Being Brave with the Bravehearts

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Some of you may not know the official name “The Bravehearts” but most AIHL fans will know them for their painted faces, plaid sashes and enthusiasm. 
 
Adrian and Harv started it all, setting up the Bravehearts when the Brave was established in 2014 but they note they have been fans for a long time.
 
“We were [Canberra] Knights’ fans, had memberships and cheered them on,” they said. “We watched them lose more often than not, but we were still fans. When we heard that they weren’t going to be put forward we were disappointed but then when we heard about the Brave we were excited.”
 
“We contributed to the crowd funding. We thought, ‘okay, Brave - what can we do with that?’ And then we thought, ‘Bravehearts’, so we painted our faces and got a tartan sash so everyone could understand and that’s what happened.”
 
Starting with just three members, the Bravehearts have now grown enough to get their own section roped off at the Brave Cave.
 
“We just gave sashes out and a few people said how do we join, we said you don’t have to ‘join’ just paint your face or get some tartan. If you want to come, come. Anyone can be a Braveheart. You don’t even have to sit with us; it’s all inclusive.”
 
Their dedication is matched by few, as the Bravehearts travel around the country to support the team, though they note they have not been to Perth yet.
 
“Adelaide, we flew to Adelaide,” Adrian and Harv said. “We’ve been up to Sydney more than a few times, even on the bus with the team. And Melbourne for both the finals. We booked out flights and accommodation for this year’s finals last season!”
 
If you haven’t seen them for their costume, you’ve certainly heard them. The clever and witty chants absolutely make the game.
 
“We try and identify with a random player on the other team, and we just pick one and whenever that player is on the ice we just call him by his first name, something simple, but when you’ve got 15-20 people, it gets to them.”
 
“Then there’s some funny calls. We have a few calls we like to use, ‘he has a beard/hair like Jesus, he must be a saint ref!’ Now we have Brandi, if he goes in the box we’re going to say ‘we like our Brandi on ice’! Just last week they informed the ref and the crowd that fan favourite Jimmy Byers’ ‘only interference was being too good looking’.”
 
“You have to pick your moments, but it’s good fun. We try to keep it PG, non-aggressive, not swearing. We have too many people who are being rude, we don’t need it.”
 
The Bravehearts have had some wonderful moments to pick from though. Out of a terrible accident in 2014 when the Adelaide Adrenaline bus crashed, a silver lining and unique memory for the Bravehearts.
 
“The game got cancelled, but the boys weren’t going to waste the ice time so they decided to have a training. Since we were already there we ended up going over to the rink and cheering the boys during the training. So we were there just yelling stuff, and they came up and said cheer for a game. So we asked for a game, and a bunch of the guys turned their jersey’s inside out, so it was the Brave verses the ‘Ghost Brave’.”
 
The guys on the ice put on a show, and pretending to get in a bit of a fight, threw their gloves off and ‘punched on’, and they both got sent to the box. So we all crowded around and we have this amazing photo of all the Bravehearts with these two guys in the box.
 
When queried about their unwavering support and commitment, the boys brushed it off.
 
“It’s the love of the game, it’s a fantastic game and you’re a part of it,” they said. “[The team and the management] put so much effort into it. And if I can give back about 1/10 of what they’re putting in, I’m honoured to do so.
 
“There’s nothing like the Brave Cave. Canberra has the best fans; we have amazing fans. The Bravehearts don’t influence the team more than any other fan that chooses to come week after week, we just add another layer.”
 
Looking forward in the season the boys both agree that there’s more to come from The Brave.
 
“We want to see the guys go from strength to strength. We’re excited for Blunden and Brandi. Can’t wait for the full import roster and to see what Josh does.”