Sports

Paul Steigerwald Out, Steve Mears In On Penguins Broadcast Team

The veteran play-by-play announcer is taking a marketing position with the team. His replacement currently works for the NHL Network.

PITTSBURGH, PA - In a surprise move, Paul Steigerwald is out as the Pittsburgh Penguins play-by-play broadcaster. Root Sports and the team announced Tuesday that Murrysville native Steve Mears, who currently works for the NHL Network, would take over play-by-play duties beginning next season.

Mears will be joined in the broadcast booth by veteran analyst Bob Errey, who will return for his 14th season. Steigerwald will join the Pens’ front office in a new role with the communications and marketing department.

"Steve is a tremendous natural talent who has established himself league-wide as a first-class professional broadcaster," Root Sports General Manager Shawn McClintock said. "The fact that he grew up in the Pittsburgh area rooting for the Penguins is an added bonus. Steve has done an outstanding job with the NHL Network over the past five years - including play-by-play work on the Stanley Cup Final for NHL International, as well as the World Junior Championships - and we think he is a perfect fit for this new role with ROOT SPORTS and the Penguins."

Find out what's happening in Pittsburghwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Mears, a Franklin Regional High School graduate, has spent the past five years co-hosting the NHL Network’s “NHL Live and NHL Now.” He was the radio play-by-play voice of the New York Islanders from 2006 to 2009 and worked for the Penguins radio network from 2009 to 2013.

Steigerwald has been the Pens’ TV play-by-play announcer since 2006. He previously has worked as the team’s director of marketing, a Pens’ broadcast analyst and radio play-by-play announced. In his new role with the team, he’ll work with the Penguins' in-house media operation, appear on PensTV and pre- and post-game radio shows and representing the team at various community and charitable functions.

Find out what's happening in Pittsburghwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"There is no one more passionate about Pittsburgh Penguins hockey than Paul Steigerwald," said Travis Williams, the team's chief operating officer. "Steigy has been a loyal and dedicated part of the organization for more than 35 years and will continue to be a valuable asset in this new position. His knowledge of our players and his understanding of the team's role in our community make him uniquely qualified to spread the Penguins' message by interacting with fans, corporate partners and media."

Steve Mears photo via Getty Images.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here