BGSU alumnus named new voice of the Columbus Blue Jackets

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – A Bowling Green State University alumnus is living what they call a “dream come true” after recently being hired as the new play-by-play voice of the Columbus Blue Jackets professional hockey team.

Starting this season, Steve Mears ’02 will join analyst Jody Shelley in calling Blue Jackets games on Bally Sports Ohio. Mears is replacing longtime play-by-play voice Jeff Rimer, who retired after the 2023-24 season.

Obtaining a top play-by-play position is often a career-defining role in sports broadcasting, an incredibly competitive field with precious few openings at the highest levels of sports. Mears said being an NHL announcer always was his goal, and he used his time at BGSU to take crucial first steps into the industry.

“When you think about it, there are only 25 NHL teams based in the United States, so there are only 25 TV play-by-play jobs, and they’re very competitive and people from all backgrounds and levels are interested in these positions,” Mears said. “It’s not easy, but I committed to it from day one at BGSU. I got on the air as a freshman to call hockey games, and that opened a door for me.”

While he has seen just about every major hockey venue in North America, Mears said there was nothing quite like the first time he walked into Slater Family Ice Arena to call a real, live Division I hockey game as a BGSU freshman on WBGU-FM.

“I remember when I got to do my first game, it was against Michigan State, and I treated it like it was the Super Bowl times 10,” Mears said with a laugh. “I was so overly prepared and so overly excited to call the game.”

After college, the western Pennsylvania native left to become the voice of the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs of the Central Hockey League. Mears caught his big break in 2006 when he was hired by the New York Islanders to be their radio play-by-play voice.

Mears later spent five years with NHL Network – where he called games for NHL International and served as host for programs like NHL NOW and NHL Live – and even hosted MLB Tonight on MLB Network from 2015-17.

He spent the past seven years doing both TV and radio broadcasts for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Earlier this year, Mears called Stanley Cup Playoff games on TNT and hosted NHL Datacast, an analytically focused broadcast that gave fans an in-depth look at the Edmonton Oilers' series defeat of the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final.

Mears said he first applied to BGSU largely because of its storied hockey history. When he discovered the University also had a quality, nationally accredited journalism program within its School of Media and Communication, all there was to do was visit.

“I just fell in love with the campus and with the town,” Mears said. “It was the perfect size, the perfect setting and the people were wonderful. It was a completely idyllic four years, and I would encourage any student interested in a similar path to do the same thing: go to BGSU and you’ll have the time of your life.”

As a BGSU junior in 2000, Mears traveled to see a game in Columbus during the Blue Jackets’ inaugural season.

He said the memory stuck with him, making the chance to take the helm for the club’s television broadcasts even more special.

“It was incredible – everything was so new and fresh, and it was so exciting as a hockey fan,” Mears said. “Now, to be calling games for the Columbus Blue Jackets all these years later, it’s a dream come true.”