Nearly 15 years ago, the Vancouver Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Finals to win the Stanley Cup.
June 15, 2011 lives on as one of Vancouver’s most infamous hockey-related riots. From Hollywood-like movie destruction to anarchic damage, we’re taking a look back on the 2011 Stanley Cup Riot.
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Previous Riots
Sports events aren’t strangers to high tensions and enflamed emotions. In fact, plenty of other riots have occurred following a devastating loss, such as the ones caused by Edmonton Oilers fans and Montreal Canadiens fans in past years. But Vancouver has also seen its fair share of hockey upsets, including the Canucks’ loss in 1994.
The 1994 riots in Vancouver followed the Canucks’ defeat against the New York Rangers after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Somewhere between 40,000 and 70,000 people gathered downtown as fighting and looting began; police used tear gas to clear the area. By the end, Vancouver had racked up $1.1 million in damages, as well as over 190 injuries to people. Charges were laid against over 100 people, too.
The 2011 Stanley Cup Riots
Then, the same thing happened in 2011. The Canucks lost in Game 7.
The riots began in a two-block long fan zone on Georgia Street near Rogers Arena, where two large TVs were set up to watch the game. Reportedly, the crowds were generally well-behaved during the previous matches. But during the final game, approximately 100,000 people were in the area. Exits became blocked, and people were able to enter the fan zone with unchecked alcohol.
While there were a number of fights that broke out before and during Game 7, the riots began in earnest at 7:45pm near the end of the match. Bottles and other objects were being thrown at the screens, and Boston Bruins flags and Canucks jerseys were being set on fire. A car had also been overturned, and before 8:00pm it was also on fire.
Looting followed in the next hours, with The Bay, London Drugs, and Sport Chek being a few of them. After all was said and done, approximately 100 arrests were made by Vancouver police, and the Vancouver General Hospital had to treat two major traumas and three stabbing victims, on top of a person with a head injury.
The riots costed an estimated $4 million in property damage, which translates to around $5.48 million today.
Let the 2011 Stanley Cup Riots be a reminder to every Vancouverite that while hockey is a sport that means much to every Canadian, losing a game is not worth the destruction, damage, and danger that it can cause to both people and the city.
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