World

Video Shows Massive Riots in Vancouver After NHL Team Loses Stanley Cup

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Angry, drunken fans ran wild Wednesday night after the Vancouver Canucks’ 4-0 loss to Boston in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, setting cars and garbage cans ablaze, smashing windows, showering giant TV screens with beer bottles and dancing atop overturned vehicles.

Later, looters smashed windows and ran inside department stores.

“We have a small number of hooligans on the streets of Vancouver causing problems,” Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said. “It’s absolutely disgraceful and shameful and by no means represents the city of Vancouver. … We have had an extraordinary run in the playoff, great celebration. What’s happened tonight is despicable.”

Police said they had reports of four stabbings, though spokeswoman Const. Jana McGuinness said she couldn’t confirm them.

Officers from around the region flooded into downtown, and Robertson said things were getting under control, but the images and atmosphere that persisted late into the night suggested otherwise.

It took about four hours before downtown quieted again.

While Robertson said there had been no fatalities, ambulances appeared to be having trouble getting inside the zone to help the injured. TV images showed at least one woman mopping blood from her forehead.

“You don’t ever hope for a situation like this,” McGuinness said. “You celebrate the good times and you prepare for the bad times and that‘s exactly what we’ve done. Unfortunately, the tables have turned tonight. … We will have to sit down and evaluate exactly what happened here. It’s going to be a black mark for a very, very long time.”

At a Bay store, looters were seen grabbing T-shirts and anything else they could get their hands on. Young women were seen escaping with MAC cosmetics, with one carrying out part of a mannequin. The landmark building was filling with smoke as people, their faces covered in bandannas, continued the violence.

The Bay became a target, with windows smashed to allow looters to get to the expensive Coach and Burberry purses. Merchandise went flying into the street. Women rampaged through the main floor makeup department, tossing each other products and squealing in delight.

Another fire erupted nearby in an area littered with abandoned Canucks memorabilia and hand-lettered signs expressing support for the team.

The violence appeared to start when fans set fire to a stuffed bear decorated to symbolize the Bruins. Others sang a drunken tune as they danced on an overturned vehicle.

“It’s terrible,” Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said, shaking his head. “This city and province has a lot to be proud of, the team we have and the guys we have in here. It’s too bad.”

The looters turned their attention next on a Future Shop store a few blocks away, smashing windows and flooding up the stairs to the second-floor store, only to turn around quickly. One witness said police were at the top of the stairs.

Sears and Chapters stores were also looted, their glass fronts smashed. For many, the ugly chaos made the Cup loss an afterthought.

“What I’ve seen is a complete disgrace,” said Beth Hope, 28, who is originally from England but has lived in Vancouver for two years. “I’m a Canucks fan, but my jersey’s in my bag. I’m ashamed to be a fan right now.”

Hope said she saw a parkade on fire and cars ablaze.

“It’s insane, it’s absolutely insane,” she said. “What’s the point? Our team lost. Why destroy your own city? I’m afraid.”

NBA star Steve Nash, from nearby Victoria and the brother-in-law of Canucks forward Manny Malhotra, sent a Twitter message imploring the fans to stop the violence. “We’re a great city and have a lot of class. Our team is great and our championship will come. Soon,” Nash wrote.

Robertson praised the police and firefighters and asked people to stay away from the central downtown area.

“It is extremely disappointing to see the situation in downtown Vancouver turn violent after tonight’s Stanley Cup game,” Robertson said. “Vancouver is a world-class city and it is embarrassing and shameful to see the type of violence and disorder we’ve seen tonight.

“The vast majority of people who were in the downtown tonight were there to enjoy the game in a peaceful and respectful manner. It is unfortunate that a small number of people intent on criminal activity have turned pockets of the downtown into areas involving destruction of property and confrontations with police.”

Tear gas mingled with the stench of acrid smoke and stale beer as riot police, truncheons drawn, moved in to quell the violence, pushing crowds away from the burning cars.

Later, police cars also were set on fire. At one point, police were using flash-bangs – grenades that are designed to distract and disorient, rather than injure – to try to break up the mob.

“This isn’t what the Canucks are about,” said Chad McMillan, 31, a Vancouver resident and Canucks fan. “This isn’t what their fans are about. This isn’t what this city is about.”

Flames leaped from at least two flipped vehicles in the middle of trash-strewn streets, filling the downtown core with heavy black smoke in the moments immediately following the game.

