Music: {allcanada} Canucks fever rising as fans await puck drop

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

{allcanada} Canucks fever rising as fans await puck drop

Vancouver Canucks fever is sweeping across B.C. as anxious fans await the start of the final round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Boston Bruins.

The game begins at 5 p.m. PT on Wednesday, or 8 p.m. ET.

In offices, team jerseys have replaced business wear, on the streets cars and trucks are sporting flags and some new paint jobs, and thousands of people are making plans to slip out of work early to catch the puck drop.

It's been 17 years since the Canucks last made the final round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, but hopes are high that the team, which finished first in the league this year, will emerge victorious.

Anyone lucky enough to attend the game at Rogers Arena will be subject to more scrutiny than usual. Screeners will be using electronic wands, pat downs and bag checks for anyone entering as part of new security procedures rolled out for the series.

With ticket prices skyrocketing into the thousands of dollars, scam artists are reportedly cashing in on the fan frenzy. Okanagan RCMP say a Lake Country resident paid $3,200 for four non-existent game tickets, which they found advertised on a Toronto internet classified site.

Free giant screens at four locations

For those without tickets, giant screens have been set up in downtown Vancouver outside the CBC building on the 700 block of Hamilton Street, on the 700 block of Granville Street, in Surrey at the SFU campus at City Centre Plaza, and at the Chilliwack Exhibition grounds where fans can watch the game for free.

During road games, the Canucks will be selling seats in Rogers Arena for $10, starting Friday.

Hockey Night in Canada expects to set a ratings record on Wednesday evening for a hockey game, after the Vancouver-San Jose series averaged three million viewers, making it the highest rated conference final. The final game of the series peaked at 10 million viewers.