As a student in a journalism class at
Franklin Regional High School, Mears had
the opportunity to test out his on-air chops
by delivering the news and weather. Even
though he thought it was “terrible,” his teacher
disagreed.
“She told me that she thought I was really
good, and it gave me the idea that I might be
on to something,” says Mears, 37.
After graduating from Franklin Regional in
1998, Mears attended Bowling Green State
University, where he majored in broadcast
journalism. He had one specific goal: to
become a hockey announcer.
“I was so determined and so focused on
that. It was my dream, and I wouldn’t accept
anything else. I realize how that sounded,
being that there are only 30 teams in the
NHL, and that there’s only one TV announcer
for each,” he notes.
Despite the odds, he remained steadfast
and focused on his goal. At the age of 18,
while at Bowling Green, he started calling
Division I hockey games—a skill he would
develop over the next four years as he grew
accustomed to the fast-paced flow of hockey.
He practiced every chance he got; even
while playing video game hockey, he would
turn the volume down and call the game on
his own. “It would annoy my brothers to no
end,” he says, laughing.
After graduating from Bowling Green, he
took a job as the on-air announcer for the
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in Louisiana,
part of the Central Hockey League. He spent
four years in that role, while also serving as
the team’s public relations and sales director,
and was named Central Hockey League
Announcer of the Year in 2005.
In 2006, Mears accepted a position as the
radio play-by-play announcer for the New
York Islanders. “It was a total dream. It was my
first time in New York City ever. I was pretty
green and wide-eyed at everything. I was
nervous... I found myself in my first coaches
scrum with Wayne Gretzky, who was coaching
Arizona,” he laughs.
He remained with the Islanders for three
seasons, at which time the team decided to
eliminate the radio program, turning it into a
simulcast. “I was devastated,” Mears recalls. “I
wondered if I’d ever get an opportunity like
this again. It was a sickening feeling. I had my
dream, and now it was gone.”
Shortly after, he found himself back in
Pittsburgh and joined the Pittsburgh Penguins
Radio Network, allowing him to witness not
only the 2009 Stanley Cup Championship
and last season played in the Civic Arena, but
also the first season played in the new arena.
His work with the Penguins opened the
door to another opportunity, this time with
the NHL Network. In 2013, he moved back to
New York to become the host of “NHL Now,”
a nightly show on the network. In that job, he
was able to connect with nearly every one of
his hockey heroes.
“I was covering all 30 teams—every story,
every trade,” he says. “I had the chance to
talk to Bobby Orr, Gretzky, Crosby... you
name it. I was on the ice in 2012 when the
L.A. Kings won the Stanley Cup, and in 2015
with the Blackhawks when they won. There I
was, standing by the big, shiny Stanley Cup,
next to guys who had just played the game,
with 18,000 screaming fans, and I was in the
middle of it. Those were some of my happiest
moments.”
Then Root Sports Pittsburgh called,
wanting to bring him on board after deciding
to make a change to the broadcast team. Root
was offering him hi s dream job: to serve as
the play-by-play announcer for the Pittsburgh
Penguins, replacing longtime announcer Paul
Steigerwald in the press box.
Even though serving as the new voice of
the Penguins is Mears’ dream job, leaving the
NHL Network was not easy.
“They’re a tremendous organization, and
I love being in New York, but I couldn’t
possibly pass up the job [with the Penguins],”
he says. “It’s the culmination of the job I’ve
wanted my entire life. The timing could not
have been more perfect. It’s a huge honor.”
As of press time, Mears was planning to
move back to Pittsburgh in August to be ready
for the start of Penguins training camp in
September.
“I remember watching the games as a kid
in Murrysville and being captivated by Mike
Lange calling the games,” he adds. “It’s crazy
to think that now some 11-year-old kid in
Murrysville might be listening to me calling
the games. It really is a dream come true.” n
Wes Kindelberger
5830 Kennedy Ave. • Export, PA 15632
farmersagent.com/wkindelberger
Murrysville | Fall 2017 | icmags.com 11