An Australian man has been identified as part of the couple snapped kissing during a riot following Vancouver's hockey championship loss on Wednesday.

The striking image taken by Getty photographer Rich Lam has been splashed around the world over the past two days but until Friday, the identity of the couple was unknown.

Lying in the middle of a city street in Vancouver amid the fracas, fires and looting was Canadian Alex Thomas and her Australian boyfriend Scott Jones, seen cradling her in his arms and brushing his lips against hers.

Scott's father Brett Jones told public broadcaster CBC he recognised his son in the picture circulated around the world over the internet and in newspapers.

In an interview from his home in Perth, he said Scott, an aspiring stand-up comedian, was attempting to console Alex after she had been knocked down by police.

They were caught in the violence after leaving the hockey arena where the NHL's Boston Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 to win the Stanley Cup.

"They were between the riot police and the rioters, and the riot police were actually charging forward, and Alex got knocked by a [police] shield and fell to the ground," Mr Jones said.

"[Scott] was comforting her and gave her a kiss to say, 'It's going to be OK,' and the photographer just took the shot at that moment.

"They are both just totally stunned [that the photograph] has just completely gone viral around the world."

- AFP