ðə fˈɪlɪp ˈaɪs skˈeɪɾɪŋ ænd swˈɪmɪŋ sˈɛntɚɹ ˈoʊpənd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi, ænd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi wˈʌn ðə kˈænbɚɹə nˈaɪts wɜː fˈɔːɹmd baɪ ɐ ɡɹˈuːp ʌv fˈɔːɹmɚ hˈɑːki plˈeɪɚz, mˈɛni hˌuː hæd nˌɑːt plˈeɪd ɪn jˈɪɹz, ænd ðeɪ plˈeɪd ɪn vˈɛɹiəs ɛksɪbˈɪʃən mˈætʃᵻz ɐɡˈɛnst ˌɪntɚnˈæʃənəl ænd ɔːstɹˈeɪliən tˈiːmz.
The Phillip Ice Skating and Swimming centre opened in 1980, and in 1981 the Canberra Knights were formed by a group of former hockey players, many who had not played in years, and they played in various exhibition matches against international and Australian teams.