Abbotsford Canucks announcer attacked by fan that snuck into broadcast booth
Bumps and bruises are part of the playoffs, but usually it’s reserved for the players on the ice.
Abbotsford Canucks play-by-play broadcaster Brandon Astle got quite the surprise during Monday’s game at Blue Arena in Loveland, Colorado. Not long after Phil Di Giuseppe scored to give the Canucks a 2-0 lead late in the first period, Astle had to deal with a Colorado Eagles fan getting up in his face and assaulting him.
Astle may be an AHL announcer, but he showed NHL composure during the ordeal, which occurred live on the air.
It seems the fan got into the broadcast booth to harass Astle, who could be heard trying to deal with the disruptive fan while trying to call the game.
“Got some yahoo chirping at me from behind. Get out of here. What was he doing?” Astle said live on the air.
“Security!”
It wasn’t just chirping, either. The fan apparently launched a chair at Astle, hitting him in the back of his leg.
“I’m fired up. He threw my chair at me! Hit me right in the back of the leg,” Astle added. “What was he doing here? Unreal.”
“That has never happened to me before,” Astle said in response to the viral video on social media. “I know that one yahoo does not reflect the Eagles organization or their fans, and apparently [the fan] was found and kicked out.”
For Astle’s sake, let’s hope the Texas Stars have better security, because that’s who the Canucks face in the next round. The Western Conference Final begins Thursday in Abbotsford, with the Canucks hosting Game 1 and 2, as well as Game 6 and 7, if necessary.
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