The Stanley Cup and game 7 aftermath

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara carries the Stanley Cup after the Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 during Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Wednesday, June 15, 2011, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) ORG XMIT: JJX122

I know almost nothing about hockey. I’ve photographed minor league teams like the Blazers and the Barons, but I’m not even close to understanding the complexities of the game. Still, nothing in sports in as captivating to me as the Stanley Cup. There are crystal footballs all over the country. The Mavericks will keep their trophy and a new one will be made next year for the NBA Champions, but there’s only  one Stanley Cup. Players work their entire lives trying to get their names engraved on it.

On Wednesday night, the Boston Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks and hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup. Outside the arena, residents of Vancouver rioted in the streets. You can see images from the game, pictures of the Boston players with the Stanley Cup and the mayhem in Vancouver by following this link.

A police car burns during a riot in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia Wednesday, June 15, 2011 following the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins in game 7 of the Stanley Cup hockey final. Angry, drunken revelers ran wild Wednesday night after the Vancouver Canucks' 4-0 loss to Boston in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, setting cars and garbage cans ablaze, smashing windows, showering giant TV screens with beer bottles and dancing atop overturned vehicles. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward) ORG XMIT: JOHV123

-John Clanton