2-year-old Tyler Avolia, or Ty for short, made his internet debut as the #BuckleUpBaby this week when he was captured on camera by Pens TV with his parents at a Pittsburgh Penguins game. The little guy can be seen intensely cheering when his team and favorite player Sidney Crosby makes a goal.
The term Buckle Up, Baby was coined by radio broadcaster Phil Bourque during his commentary of an earlier game and the team has picked up the slogan as their team’s motivation, so when Ty was caught on video, he was immediately dubbed the #BuckleUpBaby.
The boy’s family had tried to give him some baseballs toys for Easter, but he’s made his choice. “He’s still just interested in hockey. Everything goes back to hockey,” said Tyler’s mom Hilary.
Ty has been to four hockey games and as a result, his life revolves around hockey.
“I’m gonna be Sidney, mom,” declares the little Penguins fan, before starting up his own hockey game in the family living room.
The diehard Penguins fan even dreams about hockey. “He’ll wake up and he talks about hockey. Like he had a dream, ‘Sidney was in my room!’ or ‘Malcolm was in my room!’ and that’s all he thinks about, so we think that’s all he dreams about, too.”
Acknowledging their #1 fan, the Penguins contacted the Avolias and gave the 2-year-old’s family tickets to this Saturday’s game. Here’s to hoping the little Penguin’s fan gets to meet his hockey heroes there and that a camera is there to capture the golden moment.
[Video courtesy of WTAE / Pens TV ]
