The CBR Brave will enter the 2020 AIHL season with a new head coach after it was announced Australia’s Women’s Ice Hockey Coach Stuart Philps will take over the position.

Philps has a strong resume in ice hockey, representing the Canberra Knights franchise during a 15-year career as a player and player / coach. Philps served as the assistant coach of the Brave for two seasons between 2014 and 2016 before taking up a strength and conditioning position at the club.

Philps became the Coach of the Aussie Women’s Ice Hockey Team in January 2018, after helping them win the gold medal at the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championships as an Assistant Coach. He has also managed the Australian men’s inline hockey outfit since 2012 and has captured two silver medals at the World Inline Hockey Championships (2014 and 2015). 

The 41-year-old is currently across the world in Iceland coaching the women’s side who are competing at the 2020 ice hockey world championships for the gold medal. 

In his coaching career, Philps has coached 10 national teams during his time as a coach on the international scene and his philosophy is clear:

“I see myself as a players coach. I believe coaching is 80% people management and 20% coaching. Players need to know you have their best interests in mind,” Philps said.

The CBR Brave will kick off their 2020 AIHL Season at home against the Sydney Ice Dogs on April 18.