Sydney Bears and Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) icon Vlad Rubes made a triumphant return behind the bench on Sunday. The new Bears’ bench boss got off to a winning start as the team triumphed 4-2 over the Adelaide Adrenaline.

Vlad Rubes is almost synonymous with the Sydney Bears, it’s hard to imagine an individual who encapsulates the organisation to the same extent. It’s an iconic combination – peanut butter and jelly, bacon and eggs, Abbott and Costello, the Sydney Bears and Vlad Rubes.

Serving as a player-coach for the Bears from the first season for the AIHL in 2001, Rubes delivered two Goodall Cups to the organisation in 2002 and 2007. Rubes suspended his playing career following the 2012 season and served as Bears’ Head Coach for two seasons.

In 2016 Rubes departed to coach cross-town rivals, the Sydney Ice Dogs. But Rubes returned as a player to the Bears in 2017 for three more seasons, lifting the cup in 2019, his final season.

As a player, Rubes leads the franchise in points (446), goals (176), and assists (270). The 53-year-old from Praha, Czechia, has been involved in every minor premiership and championship season the Bears have had. Iconic.

Winning Return

“It feels good to be back,” Rubes told Hockey Hype Australia after the game, his first behind the Bear’s bench since 2015. “Obviously it’s been a while, I was a little bit nervous, I didn’t know what to expect.”

Rubes had only recently returned from overseas when the organisation approached him earlier in the week to replace former coach Tyler Huberty. Without having an opportunity to conduct an on-ice training session, and meeting the team just once prior to the game, the result could have been quite different.

“It wasn’t that easy,” Rubes confirmed, “but here we are with three points.” The Adelaide Adrenaline has proven a formidable opponent this season, splitting the series entering Sunday’s contest, enjoyed a big win over Rurak Conference leaders Newcastle on Saturday.

“I watched their game last night against Newcastle, and they played well,” Rubes continued. “They’re a hard-working team and I knew they were going to work hard from what I saw last night. We maybe just had a bit more talent to get the win.”

Tomas Landa Impresses

It was a big night for fellow Czechian Tomas Landa, who bagged a goal and an assist in his return to the line-up. Landa’s last game was June 22 against the Melbourne Mustangs.

“He’s huge,” Rubes observed when asked about Landa’s performance, “I rate him as a top, top player in Australia. That’s the guy you want to have on your team.

“Defensively he’s unbeatable because he always played defensive roles on his teams back home. But here, with his skills, he can score as well.

“To have him in the line-up and strengthening that second line was huge for us tonight. He got the goal, and he got rewarded for his effort.”

Dreaming of the Cup

The last time Rubes was with the Bears’ organisation was in a playing capacity, lifting the Goodall Cup in 2019 at 49 years of age. When asked if he pictures himself lifting the trophy again at the end of the season, Rubes chuckled, saying, “I just got here!”

“It’s always in players’ dreams, to win the season. The team’s been doing well, we are sitting in the first spot, and we are in a good position to be straight into the Saturday games.

“Anything can happen, but I think we have a good chance with the group we have.”

Finally, when asked about what it means to him to be back with the Bears, Rubes was beaming as he said, eyes smiling, “1998 I started playing for the Bears, I played with the Bears for a long time, 20 years or so. It’s always in my blood.

“Being part of it [again] is good, I have lots of friends [here], it’s good to be back. Hockey was my life, even just to finish the season is good, and then see what happens after.”

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