The following is an excerpt from my unreleased book: Remembering The 1994 Vancouver Canucks. Please see below for the full table of contents.
Yes, unfortunately, Vancouver fans are internationally renowned for Stanley Cup rioting. It began in 1994. The ’94 riot was almost small potatoes compared to 2011, but nonetheless it was an embarrassing end to a great Stanley Cup run.
The riot, which started at the intersection of Robson and Thurlow streets, cost an estimated $1.1 million in property damage. Shops along Robson street had windows smashed, including 50 windows at the old Eaton’s department store.
Approximately 200 people were injured, including one critically when he was struck in the head by a plastic bullet fired by one of the 540 police officers called to the scene. The fellow laid in a coma for a month and suffered permanent brain damage (remember that the next time a hockey player takes a puck to the head) and later sued for damages. The first trial found him 75% responsible for his own injuries. A retrial at the Supreme Court level was dismissed.
Interestingly, St. Paul’s hospital closed their emergency room doors to those suffering from the effects of tear gas. Security guards eventually provided buckets of water in the parking lot for such “victims.”
The riot was part of the Stanley Cup narrative, but I tend to overlook it almost entirely nowadays. Selective memories? Sure, but I just want to remember the good times from 1994. There was enough disappointment and heartbreak on the ice let alone off of it.
June 11th/14th, 1994 - The Highs, The Lows
Bure-ing The Flames
- The Russian Rocket
- Captain Kirk
Shooting Down The Stars
- The Elbow
- The Mighty Pat Quinn
- Cliff Ronning: The Little Man That Could
Be-Leaf It Or Not!
- Forever A Canuck: Trevor Linden
- Greg Adams! Greg Adams!
New York: All The World Is A Stage
- The Penalty Shot
- Nathan Lafayette And That Damn Goal Post
- What A Mess!
- Doug Lidster: The Lone Ranger
- It Was A Riot!
June 15th, 2011: Looking Back At 1994
No comments:
Post a Comment