Canadians have always been passionate about hockey. Even when there were only the original six teams in the NHL, only two in Canada, the game and its traditions were a matter of national pride.
Well, that was then. Now, after game seven of the Stanley Cup finals in Vancouver last week, Canadians in that city have demonstrated their passion with something called the Vancouver Effect.
This phrase was coined by Jerry Lewis, author of Sports Fan Violence in North America. After carefully studying 200 sports riots he has found Vancouver’s sad history of hockey riots to be somewhat unique.
Almost all sports riots occur after a home team win. Fueled by the joy of victory, large doses of alcohol and high levels of testosterone (sports rioters are almost exclusively men) celebrations easily get out of hand.
Vancouver has never won a Stanley Cup so the fans decided to have a loser riot instead on both occasions they lost the cup to other teams.
Apparently glass breaks just as easily, police cruisers burn just as violently and tear gas works just as well in the agony of defeat.
Thanks to Mr. Lewis’s book and the studies of other psychologists we now know a thing or two about sports riots and the hooligans who cause them. It’s not a pretty picture.
First of all, riots occur at about half of all championship games or series. This surprising fact is supported by Canada’s regrettable history of post game pugilism.
It all started back in 1955 when Maurice ‘The Rocket” Richard was suspended for the playoffs. Montreal hockey fans were not amused. The riot at the rink spilled over from the Forum into the streets resulting in 37 injuries, 100 arrests and $100,000 in damage.
Forward to 1993. That year the Habs beat L.A. to win their 24th cup. The celebrations soon turned ugly with 168 injuries including 48 police officers and $10 million in damage.
Fans in Vancouver must have liked what they saw in Montreal because the very next year they took it to the streets after losing game seven of the finals to the Rangers.
In 1994, over 50,000 people gathered to celebrate what was a very successful season in spite of the loss. It quickly turned into a drunken brawl resulting in 200 injuries and damages of $1.1 million.
One unlucky fan remained in a coma for four weeks from a rubber bullet to the head.
Years later in 2008, back in Montreal, the Canadiens defeated Boston in a first round series. Once again the fans kept the tradition alive by smashing store windows, burning police cars and attacking each other with drunken gusto. The violence on the ice was just a warm up act for what was to follow.
And now, in 2011, Vancouverites have clearly kicked Canadian hooliganism up a notch. They have smashed, burned and looted their way into the hooligan hall of fame. Estimates of the crowd size are near 100,000.
The cost of all the damage has yet to be calculated but one business alone is looking at over $1 million to make things right. The cost to Vancouver’s reputation has yet to be determined.
One thing most observers are clear about is the average IQ of a typical hooligan. It appears to be quite low. This is based on the fact that so far police are sorting through one million photos and a thousand hours of video sent in by an angry online vigilante mob.
The rioters didn’t realize everything they did would be recorded by device-wielding tattletales. Some of the dumbest hooligans even posted photos of their own criminal activities for the world to see. They can all expect a knock at the door in the not too distant future.
On behalf of hockey fans all across Canada and around the world I would just like to say, “Dudes…you are so busted.”
It occurs to me our reputation abroad may not be what we think it is. Can Canadians really claim to be peace loving, polite and easy going after rioting over the results of a hockey game?
Which do you prefer, victory riots or loser riots? I wonder what would happen if the Canucks ever actually won the Stanley Cup.
Until they do, the hooligan fringe can still use the Vancouver Effect to maintain Canada’s reputation as very bad losers.
Somehow I don’t think this is just about the hockey anymore.
Well, that was then. Now, after game seven of the Stanley Cup finals in Vancouver last week, Canadians in that city have demonstrated their passion with something called the Vancouver Effect.
This phrase was coined by Jerry Lewis, author of Sports Fan Violence in North America. After carefully studying 200 sports riots he has found Vancouver’s sad history of hockey riots to be somewhat unique.
Almost all sports riots occur after a home team win. Fueled by the joy of victory, large doses of alcohol and high levels of testosterone (sports rioters are almost exclusively men) celebrations easily get out of hand.
Vancouver has never won a Stanley Cup so the fans decided to have a loser riot instead on both occasions they lost the cup to other teams.
Apparently glass breaks just as easily, police cruisers burn just as violently and tear gas works just as well in the agony of defeat.
Thanks to Mr. Lewis’s book and the studies of other psychologists we now know a thing or two about sports riots and the hooligans who cause them. It’s not a pretty picture.
First of all, riots occur at about half of all championship games or series. This surprising fact is supported by Canada’s regrettable history of post game pugilism.
It all started back in 1955 when Maurice ‘The Rocket” Richard was suspended for the playoffs. Montreal hockey fans were not amused. The riot at the rink spilled over from the Forum into the streets resulting in 37 injuries, 100 arrests and $100,000 in damage.
Forward to 1993. That year the Habs beat L.A. to win their 24th cup. The celebrations soon turned ugly with 168 injuries including 48 police officers and $10 million in damage.
Fans in Vancouver must have liked what they saw in Montreal because the very next year they took it to the streets after losing game seven of the finals to the Rangers.
In 1994, over 50,000 people gathered to celebrate what was a very successful season in spite of the loss. It quickly turned into a drunken brawl resulting in 200 injuries and damages of $1.1 million.
One unlucky fan remained in a coma for four weeks from a rubber bullet to the head.
Years later in 2008, back in Montreal, the Canadiens defeated Boston in a first round series. Once again the fans kept the tradition alive by smashing store windows, burning police cars and attacking each other with drunken gusto. The violence on the ice was just a warm up act for what was to follow.
And now, in 2011, Vancouverites have clearly kicked Canadian hooliganism up a notch. They have smashed, burned and looted their way into the hooligan hall of fame. Estimates of the crowd size are near 100,000.
The cost of all the damage has yet to be calculated but one business alone is looking at over $1 million to make things right. The cost to Vancouver’s reputation has yet to be determined.
One thing most observers are clear about is the average IQ of a typical hooligan. It appears to be quite low. This is based on the fact that so far police are sorting through one million photos and a thousand hours of video sent in by an angry online vigilante mob.
The rioters didn’t realize everything they did would be recorded by device-wielding tattletales. Some of the dumbest hooligans even posted photos of their own criminal activities for the world to see. They can all expect a knock at the door in the not too distant future.
On behalf of hockey fans all across Canada and around the world I would just like to say, “Dudes…you are so busted.”
It occurs to me our reputation abroad may not be what we think it is. Can Canadians really claim to be peace loving, polite and easy going after rioting over the results of a hockey game?
Which do you prefer, victory riots or loser riots? I wonder what would happen if the Canucks ever actually won the Stanley Cup.
Until they do, the hooligan fringe can still use the Vancouver Effect to maintain Canada’s reputation as very bad losers.
Somehow I don’t think this is just about the hockey anymore.
