Fans across Canada, overseas turn out to party after hockey victory

Team Canada’s dramatic overtime win in the gold medal game sent hockey fans from coast to coast pouring into the streets in full party mode Sunday.

From Vancouver party-central to Cole Harbour, N.S. — the hometown of overtime hero Sidney Crosby — and even in Afghanistan, people dressed in red and white celebrated Canada’s 14th gold medal win. And then they took the celebration outside.

Streets erupted in jubilation at ground zero of the celebration where spectators had put their cheers on hold after an 11th-hour U.S. goal sent to the game to overtime.

Out in the streets of Vancouver, fans waved flags and honked their horns as crowds celebrated the nail-biting gold-medal finish to the Olympic Games.

Chants of “Go Canada Go!” filled the air, followed by several boisterous rounds of O Canada.

Jamie Vaughn, from the nearby city of Chilliwack, was in Vancouver to celebrate Canada’s win.

“It’s all love for the Canadian hockey players,” the 26-year-old said.

“Like a big family,” added his sister Ashley, 24.

Crowds were growing so big TransLink, the city’s transit company, suspended bus service into and out of the downtown core. But Vancouver police said Sunday evening there were no immediate reports of “incidents” related to the celebration.

In Afghanistan, Canadian troops stayed up late overnight to watch Canada take on the U.S.

“It was amazing” said one man at the rowdy celebrations in Kandahar.

“I’m happy to be here to watch the game here with everybody around here. It brings us closer to home, makes you feel the natural pride that we have in Canada to be here,” said another wearing a Canada toque and waving a small flag.

In London, England, fans gathered at the popular Maple Leaf watering hole to celebrate and sing O Canada.

In downtown Ottawa, bar patrons spilled out onto the streets, chanting “Can-a-da!” and “Sid the Kid!”

Moments earlier, when Crosby potted the gold-medal-winning goal, a crowd of 200 Team Canada supporters jumped into the air as one and began to dance and in some cases, cry in disbelief and approval.

“Jumping in joy!” said Eric Dagenais, 41, of Ottawa, who said he high-fived his father while watching at home before rushing over to the bar to join the bedlam.

The crowd burst into an impromptu version of O Canada both inside and outside, where a tent covered the overflow crowd, but was no match for the screams and euphoric shouting that followed the goal.

“I stood up and cheered,” said Matt Humphreys, 28, of Kemptville, Ont. “It was unreal.”

While a spontaneous celebration took place around Parliament Hill’s centennial flame, horns honked in a cacophonic stream of joy south of the hill, as vehicles, adorned with Canadian flags inched through the clogged thoroughfare.

Traffic came to a near standstill in both directions along Montreal’s always busy Ste. Catherine street, but drivers didn’t seem to mind as they waved at the throngs gathered on the sidewalks and excitedly honked their horns.

According to Montreal police Const. Daniel Lacoursiere, several officers were stationed on every corner to help keep the celebrations in check.

“There are a lot of people downtown, but there’s been no loss of control,” Lacoursiere said shortly after 8 p.m. “Everyone seems to be in a festive mood.”

And they definitely were — dancing, brandishing flags and chanting “Crosby” and “Canada” until their throats were nearly raw.

“This is exactly what we had hoped for,” reveller Doug Allen said as he waved at a passing car draped in a giant Maple Leaf.

Victoria fans equally flooded the streets, blocking a lane of traffic on Douglas Street, which was OK with most of the motorists as they were celebrating just the same, waving the Canadian flag and honking their horns.

Police officers had huge smiles on their faces and looked like they were enjoying the moment as much as the revellers.

“It’s so amazing,” said Melanie Langdon-Wilkins, 28, sitting outside Element nightclub, where she watched the game. “I’m not even a hockey fan and I’m over the moon right now.”

On the MV Coho, a ferry plying the waters between Victoria and Port Angeles, Wash., Canadian and American passengers huddled near a crackly radio, groaning and cheering respectively when Zach Parise of Team USA scored with 24 seconds left in regulation time.

A group of musicians travelling back to Victoria from the Wintergrass bluegrass festival in Bellevue, Wash., played a solemn version of O Canada on banjo, mandolin and guitar after the tying goal.

Then a loud cheer rang out when Canada scored the overtime goal and the ship’s captain announced the final result.

“I’m totally elated,” said Marlene Bertrand of Victoria. “And relieved — it was a nail-biter.”

In Toronto, seven-year-old Connor Yigit joined crowds of fans celebrating on Yonge street.

“We are having a great time with lots of people on Yonge street,” he said. “It’s really fun and I like yelling ‘Canada!’”

Thousands of elated fans swarmed Yonge Street to celebrate Canada’s hockey victory, painting the street red with flags and jerseys.

Packed shoulder to shoulder in Dundas Square, ecstatic revellers waved Canadian flags, using hockey sticks as flagpoles, and joined in rousing choruses of “O Canada.”

“There are people from storefront to storefront,” said Alex Hunnings, a 24-year-old partygoer who brought her seven-year-old niece Nicola and five-year-old nephew Noah to watch the festivities. “It was really cute because people were going out of their way to high-five the kids. Everyone has their jersey on, everyone’s cheering.”

As crowds shouted “Crosby, Crosby!” Hunnings said police officers were feeling just as jovial as the hockey fans and an officer gave her nephew a Canadian flag to wave.

“A lot of no pants is happening, a significant amount,” she said of male partygoers lining the streets.

In Dundas Square, people were setting off celebratory fireworks from beer bottles, but the scene was good-natured and not belligerent.

Honking drivers also clogged Regina’s downtown after the momentous win.

“The atmosphere is just crazy,” said Jeremy Thomas from the nearby community of Milestone. “Great people, fun people and everybody’s having a phenomenal time just watching Canada win gold.”

Police in Windsor, Ont., intervened when Eric Courteaux climbed on top of a transit bus to wave his Canadian flag.

“I can’t describe this, I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of my country,” Courteaux said as the party continued on Windsor’s streets.

Fans in Winnipeg celebrated with a street hockey game after the game ended.

“I was scared. I’m not going to lie,” said Peter Girden, who took a break from the pick-up hockey game in front of Canwest Place. “I was nervous, though. I think a lot of us were.”

Fans in Edmonton crowded the downtown streets after the game, waving flags from their cars and honking their horns at pedestrians. Amid the celebrations, two revellers were hit by a passing vehicle when they walked onto the street shortly after Canada’s victory. Officials did not immediately know the extent of their injuries.

But a raven in Westlock, Alta., north of Edmonton, didn’t seem to understand there was an important hockey game happening Sunday and spoiled the fun for hundreds of anxious fans.

About 600 customers in the town of 5,000 were without power for most of the Olympic gold medal game between Canada and the U.S. after the bird got caught up in a power substation, said Fortis Alberta spokeswoman Jennifer MacGowan. The bird caused a power breaker to malfunction at about 1:30 p.m., partway through the game’s first period, MacGowan said.

With files from Mark Brennae and David Akin, Canwest News Service, Montreal Gazette, Victoria Times Colonist, National Post, Regina Leader-Post, Windsor Star, Vancouver Sun, Edmonton Journal, Winnipeg Free Press and Global National