Vancouver hockey fans revel in men's hockey win
TransLink suspends service, bridge traffic closed as celebrants hit streets
Last Updated: Monday, March 1, 2010 | 4:17 AM ET
CBC News
Canadian hockey fans gearing up in Vancouver on Sunday morning before the game. (Leanne Hazon/CBC)Tens of thousands of people in Vancouver took to the streets Sunday to celebrate Canada's 3-2 overtime win over the United States for the gold medal in men's Olympic hockey.
Traffic came to a halt in and around the downtown of the host city for the Winter Games following the dramatic finish to the match, which featured Sidney Crosby scoring to secure the victory on the final day of Olympic competition.
The crowds forced TransLink, the region's public transit authority, to temporarily suspend bus service into and out of the downtown core.
The crowds also pushed Vancouver police to close the Granville Street Bridge to traffic.
Const. Jana McGuinness, speaking for the Vancouver Police Department, said Sunday evening there were a few minor injuries, as well as reports of revellers climbing awnings and bus shelters, but said the crowds were relatively well-behaved.
On Robson Street, thousands of people waving flags and wearing Canadian hockey jerseys poured into the street, yelling and cheering.
'You couldn't have written a better script with Sid the Kid scoring the winning goal.'—Rick Gendemann, fan
Rick Gendemann came downtown from his home in Abbotsford, B.C., to watch the game with his daughter.
"That was fantastic for the crowd, it was great for hockey. You couldn't have written a better script with Sid the Kid scoring the winning goal … it's just sweet," he said.
"We set the record for the gold medals on home soil. We own the podium. Today is Canada's day. Look at the sun, shining. It's shining for us. Go Canada!"
Jaryn Bailey, another fan, said he's relieved Canada claimed victory in hockey.
"I'm feeling great that Canada won," he said. "There's so many people just cheering on Canada."
Jeremy Roy watched the game in downtown Vancouver with thousands of cheering fans.
Fans celebrate on Robson Street after at the men's gold=medal hockey game between Team Canada and the U.S., won by the host country in overtime. (Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press)"It was tight. Nerve-racking — what can I say? We won," he said. "I was nervous, but we kept going and we punched it through, so that's all I gotta say. Go Canada."
Another fan said he was thrilled about Canada's golden moment on ice.
"Best-ever Canada gold medal ever," he said. "It was a nail-biter, yeah. I had knots in my stomach the whole game."
