The history of Vancouver and Seattle playoff rivalry

[VattghernCZ 985]

 

Two and a half hours long drive down the I 5 and Highway 99 apart lie the cities of Vancouver and Seattle. Both these cities host a VHL team showcasing a predatory animal - a wolf and a bear respectively. And of course, their passionate fanbases. A geographic proximity of teams playing in the same division, and passionate fanbases are the foundation of any great rivalry.

 

And it didn't take long after the controversial S65 Quebec Meute relocation to Vancouver for these organisations to grow some despise towards each other.

 

Season *nice* was the first time these teams - their current iterations - met in the postseason. After both the Victory Cup winning Wolves and the 2nd NA seed Bears advanced past the first round in 7 games. They went toe to toe for the first 4 games, leading to a 2-2 split, before Seattle won 2 straight, both by one goal. The Bears would then go to win their 8th Continental Cup to start the then-newest VHL dynasty.

 

Their season 70 clash had similar introduction - Vancouver was the better regular season team as they had finished 2nd overall, compared to Seattle's 6th overall finish. However, the roles switched in their postseason series. The Bears dominated the Wolves in game 1 to gain traction, and would carry the momentum through game 2 and 3 close wins. Vancouver would win game 4 in overtime, but it wouldn't be enough to reverse the tide, and Seattle would take the game 5. While the Wolves' fans could make the argument they had narrowly lost to eventual champions in season *nice*, this time they lost 1-4 to a team that would be eliminated by the Cup runner up.

 

Season 71, once again the Victory Cup winning Vancouver is facing the 2nd NA seed Seattle in the second round. And once again, the Bears would come on top. Wolves stole game 2 in overtime, but other than that, it was all Seattle. They would then continue further to win their second Continental Cup in three years.

 

For 11 years, S71 was the last time Vancouver and Seattle met in the postseason. The Bears would win the Continental Cup in S73, to solidify themselves as a dynasty by winning 3 cups in 5 years. Those clashes with Vancouver didn't feel like a true rivalry. They felt like an older brother picking on a youger brother or a 4th-grader bullying a 1st-grader. While there's no question that this started the deep rooted grudge against Seattle in many Vancouver fans, the matchups would need to be more even for it to be a true rivalry. Seattle's dynasty boasting the likes of Hulk Hogan, Guy LeGrande, Ambrose Stark, Scott Greene or Rayz Funk made the Wolves their bitches, it's as simple as that.

 

There was a lot of excitement in anticipation of the S82 playoffs first round. Once again, Vancouver won the Victory Cup while Seattle barely qualified for the postseason and had to go through Toronto in the wild card round. Obviously, the old-timers were skeptical. They had seen this before. But this time, the outcome was different. This Wolves team had just won back-to-back Continental Cups. This Wolves team was special, and it took them 6 games to deal with the Bears. But more than that - they went on to win their third straight Continental Cup.

 

Fast forward 5 years. S87, the Wolves are once again your Victory Cup winners, while the Bears have to go through the wild card round to face them in the first round. The Rogers place was sold out mere hours after the playoffs ticket pre-sale had been started. But Vancouver loses first 3 games in row. They make it semi-interesting by winning game 4, but it's not enough. 5 games, and that's it. Seattle would then lose in the semifinals to the eventual Continental Cup champion.

 

The teams met again in S88 playoffs. This time, it way Vancouver who had to fight their way through the wild card round to face Seattle. And they did. But as the story goes more often than not, it way once again Seattle who finished on top. This time, it took 6 games, and Bears fought their way to the finals, where they lost in 7 games.

 

That's 6 series between these two teams, with Seattle winning 5 of them. As I'm writing this, the Wolves and the Bears are once again going head to head, this time in the wild card round. The score is 1-1. Let's see whether it goes as it usually does, or whether the Wolves cam overcome their demons.

[Banackock 8,060]

Damn. 5/6. 

 

 

[VattghernCZ 985]

6 hours ago, Banackock said:

Damn. 5/6. 

 

 

You can make it 5/7 Good series, as usually between these two!

[Banackock 8,060]

34 minutes ago, VattghernCZ said:

You can make it 5/7 Good series, as usually between these two!

Probably see you next season.   Hopefully just later in the playoffs!

[VattghernCZ 985]

1 hour ago, Banackock said:

Probably see you next season.   Hopefully just later in the playoffs!

Conference finals sound good!