Disgusting, shocking, embarrassing - just a few words to describe the events that unfolded on the streets of downtown Vancouver Wednesday night following the Vancouver Canucks game seven loss to the Boston Bruins.
We thought that after the riot in 1994, following the Canucks game seven loss to the New York Rangers, that Vancouver was ready to party - responsibly. And after the city embraced the Winter Olympics last year and there were minimal problems, we thought that everything would be all right. How wrong we were.
A bunch of thugs, not hockey fans, despite many wearing Canucks colours, destroyed part of the city, setting cars ablaze, starting fights, looting stores, smashing windows and, in the process, giving the City of Vancouver a black eye that will never be forgotten.
Yes, this group of hooligans ruined what was a magical eight weeks for hockey fans and turned a bitter loss by the Canucks into an even more bitter pill to swallow, thanks to the uncalled for and shameful acts of violence and vandalism.
Vancouver was labelled the "no fun city" following the riot in 1994. Many have spent years trying to rid themselves of that label, but in a few short hours, Vancouver's reputation was tarnished again in the eyes of the world as a classless city with no regard for others - and all of this over a hockey game. Can we ever be trusted again to celebrate with large gatherings with our family and friends? We doubt it.
Sure, we were all disappointed the Canucks didn't win - but you win with class and you lose with class. Some didn't get that message Wednesday night. They were intent on going to the city fuelled by alcohol and drugs to cause mayhem.
We want to thank the police, paramedics and firefighters who risked their lives Wednesday night doing their jobs to try to protect the innocent and to bring this shameful situation under control.
But now it's everyone's job to help ensure that justice is done. Pictures of the hooligans are everywhere - in the Lower Mainland newspapers, on Facebook and other social media sites, on television. If you have video and/or pictures, email [email protected] or contact the Vancouver Police directly at 604-717-3321 with your witness accounts and help police bring those responsible to justice.
It will take some time, but every single person who was involved in the rioting should be identified and held responsible for their actions - and not with just criminal charges, either. They should be forced to pay for the millions of dollars in damage. Why should hard-working, decent sports fans, the real and true fans, have to pay to clean up this mess?
It's truly disgusting that these punks have turned what was a dream season and a magical run to the Stanley Cup final, enjoyed by thousands for weeks, into a horrible nightmare.
