A Vancouver sports weekend like none other

It was a dream weekend for Vancouver sports fans with two record-breaking sold-out games ending in thrilling victories for the home side. 

Nearly 15,000 fans flocked to East Van for the first-ever game of our new PWHL team, the Vancouver Goldeneyes. It was the first professional hockey game at Pacific Coliseum in 30 years, and the vibes were immaculate. 

The stadium was loud and packed to the very last row, the largest attendance for a home game in PWHL history. Canadian soccer legend Christine Sinclair was on hand for the ceremonial puck drop. Councillors Mike Klassen, Sarah Kirby-Yung, and Lucy Maloney even popped in to declare November 21st ‘Goldeneyes Day’.

The game delivered too, with Vancouver tying it up late in the third period before sending the crowd into celebration with an overtime winner. The Goldeneyes will play 11 more times at the PNE this year, and it’s becoming a hot ticket. 

It wasn’t even the biggest sports event of the weekend. The main course was a stunning contest at BC Place, where a record 53,957 fans filled the stands to cheer on the Whitecaps in a do-or-die elimination playoff match with a trip to the MLS semifinal on the line. 

In what will go down as one of the most dramatic, exciting, and improbable games in Whitecaps and maybe even MLS history, the ‘Caps beat LA in penalty kicks. After leading for most of the game, LA scored a magnificent equalizing goal at the end of regulation to send the game to extra time.  

Down to ten and then nine players, the Whitecaps defended heroically and got extremely lucky for 30 minutes. By the time they made it to penalties, they felt destined to win, and they eventually did, sending themselves to the next round and tens of thousands of ecstatic fans into the wet Vancouver night. 

In a town where it’s often felt like the Canucks are the only team that matters, it’s incredible to see the massive support for two up-and-coming Vancouver teams. And on this weekend at least, the players paid the fans back with a pair of unforgettable performances.