Pittsburgh Penguins Name New Play-By-Play Announcer

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pittsburgh Penguins have named Joe Brand the radio play-by-play voice of the Penguins Radio Network. He will replace Steve Mears, who took a job as the TV play-by-play announcer for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Brand will be primarily joined in the broadcast booth by long-time color analyst and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Phil Bourque. Paul Steigerwald will return as pre- and post-game host.

“We are excited to welcome Joe Brand to the Penguins family and introduce him to the best fans in hockey,” Penguins president of business operations Kevin Acklin said in a statement. “The Penguins have been fortunate to have some of the best voices to ever call the game sit in that chair, and we look forward to Joe making his own mark here in Pittsburgh.”

Brand, 33, spent the previous three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks as their studio host and fill-in play-by-play broadcaster on WGN Radio 720 AM. His duties included hosting pre-game, intermission and post-game shows for all of Chicago’s regular-season games, and also hosting a weekly radio show "Blackhawks Live."

Brand is a graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in broadcast journalism.