While this photo was happening in the visitor’s locker room of Rogers Arena last June as the Boston Bruins celebrated their Game 7 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, the rest of the hockey world was tuned into the infamous riots of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals were unfolding on the streets of Vancouver. After almost a year of investigating, and millions of dollars invested into repairs and restoration, the city of Vancouver is finally moving forward and holding people responsible for the damages inflicted on the city.
Amid all the destruction in Vancouver, Andrew Comber was running through the streets of Vancouver in green body paint (like the Green Men of the games), tee shirt, and braided beard. Comber lit a stuffed animal on fire and threw it at an overturned truck, in addition to other riotous acts.
Comber was arrested and charged with participating in a riot, mischief and arson in the Vancouver Riots. While being investigated for his participation last June, it was discovered that Comber was wanted in Calgary after causing some problems for police in 2004 after a Calgary Flames game. In Calgary, he was charged with assaulting a peace officer, two counts of obstructing a peace officer, resisting arrest, mischief under $5,000, theft, failure to appear, possession of a controlled substance and two counts of liquor act warrants.
As the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals are approaching their end and as Vancouver moves towards a resolution to last season’s nightmare, the thought is on everyone’s mind, will we see this kind of destruction again? Here’s hoping the Vancouver Riots were a unique situation and not a trend in professional sports.