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Calgary Herald

B.C.'s own Stanley Cup playoffs, in bubble hockey

Article content Alas, the Vancouver Canucks aren't going to win the Stanley Cup this year — the 2024-25 team didn't even make the playoffs. Article content Article content This makes it 110 years since the Vancouver Millionaires won the city's one and only Cup in 1915. Even Victoria has had a shorter Cup drought — the Victoria Cougars won the trophy in 1925. Article content But there is a place for local hockey fans to work out their B.C. Cup dreams: a new bubble-hockey game at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame. Article content Article content 'They painted (the players) in Vancouver Millionaires and Victoria Cougars colours, so that you have the 1915 Stanley Cup champion playing the 1925 Stanley Cup champion,' explains Jason Beck of the Hall of Fame. 'Player names and numbers are on each player, so you've got (Millionaire) Cyclone Taylor facing (Cougar) Frank Frederickson. It's really cool.' Article content Article content The uniforms are beautiful: royal maroon jerseys, white pants and striped socks for the Millionaires, sky-blue jerseys, gold pants and striped socks for the Cougars. Article content Radio personality Matt Price adds commentary ('The B.C. Historical Classic is underway!'). 'O Canada' plays before the start of the game. A siren goes off after someone scores. Article content Article content A Jumbotron scoreboard above centre ice reads 'Patrick Arena,' after the Patrick family that started up the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, where the Millionaires and the Cougars played. Article content Article content A history and photographs of the two teams are displayed on the base of the game, which is labelled: 'British Columbia Historical Classic, Electrified Ice Hockey Simulator Machine.' Article content It also lists some of the innovations that Frank and Lester Patrick introduced into their league ('Blue lines! Penalty shots! Jersey numbers!') Article content The historical classic is the brainstorm of Robert O'Connor, a family doctor in Metchosin, a Victoria suburb. Last year, O'Connor wanted to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Victoria's Cup victory. So he bought a bubble-hockey game and customized it in his garage. Article content