Langley Rivermen play-by-play broadcaster Brandon Astle will have a new clip to add to his demo reel.
The Port Coquitlam native had the highlight call of his young career Sunday, when Rivermen forward Austin Azurdia put the puck between an opposing player's legs before grabbing it on the other side and roofing it top shelf with 0.3 second left in the game.
If the goal was not dramatic enough, Astle's play-by-play has made the clip a YouTube sensation, with the 24-year-old broadcaster proclaiming "this kid should run for mayor".
"That was the first time I ever said that," he told The Tri-City News on Friday. "Sometimes I say 'boom baby' when they win in overtime -it's kind of my catch phrase. 'This kid should run for mayor' might be my new one."
The clip was posted to YouTube on Sunday and by Monday it had a respectable 800 page views. By Friday morning, the number of times the clip had been viewed was closing in on 80,000 and with national media like TSN, Global and Sportsnet taking notice, it is likely that number will rise.
"The exposure I have been getting has been really neat," he said. "It is a great feeling. I've definitely been getting a lot more Twitter followers."
The play began with a pass from Rivermen defenceman Bo Pellah from Langley's goal line that Azurdia picked up at centre ice with eights seconds left in the game.
"Austin was having a great game," Astle said. "You could feel something special was going to happen."
Astle begins a five second countdown as Azurdia slips the puck past a Spruce Kings defeceman before re-taking possession and roofing the goal top shelf.
"Off the top of my head, I decided to do the countdown," he added. "After he scored the goal I kind of blacked out a little."
But while the call has received much of the attention, Astle is quick to point out that it would not have happened without the amazing play of Azurdia.
"It really was all Austin," he said. "The call just added to the great goal that Austin scored. He has a great career ahead of him."
