Sitting down with Stephen Blunden

Beginning his fourth year with the CBR Brave, Stephen Blunden is one of the trailblazers of our overseas talent, making the trip over from Canada early in the Teams’ progression and not only staying but bringing friends along with him. While he’s one of the top scoring forwards in the League, about to reach his 200th point for the AIHL, Steve has a lot to look back on during his time playing in Aus.

Steve, like most of his Canadian counterparts, got into hockey at an extremely young age. "I was two years old. We had a cottage on a lake, so the lake froze and my Dad taught me how to skate and I’ve been playing hockey ever since."

For a best moment in hockey, Steve reminisced about winning the League in the junior 18’s. "Hoisting up the cup was pretty special; it was obviously every team’s goal to win, so it was nice when we did."

His worst moment and his worst injury are one and the same. "When I was 23 I broke my ankle playing hockey. I didn’t think I’d play again, it was probably my lowest point".

A key question for a major cog in the Brave’s goal scoring abilities is, how did he find himself playing in Canberra, Australia? "After graduating university, me and my best bud Matthew, we heard about Australia and we decided ’yeah we’ll go.’ We contacted, they were the Knights at the time, and they wanted us, so we were going there. Then the team folded and we didn’t think we were going anymore but we got a call and they said ’we’ve got a new team, do you want to still come?’ I’m still here."

"Every year I think I’ve had a buddy who comes out with me. First year I had Wally, second year was Pitty, last year was Guerts, and then Jalbert. So each year I have a buddy who comes out. It’s a great league and I think a lot of the imports come over here as a vacation, they get to experience the country and the culture and also get to play some fun hockey."

"I just enjoy playing here. It’s a fun league to play in, it’s good competitive hockey. Canberra has been nothing but great to me, I love the City, love the team, love the players."

Steve says the best thing about being in Canberra is the people, and the worst is the cold weather.

Asked about his awards and achievements with the Brave, including top points’ scorer Steve was humble and appreciative. "Top goal scorer, I’ve never been a guy who put up many points, but then it’s fun to be that guy, it’s nice that the team relies on you and I’m happy I can do it. I like to think I am seen as a guy who gets the offensive going either by scoring or trying to set up other players to score."

As for how other teams and the League perceive him, "an offensive threat who’s a bit grindy at times as well. Growing up you always hated playing against those guys who were tough to play against but everyone loves having them on their team. Just no one wants to play against those guys."

Hopefully his goal scoring ability will assist in Steve’s (and many of his teammates’) number one hockey goal. "It would obviously be to win the Goodall Cup."

There is added passion in that hope with Steve dropping a bombshell on the reporter during questioning. "This will be my final year, so hopefully we’ll make a run at the Cup before I go."

Steve says that he wants to go home and make a life for himself there, he is especially missing his family. He also says that unfortunately there is no chance of the Blunden brothers forming a Kubara-like family line for the Brave, as they have started their own families in Canada.

With regard to his time playing hockey in Australia, Steve says picking a best memory is hard. "There’s too many. Probably getting put through boot camps. They sucked the whole time but all the boys had fun doing them afterwards." He also notes road trips with the team are especially fun. "Just being around them for a whole weekend. Getting away from work and getting to have a good fun weekend with the boys, drinking beers and playing hockey. It’s great."

His time in the League has also flowed over into social media, with internet ’memes’ about him not being uncommon. "Oh the memes, I think they’re hilarious! All my buddies back home send me a few every now and then and we get a good laugh out of them. They probably make fun of me more than anyone else. It’s funny that way."

Considering his last season ahead, Steve has a lot to reflect on, in both the team and the League.

Steve’s message to the Brave fans was a simple. "Thanks for your support every weekend. It sucked at the start of the season having our first four games on the road, finally getting back home, it is a great place to play and everyone has fun while we’re there."

As for the League: "I love where the League is going. Each year I’ve been here the League has gotten better and better. I think this year it’s the closest it’s ever been and it’s good to see each team has the chance to win every night, there’s not just a couple of teams dominating like it was in the past. This is a fantastic opportunity for international players, you get to see the country, it’s a niche market. When you’re out there everyone wants the win but afterwards I don’t think there’s one guy you wouldn’t have a beer with in the bar. Just that in itself is awesome."

Here’s a few quick things about Steve:

• His guilty pleasure in Maccas "I love McDonalds, I get a Big Mac every time"
• His favourite pastime is playing sports, he particularly likes soccer.
• Given the option rule breaker or law abider, he picked rule breaker for sure.
• His favourite colour is red
• He has an older brother who plays pro hockey and a younger brother and sister.
• His favourite food is steak, medium rare.
• If he had a whole weekend to do whatever he wanted, he’d do absolutely nothing. "Stay home, play videogames and watch movies"
• His favourite movie is Dodgeball