The Darkest day in Vancouver’s history

Believe or not Vancouver **is** a hockey town. And the Canucks are not just a team to us they’re the city’s whole identity. Let me take you back to May 24th 2011\. the whole country knew what was at stake for the Vancouver Canucks, a third trip to the Stanley Cup final, people were hosting watch parties and people gathered into the streets in downtown Vancouver. And through what seemed to be a tight game between the San Jose Sharks And Vancouver Canucks which awarded a victory to Vancouver on a bounce in 2nd OT by Canucks Legend Kevin Bieksa the VPD had no idea what was about to happen about a few weeks later, The match up was set! The Boston Bruins of the eastern conference would take on the Presidents Trophy winner Vancouver Canucks ![](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/rate-game-prod.appspot.com/o/attachments%2Farticle%2F6OXYnV24YicoginxRCLJ%2Fbody%2F1781655100321-8cosaemts6d.jpg?alt=media&token=11685cc8-8e51-41e8-abd3-e3fdbe3ef2bb) Game 1 was a barn burner with a 1-0 win for the Canucks scored by Raffi Torres with only 18.5 seconds left in the third period. Game 2 was another barn burner with a 3-2 victory for the Canucks with a Alex Burrow goal, unfortunately this wouldn’t be as iconic as it was supposed to Game 3 was when it started to unfold for Vancouver and when anxiety started to creep in. It was a 8-1 crushing by the Bruins but the big thing in this game was a blindside hit by Aaron Rome for Vancouver Knocking out, Bostons Nathan Horton. ![](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/rate-game-prod.appspot.com/o/attachments%2Farticle%2F6OXYnV24YicoginxRCLJ%2Fbody%2F1781655558182-dh2mpn03vnl.jpg?alt=media&token=92c3ffdd-3b3e-4a87-ba8e-6fa4213e789c) Game 4 was another win for Boston on a 4-0 shutout making the series 2 all going back to Vancouver. But in Game 5 oh thank god! Thank god! the Canucks rediscovered what worked in game number uno winning 1-0, and were 1 win away from winning their first cup. In game 6 the Bruins well they did what they do ripping the hope out of the Canucks fans hearts, they won 5-2 and sent it to game 7 in the city of Vancouver… And before you knew it, it was game 7 and for the Canucks it was a moment to not even think about, it was a 4-0 victory for the Bruins winning their 6th cup in franchise history. Canucks players looked on in pure disbelief and shock, wondering how a series like this in which they had a 2-0 lead crumble in the palms of there hands ![](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/rate-game-prod.appspot.com/o/attachments%2Farticle%2F6OXYnV24YicoginxRCLJ%2Fbody%2F1781657835013-1548mq1ojuq.jpg?alt=media&token=655fc171-a732-4d9b-a777-7ab0ad2e1c42) And now the riots. after the game fans where heart broken, but mostly angry. fans took to the streets and lit flags and Canucks/Bruins jerseys being lit on fire. cars were being lit on fire, also being flipped over and smashed into oblivion. porta potties were toppled over with people inside them beer bottles were thrown, people were 4 people stabbed with 100 plus people injured. Stores like The Hudson Bay, London Drugs, Sears and sports check were looted. After a showing of wicked a popular broadway musical, the viewers were NOT allowed to go outside. Even the sky train metro Vancouver’s version of the New York subway read out a message very strongly advising people to not go to Downtown Vancouver though I guarantee you people went putting their lives at risk After the riot, 100 plus people were treated for there injuries at St. Paul’s and Vancouver General Hospital. Dozens for tear gas and pepper spray. Years later in 2024 when the Canucks made the playoffs the VPD did not allow watch parties in Vancouver. This is a topic that us Canucks fans try to forget and ignore but sometimes you have to face the truth.

Posted by @Bro

Believe or not Vancouver is a hockey town. And the Canucks are not just a team to us they’re the city’s whole identity.

Let me take you back to May 24th 2011. the whole country knew what was at stake for the Vancouver Canucks, a third trip to the Stanley Cup final, people were hosting watch parties and people gathered into the streets in downtown Vancouver. And through what seemed to be a tight game between the San Jose Sharks And Vancouver Canucks which awarded a victory to Vancouver on a bounce in 2nd OT by Canucks Legend Kevin Bieksa the VPD had no idea what was about to happen about a few weeks later,

The match up was set! The Boston Bruins of the eastern conference would take on the Presidents Trophy winner Vancouver Canucks

Game 1 was a barn burner with a 1-0 win for the Canucks scored by Raffi Torres with only 18.5 seconds left in the third period.

Game 2 was another barn burner with a 3-2 victory for the Canucks with a Alex Burrow goal, unfortunately this wouldn’t be as iconic as it was supposed to

Game 3 was when it started to unfold for Vancouver and when anxiety started to creep in. It was a 8-1 crushing by the Bruins but the big thing in this game was a blindside hit by Aaron Rome for Vancouver Knocking out, Bostons Nathan Horton.

Game 4 was another win for Boston on a 4-0 shutout making the series 2 all going back to Vancouver.

But in Game 5 oh thank god! Thank god! the Canucks rediscovered what worked in game number uno winning 1-0, and were 1 win away from winning their first cup.

In game 6 the Bruins well they did what they do ripping the hope out of the Canucks fans hearts, they won 5-2 and sent it to game 7 in the city of Vancouver…

And before you knew it, it was game 7 and for the Canucks it was a moment to not even think about, it was a 4-0 victory for the Bruins winning their 6th cup in franchise history. Canucks players looked on in pure disbelief and shock, wondering how a series like this in which they had a 2-0 lead crumble in the palms of there hands

And now the riots. after the game fans where heart broken, but mostly angry. fans took to the streets and lit flags and Canucks/Bruins jerseys being lit on fire. cars were being lit on fire, also being flipped over and smashed into oblivion. porta potties were toppled over with people inside them beer bottles were thrown, people were 4 people stabbed with 100 plus people injured. Stores like The Hudson Bay, London Drugs, Sears and sports check were looted.

After a showing of wicked a popular broadway musical, the viewers were NOT allowed to go outside. Even the sky train metro Vancouver’s version of the New York subway read out a message very strongly advising people to not go to Downtown Vancouver though I guarantee you people went putting their lives at risk

After the riot, 100 plus people were treated for there injuries at St. Paul’s and Vancouver General Hospital. Dozens for tear gas and pepper spray.

Years later in 2024 when the Canucks made the playoffs the VPD did not allow watch parties in Vancouver. This is a topic that us Canucks fans try to forget and ignore but sometimes you have to face the truth.