Party erupts in downtown Vancouver, Surrey-Delta as Canucks win
VANCOUVER — The game may have been in St. Louis, but you wouldn't know it from the celebrations that erupted on Robson Street after the Vancouver Canucks swept their playoff-opening series against the St. Louis Blues in four games.
In what the scores of fans gathered downtown hoped would be a smaller-scale prequel to the Stanley Cup final, flag-adorned vehicles made an impromptu victory parade down Robson, greeted by avid horn-honking and ecstatic fans shouting everything from "We want the cup!" to "Calgary, boo!"
In the centre of the action at Robson and Thurlow was Carlo Defazio, hoisting a home-made replica of the Stanley Cup high above his head.
"This is our year," he said. "Our team has never been this good."
Defazio constructed the cup — made of a water cooler, Tupperware, two frozen berry containers and a bowl, all covered with aluminum foil — before the playoffs even started.
He predicted the Canucks will face the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup final, and take the series in seven games.
Some of the fans carried brooms, symbolically sweeping the streets.
Edmund Ma watched the game at his home in Burnaby, but came downtown after the win because he sensed there would be a celebration.
"It's like the first time we've ever swept a series before," he said.
Ma said he isn't sure how deep a playoff run the Canucks will make.
"I'm not going to make any predictions, but I think we'll do well this year," he said.
Vancouver police did not return calls Monday night, but one officer on the scene said the crowd had been "pretty good" so far and that he had not heard any reports of vandalism.
Meanwhile, the RCMP estimated close to 1,500 Vancouver Canucks fans gathered at the typically busy intersection of 72nd Avenue and Scott Road bordering Surrey and North Delta Tuesday night.
Besides what police said was a rare incident resulting in a Mountie breaking his leg, the mood was positive and celebratory.
"It was a celebration. I was quiet impressed by the people in attendance," said RCMP Sgt. Roger Morrow.
Police closed most of the intersection to traffic as flag-waving fans in blue jerseys screamed and hollered with glee.
According to Morrow people began gathering around 8:30 p.m., just after Alex Burrows scored in overtime.
The only blemish to the night was when a man pushed a police officer. A skirmish ensued when policed moved to arrest the man and the officer broke his leg when he fell down. Four people were arrested.
"We're here to make sure you celebrate in a lawful and respectful manor," said Morrow.
The Surrey RCMP and Delta police called upon neighbouring police forces to help control the crowd and close Scott Road to traffic for fear that pedestrians might be struck by passing cars. Several barricades were set up to block access into the area, which was busiest between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.
"Our hope is people will celebrate safely and responsibly," said Delta Police Const. Sharlene Brooks.
Morrow said the RCMP are all for celebrating Canucks playoff victories and are willing to close streets if necessary. But explaining the gathering at Scott Road and 72nd Avenue is something he nor his partner couldn't do.
"We don't know why this area."
Hundreds of fans also gathered at the intersection in 2007 when the Canucks won Game 7 of their playoff series against the Dallas Stars.
video at the source:
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Party...+Surrey+Delta+Canucks/1520454/story.html
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