collaboratively.' He remains confident the team can adapt, but acknowledged the situation puts the Brave at a distinct disadvantage as they begin their title defense.
