When Spencer Cox’s ECHL season came to an end in April, the American defenceman wasn’t sure where hockey would take him next.

A trip to Scotland followed, then a return home while he weighed up his options for the months ahead.

Then, in mid-June, the phone rang.

“I got a random call asking if I’d be interested in coming over. I got a bit more detail about it and thought, ‘Why not?’ Two days later I was on a plane.”

Australia had never featured in his plans.

“I didn’t even know this league was a thing, Australia was never on the radar.”

A few weeks later, he’s wearing Canberra Brave colours and has quickly become part of a team chasing a Goodall Cup.

“The overall experience has been great so far. It’s a great group of guys in the locker room, which has made things a lot easier to adjust. Overall, it’s just been a great experience and I am so grateful to be here.”

Built Through Every Step

While Canberra may have been unexpected, Cox’s hockey journey has been years in the making.

Born in Philadelphia before moving to Columbus, Ohio as a young child, hockey quickly became part of family life.

“My dad played a little bit growing up.  We got season tickets to the Blue Jackets and we’d go to all the games. I started doing learn-to-play sessions, and it just progressed from there.”

That progression took him through the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets program before four years at Culver Military Academy, USHL (the best junior league in the United States), NCAA Division I with Long Island University and Miami University, and eventually into the ECHL.

Looking back, Cox believes every stop along the way helped prepare him for the next.

“I was surrounded by good people. With the Ohio Blue Jackets organisation, at Culver, and then in college, I was always around knowledgeable hockey minds. They taught me the details of the game and helped me keep progressing.”

The move into professional hockey brought a different challenge.

“It’s more of a lifestyle change. You’re on your own a bit more, there are a lot more games, and you have to find that consistency every night because it’s your job.”

A Warm Welcome

Cox’s first few days in Canberra were something of a whirlwind.

His equipment was delayed in San Francisco, meaning he couldn’t make his planned debut immediately and instead found himself playing the following day without having skated since his final ECHL game months earlier.

Fortunately, settling into the Brave locker room proved much easier and his first experience inside the AIS also left a lasting impression.

“I wasn’t expecting the rink to be how it is. It’s a great fan atmosphere. It’s electric, and it’s really cool to see the community rally around us.”

Coming from the United States, he wasn’t sure what to expect from hockey in Australia.

“I didn’t even know there were hockey fans in Australia,” he admitts. “It’s been really cool to experience that and see how much people love the game here.”

Doing Whatever the Team Needs

Cox describes himself as an offensive defenceman, but one who values making smart decisions over flashy plays.

“I like to pick and choose my moment. I like to break the puck out, I feel like I’ve got good details to my game, a good stick and I like to defend.”

Above all else, he prides himself on being adaptable.

“For me, it’s whatever the team needs me to do that night. If I need to break pucks out, I’ll do that. If I need to be physical and defend, that’s what I’ll do.

He compares himself to a Swiss Army knife – a player capable of contributing in different ways depending on what’s required.

“I have a lot of different qualities that I can bring to the team.”

That versatility has translated well to the AIHL.

“It’s just fun hockey. The competitiveness is there, and that’s what you want. You want to be playing for something.”

Looking Ahead

With the regular season drawing towards its conclusion, Cox’s focus is simple.

“To win a championship.”

It’s the goal shared by everyone inside the Brave locker room, and one that motivated him from the moment he arrived.

Looking further ahead, though, it won’t just be wins and losses that define his memories of Canberra.

“When I look back years from now, I hope it’s the friendships and memories that define my time in Canberra. The teammates, the staff, getting to explore Australia and the different cities.

“And hopefully,” he adds, “looking back on a championship too.”

For someone who arrived in Canberra with little more than a phone call and an open mind, Spencer Cox has embraced the opportunity, and quickly found a place within the Brave family.