The Amarks Hall of Fame announcer is one of 14 local athletes who will be honored at ESL Federal Credit Union’s annual Press Radio Club Celebration of Champions on June 11 at Innovative Field.
May 24, 2024
Andrew Mossbrooks | @Moss Brooks 48
Rochester Americans Hall of Fame Broadcasting Station Don Stevens was selected as the winner of 2024 Gary Smith & George Beahom Sports Media Excellence AwardStevens will be honored along with other local athletes at the upcoming annual conference. Rochester Press Radio Club Celebration of Champions presented by ESL Federal Credit Union It will be held on Tuesday, June 11th at Innovative Field.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this award, especially one named after two icons in Rochester media history,” said Stevens. “I’d like to sincerely thank the Rochester Press Radio Club selection committee. It’s unbelievable that I would receive an award for my work at this stage in my career. I’d like to thank the Pegula Sports organization for providing such an exciting product that makes all of this possible, and of course, I’d like to thank all of the fans who have put up with me along the way. I am truly blessed!”
“Don has been a mainstay of Amarks hockey for nearly 40 years and this is a great testament to all he has accomplished not only for our organization but for the entire Rochester sports community,” said Amarks interim vice president of business operations. Chad Buck“Don’s unique and iconic calls are synonymous with some of the most memorable moments in our team’s history, and his impact on our organization is immeasurable. This is another very well-deserved honor, and we look forward to making many more memories with Don’s calls in the future.”
Stevens is a three-time recipient of the award and recently received his 38th.Number 55 seasons with AmerksNumber Stevens was named the top overall play-by-play announcer for sports broadcasting in 2023-24. Stevens has called 3,250 total games during his nearly 40-year career with Rochester and has been a witness to some of the most memorable moments in the franchise’s 68-year history. He is also the longest-tenured announcer in the American Hockey League since joining Rochester prior to the 1986-87 season.
Stevens has witnessed many changes in the AHL since he first put on headphones and called his first Amerks game live at the old Rochester War Memorial. Known as the “elder AHL play-by-play announcer,” Stevens has seen the league expand to an all-time high of 32 teams and AHL media coverage explode.
During his tenure, the AHL announcer has served the team in a variety of capacities including Director of Public Relations, television host, radio talk show host and television and radio play-by-play announcer. Additionally, Stevens founded and served as President of the AHL Broadcasters/Pressors Association.
The “Voice of the Amerks” will provide play-by-play game commentary on the Amerks’ new radio home, 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester, as well as live broadcast of select home games on The CW Rochester and MSG Network. Stevens has also had the honor of featuring the Amerks on the NHL Network and SiriusXM Satellite Radio multiple times, showcasing Amerks hockey on a national and international level.
In 2009-2010, Stevens helped Rochester win its historic 2,000thNumber With the franchise championship, the Amerks joined an elite club, becoming just the second team in the American Hockey League and eighth in North American hockey history to accomplish the feat. He has also been on the microphone for five of the 20 goals scored by AHL goalies, most recently in the 2010-11 season when Binghamton’s Chris Holt smashed a shot into an empty net against Rochester.
Stevens’ most memorable season came in 2010-11, when he was 25 years old.Number Stevens’ longstanding and dedicated contributions to the club were recognized with induction into the team’s prestigious Hall of Fame as part of the 2011 class.Number Stevens is the second announcer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining an elite group of players who have played a major role in shaping this legendary franchise.
From 1996 to 2009, Stevens held the dual role of announcer for the Rochester Rhinos (United Soccer League). During his tenure with the Rhinos, Stevens helped the team win consecutive regular season championships (1998–99), three A-League championships in four years (1998, 1999, 2001), the 1999 U.S. Open Cup, and 14 consecutive playoff appearances. In 1998, he also broadcast an Amerks hockey game and a Rhinos championship game on the same day. Stevens was inducted into the Rhinos Hall of Fame during halftime of the club’s final regular season home game on September 24, 2016, becoming the first announcer in Rhinos team history to do so.
Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards for his work in radio and television. In 1993-94, he received the AHL’s James H. Ellery Award, given to the individual who has made the most significant contribution to the development of the AHL, for his work on the Amerks Radio Network. Stevens also received a national ACE Award for Cable Excellence as host of the weekly television program, “Amerks Report,” and the Rochester Press Radio Club’s Louis MacMillan Award for excellence in sports broadcasting.
In 2003, he was inducted into the Frontier Field Walk of Fame in the media category. The Walk of Fame is located inside Frontier Field and features the names of fans, players, contributors and media throughout Rochester sports history. After the 2012-13 season, Stevens’ 27Number As the Amerks play-by-play announcer, he again received the AHL’s prestigious James H. Ellery Memorial Award for excellence in radio coverage for the second time in his career.
In June 2018, Stevens was named the recipient of the Gary Smith and George Beahom Sports Media Excellence Award. He was named the 2020 Sportsperson of the Year by the Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and recently, the Amerks dedicated the press box at Blue Cross Arena to him in February 2023 to honor his nearly 40 years of contributions to the organization.
With the Amerks, Stevens has broadcast seven Calder Cup Finals and the Swiss Spengler Cup, winning two Calder Cup championships along the way. Throughout his career, Stevens has elevated the AHL to its highest level and demonstrated true professionalism by working with young announcers throughout the league. Each season, he has worked from his perch in the radio booth to the podium at numerous charity events to “promote the Rochester Americans and the American Hockey League.”
A native of Wainwright, Alberta, his broadcasting career has taken him all over the U.S., Canada and Europe, working in markets including Seattle, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Rochester.