{{Short description|American sportscaster}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Steve Mears | image = Steve Mears in Broadcast Booth.jpg | caption = Mears in 2018 | occupation = Columbus Blue Jackets Television Play-by-Play Announcer (2024–Present)<br>Pittsburgh Penguins Television / Radio Play-by-Play Announcer (2017–2024)<br>3ICE Play-by-Play Announcer (2022-Present)<br>US Open Play-by-Play (2020, 2021) <ref name="NHL.com US Open Article">{{Citation | url = https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/steve-mears-us-open-tennis-championships/c-318970394 | title = Mears Gets Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience at US Open | publisher = NHL | accessdate = Dec 23, 2020 }}</ref> <br>Host of NHL Now (2013–2017) Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Media Director (2002–2006) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|01|22}} | birth_place = Murrysville, Pennsylvania<ref name="NHL.com US Open Article" /> | education = Bowling Green State University<ref name="NHL.com US Open Article" /> }}
'''Steve Mears''' (born January 22, 1980) is the television play-by-play voice of the Columbus Blue Jackets.<ref name="CBJ">{{cite web |title=Blue Jackets welcome Steve Mears as new TV play-by-play announcer |url=https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/blue-jackets-add-steve-mears-to-broadcast-team |publisher=NHL.com |access-date=2 July 2024 |date=2 July 2024}}</ref> He has also called select NHL games for TNT since 2024. He previously delivered play-by-play commentary for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
==Personal life and education== Steve Mears grew up in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, where he attended Franklin Regional High School. He then attended college at Bowling Green State University where he was the play-by-play voice of the BGSU Falcons. He graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2002. Steve married his wife Kirstin in 2022 and they welcomed their first child, Carter, in 2023. <ref name="NHL.com Steve Mears Bio">{{Citation | url = http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=86819 | title = Steve Mears | publisher = NHL | accessdate = June 15, 2015 }}</ref>
==Career== ===Central Hockey League and NHL radio broadcasting=== Mears served as director of media relations and broadcasting for the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs of the Central Hockey League from 2002 to 2006. He was named the Central Hockey League Broadcaster of the Year in 2005. In the summer of 2006, Mears accepted a position as the radio play-by-play broadcaster for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. Mears made his NHL broadcasting debut on October 5, 2006, during a New York Islanders vs Phoenix Coyotes game.<ref name="Mudbugs">{{Citation| url = http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060801/BREAKINGNEWS/60801009| title = Mudbugs' Mears takes NHL job| publisher = Shreveport Times| accessdate = June 15, 2015}}</ref> Mears stayed with the Islanders for three seasons before joining the Pittsburgh Penguins Radio Network. He served four seasons with the Penguins, covering their radio and TV game broadcasts, hosting "Penguins Live" on Pittsburgh Penguins 24/7 Radio, and contributing to PensTV on the official team website.<ref name="NHL.com US Open Article" />
===NHL Network=== In 2012, Mears made his NHL Network debut when he provided coverage of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals. Mears officially joined the NHL Network team in February 2013 as the co-host of NHL Now.<ref name="NHL.com US Open Article" /> During the hockey season, Mears hosted NHL Now! from 4:00–6:00 PM EST Monday-Friday on the NHL Network alongside E.J. Hradek and Michelle McMahon.<ref name="Trib">{{Citation| url = http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/7203828-74/mears-lange-nhl#axzz3fvW2B29z| title = Mears savors success, credits legendary Lange for guidance, inspiration| publisher = TribLIVE Sports| accessdate = June 15, 2015}}</ref> Aside from NHL Now, Mears also anchored video segments for NHL.com and called play-by-play for the IIHF World Junior Championships.<ref name="NHL.com US Open Article" /><ref name="Trib" />
===Pittsburgh Penguins=== On May 16, 2017, Mears was named the play-by-play television announcer for broadcasts on AT&T SportsNet for Pittsburgh Penguins games, replacing Paul Steigerwald.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pensburgh.com/2017/5/16/15647194/penguins-broadcast-tv-root-sports-steigerwald-mears|title=ROOT Sports has replaced Paul Steigerwald with Steve Mears|date=2017-05-16|website=PensBurgh|access-date=2017-05-16}}</ref> On September 1, 2023, following its acquisition of AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, Fenway Sports Group announced that Mears would not return to the TV booth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4825526/2023/09/01/penguins-bob-errey-steve-mears-tv/|title=Penguins removing Bob Errey, Steve Mears from TV booth|website=The Athletic|date=September 1, 2023|access-date=September 18, 2023}}</ref> Fenway then hired the team's play-by-play radio announcer, Josh Getzoff, to replace Mears on the TV broadcasts,<ref>{{cite web |date=September 18, 2023 |title=SportsNet Pittsburgh Announces Three Talent Hires |url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/sportsnet-pittsburgh-announces-three-talent-hires |access-date=September 18, 2023 |website=nhl.com/penguins}}</ref> while he in turn was then selected by the team to replace Getzoff on radio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/steve-mears-named-play-by-play-broadcaster-for-the-penguins-radio-network|title=Steve Mears Named Play-by-Play Broadcaster for the Penguins Radio Network |website=nhl.com/penguins|date=September 18, 2023|access-date=September 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rorabaugh |first=Seth |date=2023-09-18 |title=Steve Mears, Josh Getzoff switch radio, TV roles as Penguins play-by-play broadcasters |url=https://triblive.com/sports/steve-mears-josh-getzoff-switch-radio-tv-roles-as-penguins-play-by-play-broadcasters/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=TribLIVE.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
===3ICE=== Starting with the inaugural 2022 summer season, Mears was the play-by-play announcer for 3ICE on CBS Sports.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.3ice.com/coach-features/bob-errey-and-steve-mears|title= Inside the Booth: Meet the Voices of 3ICE, Bob Errey and Steve Mears|date=2022-06-02|website=3ICE|access-date=2023-03-10}}</ref>
===Columbus Blue Jackets=== Mears was announced as the Columbus Blue Jackets television play-by-play announcer on July 2, 2024. He will work with color commentator Jody Shelley on Blue Jackets games being broadcast via Bally Sports Ohio (Now FanDuel Sports Network).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Newland |first1=Jason |title=Blue Jackets Hire Steve Mears As The New Television Play-By-Play Announcer, Replacing Jeff Rimer |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/blue-jackets-hire-steve-mears-as-the-new-television-play-by-play-announcer-replacing-jeff-rimer |publisher=The Hockey News |access-date=2 July 2024 |date=2 July 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{S-start}} {{succession box | before = Paul Steigerwald | title = Pittsburgh Penguins television play-by-play announcer | years = 2017–2023 | after = Josh Getzoff}} {{succession box | before = Jeff Rimer | title = Columbus Blue Jackets television play-by-play announcer | years = 2024–present | after = ''Incumbent''}} {{S-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mears, Steve}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:National Hockey League broadcasters Category:Columbus Blue Jackets announcers Category:Pittsburgh Penguins announcers Category:Bowling Green State University alumni Category:People from Murrysville, Pennsylvania