“I heard a loud noise and turned and there was a car being stomped on by a bunch of guys,” 18-year-old witness Brandon Sinclair said about the first few moments of violence.

“A bunch of guys started rocking it, then they flipped it over and five minutes later it was on fire and then they flipped another one. It was just out of control.”

Bright orange flames were seen shooting nearly 10 yards into the air as bystanders tossed firecrackers.

Television images showed a large fire burning inside a parking garage, but it wasn’t clear what was ablaze.

A small group of rioters appeared to be at the heart of the action reminiscent of a similar scene that erupted in the city in 1994 following the Canucks’ Game 7 loss to the New York Rangers.

McGuinness said those responsible for this latest damage had an average age of 22 or 23 and were downtown specifically to wreak mayhem, not to watch hockey.

“They’ve embarrassed our city and taken away that pride that we had,” she said.

For two weeks, the city hosted thousands of fans in areas set aside with gigantic screens for watching the games as the Canucks progressed through the playoffs. Police officers high-fived passers-by, and spectators were well-behaved, win or lose.

Game 7 was different.

McGuinness said police aren’t blaming alcohol consumption – there was more during Game 5 on Friday night. But she also bristled at the notion that the force’s so-called meet-and-greet strategy was misguided.

“I would completely disagree that there is complacency,” she said. “We are very aware in a crowd situation that things can change. We watch for those flashpoints in a crowd.”

When flames erupted from an exploding car, bystanders ducked out of fear. Fans who were trying simply to get out of the danger zone found their visibility reduced by the thick black smoke.

About an hour after the game, some bold troublemakers started hurling garbage and bottles at police officers, who deflected the debris with riot shields. Protesters who rushed the police line were quickly subdued with blows from a truncheon.

Some protesters held what looked like pipes or hockey sticks over their heads as they jeered at officers. Newspaper boxes were wrenched off the sidewalk and hurled through store windows. Portable toilets were tipped as the stifling black smoke spread through the city’s core.

While some members of the crowd expressed dismay that the police didn’t take a more aggressive approach to the early vandalism, others said officers were heavy-handed.

“There‘s people who’ve been coming through the crowds suffering from tear gas,” said 26-year-old Amy Zevick. “I’m seriously disappointed in the city of Vancouver and the country of Canada because it makes me feel the insecurity I read about in other parts of the world. I don‘t think it’s OK to loot, but I also don‘t think it’s OK to over-police and assume that every person is guilty.”

Some seemed to revel in the rampage, recording the vandalism on cell phones and video cameras. A few congratulated those who tried to attack police, and others erupted with cheers every time something was damaged.

At least two young men covered in soot reported being roughed up by the police, but they weren’t arrested. Rivers of poured-out alcohol, broken glass and trash made navigating the streets treacherous.

Fans wandered amid the chaos, some with bandanas or T-shirts pulled over their faces – either to hide their faces from police and TV cameras or to guard against the smoke, or both.

“What is most disappointing and disturbing is that we have spectators who will not go home,” B.C. Solicitor General Shirley Bond said. “We need everyone to pay attention, we need them to leave the downtown and they need to stop treating this as a spectator sport. This is a dangerous situation where people need to go home.”

Comments (154)

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  • jaxy
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:29am

    Way to be classy Vancouver.

    Report Post »  
  • tweetybird
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:24am

    All of this because they lost a game? I know it was “the” game….but still. You can’t win them all. What a bunch of dipsh_ts!! I guess this is what a soar loser looks like.

    Report Post » tweetybird  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:22am

    Please, our world is falling apart, and you do this because of a lost hockey game? There is more than hockey lost in Canada, I believe. So sad.

    How ridiculous. It all comes from not being strong parents and teaching children right from wrong. When they do wrong they will suffer the consequences both at home and publicly. They will not be “rescued” by some parent who thinks their poor little darlin’s being mistreated.

    I applauded Canada on the Bill Ayers action, and then they do this? Hellloooo????

    Report Post »  
  • polis
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:21am

    My guess. The riots were started by Anarchists who knew people would be upset. 3/4 of the people were just playing follow the leader. I have seen this before.

    Report Post » polis  
  • SgtB
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:18am

    Once again it is clear to me that professional sports are just a distraction for the masses. The larger the distraction grows, the more those in charge can get away with. It is my belief that the world be far better off if we shut down the pro leagues and stations like espn. There is nothing wrong with watching a good game, but when you put up a flag pole and then instead of Old Glory and a POW or state flag, you put up an OU flag and a Thunder OKC flag; there is something wrong.

