Hockey Announcer Hit by Chair in Wild Fan Incident During Canucks’ Playoff Win

The Abbotsford Canucks clinched a 5-0 victory over the Colorado Eagles in Game 5 of the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup playoffs, securing their spot in the Western Conference Finals. But the real drama unfolded off the ice, when a rowdy fan decided to spice up the live broadcast by hurling a chair at announcer Brandon Astle.

The incident occurred as Astle was calling the game, with the Canucks—Vancouver’s minor league affiliate—leading 2-0. A loud crash interrupted the broadcast, later revealed to be a chair striking Astle’s leg after a heated exchange with the fan. “Got some yahoo chirping at me from behind. Get out of here! Security!” Astle exclaimed, clearly rattled but keeping his wit. “He threw my chair at me, hit me right in the back of the leg. Like, what was he doing here? Unreal. Have another beer,” he added, his frustration laced with sarcasm.

Post-game, Astle took to social media to address the chaos, apologizing for his heated reaction while noting the fan was ejected. “I could have handled this better, but was in shock & fired up,” he wrote, emphasizing that one unruly spectator doesn’t reflect the Eagles or their fanbase.

As the Canucks prepare to face the Texas Stars in the conference finals starting May 29, the incident serves as a reminder: hockey’s passion can sometimes spill over—chairs and all.