Former Canucks D-man recalls Stanley Cup riot nine years later
Posted June 15, 2020 10:24 am.
Last Updated June 15, 2020 10:59 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — It was supposed to be a day of jubilation for Vancouver sports fans.
But nine years ago Monday, a destructive riot broke out after the Canucks lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals to the Boston Bruins.
Former Canucks defencemen Kevin Bieksa was a guest Monday on Sportsnet 650’s Starting Lineup with Perry Solkowski and James Cybulski. Bieksa was asked if the Game 7 loss still stings, nearly a decade later.
“No, it hurts a little bit, but I don’t wake up every morning crying about it,” he said.
Bieksa added, on the night of the loss, he and his family weren’t able to get home until around 3 a.m. because of the rioting.
“When the rioting started and they were tear-gassing downtown, we obviously couldn’t go back to our hotel.”
Bieksa said they stayed at the rink until about 2 a.m., then went to a friend’s place before heading home.
Bieksa scored the overtime winner against the San Jose Sharks in the semi-finals that year, sending the Canucks to the cup final.
Fans rioted after the Game 7 loss, setting fires and looting stores in downtown Vancouver. Tear gas was thrown into the crowd and a number of cars were destroyed.
In all, 66 people were charged with a total of 912 offences.