    The fools who spend their lives watching games will go out every week and wave a 6‘ flag of their team out of their car window on gameday but they won’t even fly the American flag outside their home. Like the Romand Empire, we too will surley fall as long as the masses are appeased and don’t care to know.

    Report Post » SgtB  
    • ScottyK7
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 9:15am

      Greetings to a fellow Okie, and yes those flags drive me nuts. I especially hate the flag that has the “OU” in place of where the stars would be on an American flag.

      Then last year when the Air Force Academy came to town, and Bob Stoops asked people to not sing, “Home of the Sooners” and people actually got upset.

      Professional Sports – modern day equivalent to the Roman gladiators.

      Report Post » ScottyK7  
  • Wyatt's Torch
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:11am

    complete douchebaggery

    Report Post » Wyatt's Torch  
  • peaceuntou
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:10am

    Where has THE POTUS Mother and Grandma gone too?

    Report Post »  
  • 2ndOpinion
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:09am

    I think they left this act out of the opening ceremony during the last winter Olympics when they were portraying the wonderful spirit of Canada. Now they reveal their true colors.

    Report Post »  
  • jeff.cooper
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:08am

    Riots are examples of the herd mentality exercising irrational behavior. The riot was not exactly the image of Vancouver the NHL wanted to portray but it happened; not a fitting end to a great Stanley Cup series.

    Report Post » jeff.cooper  
  • FamilyManPatriot
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:06am

    “To bear failure with courage is the best proof of character that anyone can give.”
    - W Somerset Maugham

    Report Post »  
  • FoundingPrinciples
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:06am

    Disgraceful. I am not surprised though. The same thing happened in ‘94 when they lost to the Rangers. We‘ve seen this before in many different cities and we’ll see it again. It’s human nature…the mob mentality. Canadians pride themselves on being so peaceful and civilized, but you get enough drunken idiots together in a crowd and this is the inevitable outcome.These people have no honor, no respect for others, and no self-respect.

    Report Post » FoundingPrinciples  
  • Texas Grasshopper
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:05am

    what accent was that ? .didnt sound canadian to me ….say middle eastern ? ..great …

    Report Post »  
  • deathorliberty
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:57am

    Excusez moi, How can Steve Nash say we have a lot of class, when it is quite obvious from the videos – They don’t!!

    Report Post »  
  • Texas Grasshopper
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:56am

    eah , everything is fine ..nothing to see ..what happnes when there is a real emergency …say a earthquake or a well gee financial collpse or something serious …( definatley not hoping for chaos ) our young folks are screwed unless they change something

    Report Post »  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 9:31am

      I have three “young folks” at home, all teens. If any of them did something like this I would jerk a knot in their tail, and they know it. Too many of these clowns have never known expectations of normal behavior.

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
  • frodis
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:56am

    Boy Vancouver you guys are sore losers. I was rooting for you guys too. But why act like idiots? Yes Canada hasn‘t won a Stanley Cup in a LONG time but don’t take out your frustrations out on the local businesses. I’m very embarrassed for you guys after watching that footage.

    Report Post » frodis  
  • Bushie
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:42am

    WOW. It looks like Detroit, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Miami, Chicago, Baltimore, New York, California, etc, etc.

    Bushie  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:39am

    I think some ignorant union thugs got mixed up and assumed Vancouver is much smaller Madison, WI

    Report Post »  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:35am

    The thing you tolerate is the thing you get more of.

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
    • Slayer
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:43am

      Absolutely! Or said another way,

      Do not reward the undesired behavior.

      Report Post » Slayer  
  • Slayer
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:34am

    If I had a nickel for every lecture I’ve had to sit through about the need for sports because it builds character, strengthens your mental outlook, makes you a better person and brings people together. Every day we see sports riots, sports stars going to jail, sports figures being arrested… what a money-oriented disgrace sports have become.

    Report Post » Slayer  
    • Upstate SC
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:19am

      Yep…I think Bobby Jones said it best, “ Money will be the ruination of the game” he was talking golf but in reality the game is sports, and money has done just that.

      Report Post » Upstate SC  
  • hightide
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:32am

    seriously? It’s a game.

    Report Post »  
  • Bushie
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:31am

    If these idiots want to act like the apes from the ghetto then, dissolve their hockey team forever or don’t allow their team to play in their home city area anymore.

