Bruins win Stanley Cup; violence in Vancouver

[Big Lin]

uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/16062011/58/nhl-bruins-win-stanley-cup-violence-vancouver.html

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NHL - Bruins win Stanley Cup, violence in Vancouver

Thu, 16 Jun 03:52:00 2011


Violence erupted on the streets of Vancouver after the Canucks were beaten by the Boston Bruins in the final of the Stanley Cup.

Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand each scored two goals for the Bruins while Boston goaltender Tim Thomas won the most valuable player award after notching his second shutout of the finals.

Riot police fired tear gas to control a mob that burned cars and looted shops in downtown Vancouver after the game.

Thousands of people had jammed into the heart of downtown Vancouver in the hopes of celebrating the Canucks first Stanley Cup but the party scene descended into violence.

The ugly scenes brought back memories of a riot that erupted when Vancouver also lost the Stanley Cup in 1994.

Vancouver Police Department spokesman Lindsey Houghton said the "mischief and mayhem" was being caused by small groups of individuals, numbering in their hundreds.

"It is not a riot," he told local radio.

A Reuters reporter saw at least two cars burning in a parking lot with police warning that a chemical agent would be deployed if people did not disperse.

Store windows were smashed and several shops looted.

While many fans were in a party mood, others were furious at their team's defeat to the Bruins, with one man yelling: "I hate you, Boston!"

Others watched the chaos in disbelief.

"I don't understand why people would trash their own city," said another.

Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson called the violence "embarrassing" and "shameful". He did not think the scenes would hurt the city's international image after it had received praise for celebrations during the 2010 Olympics.

One person was reported to have been injured.

The Bruins, one of hockey's "Original Six" teams, had not won the Stanley Cup since 1972 and defied incredible odds to win it this time in one of the most enthralling finals series in years.

Three of their four play-off rounds went the full distance of seven games and they came from 2-0 behind in the finals to beat the Canucks, who were favourites to win after finishing the regular season with the best record in the league.

That gave Vancouver the home advantage for the final and although they won their first three games at home, they lost all three they played away in Boston then Wednesday's decider on home ice.

"We never made things easy on ourselves," said Boston's veteran winger Mark Recchi, who had announced at age 43 had announced he would retire if the Bruins won the cup.

"It's a hell of a way for me to go out that's for sure."

For Vancouver, the loss ended their dream of winning the Stanley Cup for the first time. They joined the NHL in 1970-71 season and were appearing in the finals for the first time in 17 years.

It also ruined the celebrations of thousands of fans that had crushed into the city's downtown area in the hope of repeating the street party that erupted when Canada won the hockey gold medal at last year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Riots had erupted in Vancouver the last time they lost the Stanley Cup finals and there were sporadic reports of violence in the downtown area shortly after the game.

Bergeron scored the only goal of the first period then scored a shorthanded goal at the end of the second period which stretched Boston's lead to 3-0.

Marchand also scored in the middle frame then finished it off with a second into an empty net while Thomas turned away all 37 shots that were fired at him with the same aggressive acrobatic style that stymied the Canucks throughout the series.

"Their goaltender was phenomenal," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said.

"He made some huge saves and we just couldn't beat him in their building and tonight we had some Grade A chances but didn't have much puck luck."
Reuters