CBR Brave vs Brisbane Lightning

Canberra came out flying. Peter Bates opened the scoring off a feed from Bayley Kubara, and Adam Henning doubled the lead with help from Jacob Carey and Fahmy. Brisbane responded through Batu Gendunov (No. 87), who beat Brave goalie Alex Tetreault to cut the deficit, but Canberra answered before the first intermission.

Justin Maylan made it 3–1 with assists from Spencer Cox and Casey Kubara, and Jake Ratcliffe stretched the lead to 4–1 on a setup from Bates and Cameron Todd.

Bates struck again early in the middle frame — his second of the afternoon, assisted by Bray Crowder — and Cameron Todd added a sixth goal with the Kubara brothers (Bayley and Casey) both involved. Brisbane managed further goals but could not slow Canberra's momentum, as the Brave repeatedly carved through the Lightning defence.

Bates and Todd combined for multiple scoring plays, while the Brave power-play and transition game overwhelmed a Brisbane side that had already been eliminated from playoff contention.

Canberra's four-goal first period effectively decided the contest before it reached the midway point. Once Ratcliffe made it 4–1, Brisbane faced a three-goal hole on the road against the league's hottest team. The Brave had won seven of their previous eight and carried the confidence of a side peaking at the right time.

• Peter Bates (CBR Brave) — Two goals, one assist. The American import has been on a prolific run since joining mid-season and delivered again when the Brave needed a focal point. Player of the Match.
• Cameron Todd (CBR Brave) — One goal, at least one assist. Todd's chemistry with Bates and the Kubara brothers gave Brisbane's defence constant problems.
• Bayley Kubara (CBR Brave) — Two primary assists (both to Bates and Todd). His puck movement from the blue line was a key factor in Canberra's transition play.
• Alex Tetreault (CBR Brave) — In goal for the Brave, facing a Brisbane side that had enough firepower to trouble lesser opponents but was kept to four goals.

The scoreline tells a story of offensive dominance, but the underlying patterns back it up. Canberra's nine-goal haul was the highest by any Brave side at home this season, and the team's third consecutive win (following a 6–3 victory over Newcastle Northstars on 15 August) underscores their momentum. Brisbane, by contrast, finished their campaign with only 27 points from 28 games, well adrift of the playoff places. The H2H record shows Brave have won 8 of 13 meetings since 2023; this result extended that lead and pushed the aggregate goal tally across the rivalry past 130.

Canberra Brave finish their home regular season with 59 points from 28 games, sitting third in the AIHL standings behind Melbourne Mustangs and Newcastle Northstars. They have already secured their Goodall Cup Playoffs berth and now turn their attention to the qualifying rounds in Melbourne from 28–30 August.

Brisbane Lightning end the season in 9th place with 27 points from 28 games, eliminated from playoff contention well before this fixture.

Canberra delivered a statement performance in their last home game of the regular season: ruthless on the transition, clinical on the finish, and deep enough to get goals from seven different skaters. Bates continues to look like the import signing of the season. If they carry this form into the finals weekend, they will be a problem for every team in Melbourne.

All stats sourced from the official AIHL provider feed and Canberra Brave social media. Standings reflect the position as of 16 August 2026.