    Report Post » Bushie  
    • starman70
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 10:41am

      All these “Fans” did was disgrace their country, Canada, their province, British Columbia, their city, Vancouver and the team, the Caucks who put their all on the line for them. The Vancouver Canucks HAVE NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF!!!!!

      I bet the rioting would have been the same if the Canucks had won. All thse idiots want is ANY excuse to cause a Civil Disturbance. For every jackass arrested, the court should sentance them to 1 year at hard labor, cleaning up and repairing the damage they have done and fine them at least 50,000 Canadian dollars each. NO EXCUSES – - – NO EXCEPIONS!

      Report Post »  
    • Bounder
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:46am

      As a conservative Canadian and Vancouverite, I am completely ashamed of these pathetic people and their actions. Believe me when I say that these lowlifes are in no way typical of the average Canadian. I’m so disgusted by this that I would support the disbanding of the Canucks, or at least the transfer of the team to another town.

      P.S. I love America and your free market system. I wish Canada was more like that. I hope and pray to God that Obama isn’t around long enough to destroy it.

      Report Post »  
    • starman70
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:25pm

      @ BOUNDER:
      Canada is a beautiful country full of gracious and friendly people. Living in South Carolina, I have met many Canadians in Mytle Beach and Florida ove the years. Everyone I have met are top notch citizens.

      It would be wrong to punish the true hockey fans in Vancouver (Who are in the majority) for the actions of of these lawless punks. True sports fans don’t act like this. True fans take defeat with sadness and a win with joy not rioting and distruction of property.

      Unfortunately, this kind of rabble displays their ignorance here in America and in other countries as well. The best way to stop this kind of behavior is to make the penalties so unpleasant and harsh that they will never want to try it again. A detention facility like Sheriff Joe Arpiao’s in Arizona would be a good start. A tent city (no matter the weather), pink jumpsuits, shaved heads (for sanitary reasons), porta potties for waste purposes and long WORK sessions repairing the damage they did and then beautifying the city and its surroundings would be a good start.

      To the true hockey fans and the good citizens of Vancouver and as a hockey fan myself, you can be very proud of your team, the CANUCKS. They displayed true sportsmanship. They are a credit to Vancouver and to the entire nation of Canada.

      Report Post »  
  • beebacksoon
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:27am

    Uh oh. Watch out, Canada…The Muslim Brotherhood may be waiting in the wings to take advantage of this “crisis”, and ramp it up!

    Report Post »  
    • tinydd
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:19am

      As Obama would say, “look, it’s a Canadian Spring in Vancouver”.

      Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:27am

    .
    HA HA HA Boston Beat the Puck out of you. Then your dumbazz went outside and beat the crap out of yourself. Sore LOOSERS…………………….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • Obama Bin Lying
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:25am

    Next time a Canadian bitches about Americans…..show them this.

    Report Post » Obama Bin Lying  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:41am

      Remember, they don’t have gun crimes, just an awful lot of “hunting accidents.”

      Report Post » biohazard23  
  • lcam67
    Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:24am

    Maybe they did let Bill Ayers in.

    Report Post » lcam67  
    • GETLIFE
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:36am

      My thoughts exactly!

      Report Post » GETLIFE  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:43am

      Thomas was just the better goalie. In the end it took an American team to show the Canucks how it’s done – even if the team IS from Boston. :)

      And I’d LOVE to see Ayers on the ice – as the puck.

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • Obama Bin Lying
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:44am

      I would hate to see what would have happened there if a court voted to restrict Union rights?

      Report Post » Obama Bin Lying  
    • jedi.kep
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:48am

      What a bunch of idiots. How true is the phrase, “Never underestimate the power of STUPID people in large groups.”

      Report Post » jedi.kep  
    • lovenfl3
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 7:59am

      The city has a lot to be proud of? And exactly what would that be? This is a great example of our society in decline. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUA3iQjLH4g And here is another.

      Report Post » lovenfl3  
    • Ironmaan
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:06am

      MORONS.
      http://bioterrorsurvival.com

      Report Post »  
    • hauschild
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:22am

      Behold, the stench of progressive ideology.

      Nice parenting Canucks, BTW.

      Report Post »  
    • Miami
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:28am

      Funny I thought Canada was suppose to be peaceful and it was just Americans’ who got ugly like this…?

      What‘s even funnier is in Miami’s Championships or Championships loses we’ve never gotten violent.

