Scene of a Riot

Scene of a Riot

Rioting hockey fans took to Vancouver streets in droves Wednesday night following a hometown loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Setting vehicles on fire, smashing windows and looting shops, the rioters converged on the downtown streets of Georgia and Granville with chants of “fuck you Boston” and “we want the Cup”. Eight stabbings were reported by local hospitals and final damage is expected to run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars once everything is tallied.

What was most striking, though, was that the riot seemed less a by-product of frustration from the loss than it did a celebration in its own right. Many of those involved didn’t appear to even be hockey fans.

The bruin incites.

The opponent alight.

Crowds descend on a parked truck. Though a final count isn't expected until the morning, no fewer than ten vehicles were set on fire and left to burn in the early hours of the riot.

Story of a mismatched stand-off.

Officer under siege.

Rioters throw a fence meant for crowd control at police.

The brightest show in town. Decked out in the jersey of Vancouver playoff star Alex Burrows, a man watches a pickup truck burn.

A late show of support.

Rallying troops.

Heated words. The man ran the police barricade moments after this photo was taken and was quickly pulled to the ground.

Air filter.

National pride?

An easy target.

Safe passage.

Police move in to lock down the block.

First strike on a new target.

Flash / party on cruisers.

Malicious kindling.

Controlled burn.

Author

Austin Andrews is a Vancouver-based photojournalist and occasional filmmaker with a penchant for finding the fantastic in the everyday. Contact him at austin [at] disposablewords [dot] net

5 comments

  • Austin – I’m glad you are safe. I think your pictures captured the mood better than most tv stations. Victoria was much quieter but probably as depressed about the actual hockey game.

    Reply
    • Thanks Simon. Depressed is fine; that was the mood in most of Vancouver last night too. It’s when depressed spills out into mean-spirited anarchy that I can no longer relate. The mob was fired up, and the preponderance of pre-made signs and, in two cases, planted cars ready to burn pointed to a likely riot even if the Canucks had won. Remember Montreal in ’93?

      Reply
  • Hey Austin, great shots as always. Rest assured the depression abut the loss was felt down here in Oz as well but was quickly followed by surprise when I saw the aftermath. Can’t quite believe that’s Vancouver.

    Reply
  • Seems to me like English football hooliganism has found a new outlet in Canadian hockey.
    First seeing the photos I had no idea what was going on; remembered some G8 meeting already taking place a long time ago.

    All I can say is that the people taking part in that are mindless idiots.
    Riot police should be issued live ammo.

    Reply

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