There were no torched cars and no looting, but Victoria police dealt with a few incidents following the Vancouver Canucks’ loss to the Boston Bruins Wednesday night.
A Bruins’ fan was punched in the face outside the Cactus Club on Douglas Street shortly before 7 p.m.
A 32-year-old Canucks fan had been sitting on the restaurant’s patio when he saw the rival team’s 36-year-old fan cheering and punched him.
Both men are Victoria residents and both were arrested – the assailant was held for breaching the peace and the victim was found to have two outstanding warrants.
Just before midnight, witnesses called police to report a man drinking inside his vehicle. Police met up with the man just as he pulled into the parking lot at Sopranos Bar and Grill, and got out of his car with a bottle of vodka in hand. He was arrested and searched.
Officers found a bag of ecstasy pills in his possession along with a hunting knife tucked into his waistband.
The 19-year-old from Highlands faces charges of impaired driving, carrying a concealed weapon and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Not long after, an associate of the suspect was arrested for allegedly smashing the window of a vehicle parked outside Sopranos.
The 21-year-old Langford man was arrested and could be charged with mischief.
Later, a 22-year-old Saanich man was taken to hospital for stitches to his face after being head-butted outside Lucky Bar on Yates Street. No suspects were found.
Finally, the back window of a car parked near Fifth Street Bar and Grill was smashed at about 2 a.m.
The 26-year-old suspect, a Victoria man, was arrested and faces charges of mischief and public intoxication.
About 20 extra officers were on shift to deal with the effects of the game that went sour for Canucks fans, who saw their team lose 4-0 to the Bruins in the Stanley Cup final game.
It was like any busy Saturday night in Victoria, said VicPD spokesman, Const. Mike Russell.
“Anything was good compared to Vancouver,” he said, referring to the destructive rioting in that city. “We just had a few minor incidents.”
ecardone@vicnews.com
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A contingent of RCMP officers from Vancouver Island were deployed to Vancouver Wednesday night.
Sgt. Rob Vermeulen, media relations officer with the RCMP’s E division, wouldn’t confirm how many officers were sent, or from which unit.
“We sent a large contingent (of B.C. RCMP officers) to Vancouver police from the outset,” Vermeulen said. “We did deploy a large group, as they were needed, from outlying areas.”