      Report Post » Miami  
    • The_Hut_In_Co
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:28am

      What the He!! A.

      Report Post » The_Hut_In_Co  
    • The_Hut_In_Co
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 8:53am

      Is this kinda like, I went to a riot and a hockey game broke out? Where is Rodney Dangerfield when ya need him? A.

      Report Post » The_Hut_In_Co  
    • Meyvn
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 9:05am

      Idiots abound!

      Report Post » Meyvn  
    • Oil_Robb
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 9:09am

      As a Canadian….Vancouver has always voted for the Socialist party they are Godless evniromentalists for the most part….Its NO surprise…..

      Report Post »  
    • ishka4me
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 9:09am

      Funny, all cup series long the biased Canadian announcers sold Vancuver as a world class city, great fans etc.. Being a boston fan the bias was overwhelming. Funny how truth has a way of revealing itself. All Canadians should be ashamed of these ca-knuckleheads.

      Report Post »  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 9:25am

      We’re having a Mavs victory parade here in Dallas today. They will be closing streets downtown in about 5 minutes. I’ll be willing to bet it will be a lot more civil than this. Oh, and Bill Ayers wasn’t invited.

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 9:26am

      This is how Socialists act when they feel they are ENTITLED to something.

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
    • MontanaRob
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 9:30am

      Unfortunately, Vancouver and Quebec (French, need I say more) are the equivalent of San Franfisto and Chitaco here. Liberal loons abound, ruining what were once great cities.

      Report Post » MontanaRob  
    • jimdevy
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 9:58am

      @Biohazard — True it may have taken an American SPONSORED team, but there are a lot of Canadians that play for the bruins.

      Report Post »  
    • Mhockey1505
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 10:18am

      Notice how this doesn’t happen in the states.. remind me again, why are Canadian hockey teams a good thing, Bettman?

      BUT, the more and more I see coming from this, it just looks like a bunch of Knuckleheads. There was some idiot arrested before the game was over shouting lets break windows downtown..

      Report Post »  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:24am

      @jimdevy, true that, but at least Lord Stanley is back in the States. Of course, it would have been better had the Cup returned to Tampa, but….. :)

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • bullcrapbuster
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:37am

      I didn’t think that Arabs liked hockey. Oh well any riot in a pinch.

      Report Post » bullcrapbuster  
    • Sound The Trumpet In Zion
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:53am

      If the punks were out of control and would not respond to non-violent means. Where were the guns? A criminal is a criminal and if they choose to get shot being a criminal then who am I to disagree. That is one of our problems in this world, people want to play like criiminals and the authorities let them instead of flat out stopping them. It would only take a few that choose this method before the others decided to use their brains again.

      Report Post » Sound The Trumpet In Zion  
    • the_zazzy
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 12:30pm

      This is what we have to look forward to as the economy continues to decline. These types of scenes give Obama a tingle in his legs!!

      Report Post » the_zazzy  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on June 16, 2011 at 1:47pm

      No — what’s going to happen when they have no food to eat? This is what most major cities will look like! It happened in Paris in 1789. Ultimately it took Napoleon firing cannons down the streets to stop it.

      We purposely flooded out crop land to keep small towns dry as the mighty Mississippi surged w/snow melt. Any idiot w/half a brain knew that was coming after all those winter storms. But did anybody really do anything about flood mediation before the spring thaw? Nope — just blow the levees and let the crop land flood!

      About this time next year, “your teeth will be slick” and “you will eat and still be hungry” as the Old Testament uses a poetic verse to describe famine and starvation. It’s coming to a town near you!

      Report Post » Elena2010  
    • jblaze
      Posted on June 17, 2011 at 7:59am

      Wake up Americia things aren’t always what they seems! This riot was well planned the same thugs at te G8 are responsible for this set up! Hasn’t anyone been listening to Glenn?

      Report Post » jblaze  
    • MtTroj674
      Posted on June 17, 2011 at 6:46pm

      Leaders are clue-less. RIOTERS ARE ANARCHISTS.

      Report Post »  
    • mustang-2537
      Posted on June 17, 2011 at 8:31pm

      No, it’s these idiots who wanted him in.

      Report Post »  
    • TruthDarts
      Posted on June 18, 2011 at 9:20am

      well,

      ANY EXCUSE TO CREATE CHAOS, so they can RIOT & STEAL…

      People without a conscience are everywhere, just waiting for another EXCUSE.

      Report Post » TruthDarts  
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