Canucks riot: why it happened

By Kimiya Shokoohi
[contributor]

First, the Canucks broke Vancouver’s heart. Then, Vancouver broke Vancouver’s heart.

Talk about a rough night.

A 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins in game-7 of the Stanley Cup finals Wednesday evening lit the dynamite that Vancouver then threw at itself. A massive riot broke out. Officials weren’t prepared. Damages are now estimated to be in the millions.

Let me ask you this: your hockey team loses, and the most logical thing to do is to blow-up your own city?

Nay I say, nay.

At the beginning of the playoff run, the Vancouver Police Department and the City of Vancouver estimated that if the Canucks were to get to the finals, it would cost the city $1 million.

That was before the riot.

The London Drugs on Georgia and Granville alone – alone – has claimed $1 million in damages.

For the love of Stanley.

Yes, lets shake our heads and blame the testosterone-heavy meat-heads. Sure.

But before we do that lets take a step back and look at what went wrong before the game even started.

The City of Vancouver was not prepared – point blank.

An official review of the 1994 riot, post-last Stanley Cup loss, noted all the things Vancouver could have done to avoid the break-out. A lesson for next time, right?

Wrong.

Talk about lesson not learned. Or maybe the 17-year drought caused some sort of momentary amnesia.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson had been optimistic that 2011 would be no 1994.

Something about “Vancouver has now matured.”

Mr. Mayor, you may have matured, but there’s a whole new crowd of teens and 20-somethings who are still teens and 20-somethings.

Cars should have not been allowed to park downtown. The VPD should have enlisted the efforts of surrounding municipal police departments. Action should have been taken sooner to stop the sprouting riot – when still small.

Did we learn nothing from the security measures taken just one year ago during the Olympics?

Here’s another thought: the NHL and the club should perhaps start taking partial financial responsibility in ensuring safety and in aiding clean-up.

After all, Vancouverites are the ones funding their business year after year.

Of course, the chances are slim because the Canucks and its officials rule this town.

The golden years of the Lions run is done. The Whitecaps are doing so badly that the head coach was given the boot mid-season. Vancouver Canadians baseball, so many jokes, so little time. And basketball – wait, what does that word mean?

The lack of franchise competition and general interest in nothing but hockey means the Vancouver Canucks can do whatever they please.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Canucks, I love my hockey – but real talk, something needs to change.

Not that Vancouver is very likely to reach the finals again anytime soon.

With the salary cap and players like Kevin Bieksa going up as free agents, anything can happen.

And the efforts of hero-again goat-again Roberto Luongo makes for a story of its own.

Is Bobby Lu talented? Absolutely. Is he consistent enough to set a solid and sturdy foundation for the team to build on?

Nay I say, nay.

Then there is back-up goalie Cory Schneider, who really should be heading a show of his own somewhere, instead of playing back-up singer in Vancouver.

After the loss, captain Henrik Sedin told reporters there is no reason for the team to change, and that it’s unlikely that it will.

Unlikely to change.

Mr. Sedin, maybe you should have forwarded those words of wisdom to Mr. Mayor prior to game-7.