B.C. Businesses Rush to Serve Alcohol for Canada-U.S. Olympic Hockey Gold Showdown
British Columbia is buzzing with anticipation as Canada prepares to face the United States in the Olympic men's hockey gold medal game on Sunday morning. The historic rivalry has sparked a flurry of activity across Vancouver's hospitality sector, with businesses racing to secure official permissions to sell alcohol during the early morning showdown.
Restaurants Divided by Border Symbolism
At AJ's Brooklyn Pizza Joint on East Broadway, proprietor AJ Caridi has created a symbolic Canada-U.S. border dividing his establishment. The 325 E. Broadway side will serve as Canada House, while the 327 E. Broadway half represents the American side. Caridi, a Brooklyn native who has lived in Canada for 26 years, expects to be the lone American cheering "very, very quietly" for the U.S. team.
"I've been here for 26 years," said the 54-year-old restaurateur, who married a woman from Langley and has two Canadian-born children. "But I still got some loyalty to Team USA."
Caridi recalled the Miracle on Ice from 1980 when he was 10 years old, noting the upcoming game falls on the 40th anniversary of that historic U.S. victory over the Soviet Union. "I didn't even tell my wife that because I know she doesn't want to hear it," he added with a chuckle.
Premier Authorizes Early Morning Alcohol Sales
Premier David Eby announced on social media Saturday that any licensed establishment could sell alcohol where local laws permit it, clearing the way for businesses to serve beer alongside breakfast sandwiches and pizza during the 5 a.m. game. This announcement triggered a rush of Vancouver businesses seeking official permission to sell alcohol for the event.
However, some establishments like the venerable Shark Club on West Georgia had anticipated the demand. General manager Murray Saunders revealed they started the permission process more than a month ago and have been completely booked for over a week.
"We've actually been booked out for over a week. There were people that booked the gold-medal game at the start of the Olympics," said Saunders, who expects capacity crowds exceeding 300 reserved seats.
Unprecedented Demand for Olympic Viewing
Saunders expressed amazement at the level of interest, stating: "I've never seen it like this. Even Super Bowl or anything, hasn't had this many people call. The moment Canada won the semifinal game, all four lines on our phone lit up and didn't stop ringing for the next seven hours."
"There will be no more room. The energy is going to be crazy," he added, describing the overwhelming response from hockey fans eager to witness the historic matchup.
Historic Rivalry Renewed
The Canada-U.S. hockey rivalry stands as one of the great competitions across all sports. The two nations have met 19 times in Olympic history since 1920, with Canada holding a commanding 12-4-3 record. Their most recent Olympic encounter saw Canada defeat the Americans 4-2 at the Beijing Games in 2022.
Canada has captured Olympic gold nine times, including two victories against the United States, though their last championship came in Sochi back in 2014. This Sunday's matchup in Milan, Italy, represents another chapter in this storied international competition that continues to captivate fans on both sides of the border.
Across British Columbia, restaurants and bars are preparing for unprecedented early morning crowds as hockey enthusiasts gather to watch what promises to be an electrifying conclusion to the Olympic tournament. From divided pizza joints to packed sports bars, the province is ready for a gold medal showdown that transcends mere sport and taps into deep national pride and historic rivalry.
