Ice Hockey Fans' City Rampage After Cup Loss

Rioting ice hockey fans set fire to cars, looted shops and clashed with police in Vancouver after their team lost the Stanley Cup Final.

The trouble started as soon as the game ended - with the Vancouver Canucks losing 4-0 to the Boston Bruins.

People started throwing beer bottles at giant screens showing the match.

Mobs set two police cars on fire and smashed windows in a bank, the main post office and a theatre.

Riot police had to close two bridges and stop buses from taking passengers into the area as they attempted to bring the violence under control.

The city's mayor Gregor Robertson said the chaos was "embarrassing and shameful".

"It is extremely disappointing to see the situation in downtown Vancouver turn violent after tonight's Stanley Cup game," he said.

"It is unfortunate that a small number of people intent on criminal activity have turned pockets of the downtown into areas involving destruction of property and confrontations with police."

Vancouver General Hospital reported that it had been swamped with multiple patients, including one man who had been stabbed in the neck.

Fans had been hoping to repeat the street party atmosphere that erupted when Canada won the hockey Gold during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The Canucks loss ended their dream of winning the Stanley Cup for the first time.

They joined the NHL in the 1970-71 season and had reached the final for the first time in 17 years.

The Boston Bruins won the huge trophy for the first time in 39 years.