The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that veteran National Hockey League announcer Steve Mears has joined the team as their new television play-by-play announcer. Mears will replace longtime Blue Jackets television play-by-play announcer Jeff Reimer, who retired at the end of the 2023-24 season after 20 years with the team. Mears will work alongside commentator Jody Shelley for the team's games broadcast on Barry Sports Ohio.
“Steve Mears brings a wealth of experience broadcasting games to local, national and international audiences for nearly two decades, and we're excited to have him join Jody Shelley in bringing Blue Jackets hockey to our fans,” said Blue Jackets vice president of business intelligence and broadcasting Mark Gregory. “Like his predecessor, Jeff Reimer, Steve has a deep knowledge and passion for our sport that is evident every time he broadcasts a game.”
Mears has been a game commentator and host for the NHL Network for the past 18 years, including play-by-play for the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders. He has called the play-by-play for some of the most prestigious NHL and international hockey events, including the Stanley Cup Final, All-Star Games, outdoor games, and the IIHF World Junior Championship. Last season, he called the play-by-play for TNT during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and hosted the NHL DataCast powered by AWS, an alternative broadcast that used NHL EDGE data to give fans a new way to watch the Western Conference Finals series between the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers on truTV and Max.
“It's a real honour for me and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to commentate on The 5's matches.Number “Rhyne serves as the television play-by-play announcer for the Columbus Blue Jackets,” said Mears. “Since my days attending games as a student at Bowling Green, I have seen firsthand over the years how loyal and passionate Blue Jackets fans are and how special game nights are at Nationwide Arena. I can't wait to get started this season with a core of young, talented players and work with Jody Shelley and the production team at Bally Sports Ohio.”
The 44-year-old is a Western Pennsylvania native and graduate of Bowling Green State University, where he called games for the Falcons hockey team. Prior to coming to Columbus, he spent seven seasons with the Penguins and has been doing play-by-play for both television and radio since 2017. Prior to that, he spent five seasons with NHL Network, where he was the host for NHL Live, NHL NOW and play-by-play announcer for NHL International. He also called games for the New York Rangers and was a host for the MSG Radio Network during his time in New York City.
“Steve Mears is an outstanding announcer whose passion and enthusiasm for the National Hockey League and its players is on full display every time he's in the broadcast booth,” said Randy Stevens, executive vice president and general manager of Bally Sports Ohio. “We are excited to have him on board and believe he will be a great addition to Bally Sports Ohio's Emmy Award-winning Blue Jackets hockey coverage.”
Mears began his career as an announcer for the Bossier Shreveport Mudbugs of the Central Hockey League, where he spent four seasons and was named CHL Announcer of the Year in 2005. He then joined the Islanders as the club's radio play-by-play announcer from 2006-2009 before returning to Pittsburgh as a host on the Penguins Radio Network and a contributor to Pens TV from 2009-2012. He also hosted MLB Tonight on the MLB Network from 2015-2017 and called the play-by-play for the U.S. Open tennis tournaments from 2020-2022.
