AMERKS HOSTING DON STEVENS NIGHT SATURDAY, APRIL 4 AGAINST PROVIDENCE
Organization to honor Hall of Fame broadcaster for his 40 seasons as Voice of the Amerks
Mar 27, 2026The Rochester Americans are celebrating the storied career of their Hall of Fame broadcaster on Don Stevens Night, presented by Maddie’s Motor Sports on Saturday, April 4 when they host the Providence Bruins at The Blue Cross Arena.
Stevens, the longtime Voice of the Amerks and the longest tenured play-by-play broadcaster in the history of the American Hockey League, announced prior to the 2025-26 season that it would be his last behind the mic, ending a remarkable 40-year run in Rochester and nearly 60 years in his illustrious sports broadcasting career.
“I am totally and completely blown away by the response to my retirement announcement back in September,” said Stevens. “Since then, I’ve received well-wishes from all over the country and hockey world, from friends and acquaintances I haven’t seen for decades, and the tributes from other teams around the league is something I have never seen before. I am so blessed, and it would take me years to thank everyone who has aided and supported me in this journey, so I will simply say, ‘thank you’. To my family, the Amerks staff, the ownership, management, and staff of the Buffalo Sabres, all those responsible for broadcasting our games on both TV and radio, the American Hockey League management and teams, the building management and crew, the coaches, hockey department staff and all the players I’ve seen come and go through the years, and of course, the wonderful Amerks fans, I love you all and will miss you immensely.”
The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative Don Stevens bobblehead. Prior to puck-drop, Stevens will be honored during a pregame ceremony, which will include remarks and a special presentation from American Hockey League President and CEO Scott Howson as well as members of the Amerks organization.
For this game only, fans can take advantage of an exclusive ticket offer in honor of Stevens. “The Don” package, available for just $40, includes two lower-level tickets along with two hot dogs and two sodas. The package is available online only by visiting www.amerks.com/Don40.
Stevens, who entering this weekend’s slate of games has called more than 3,350 career games as the team’s primary play-by-play broadcaster, has witnessed some of the most memorable moments in the 70-year history of the franchise. He also remains the longest tenured broadcaster in the American Hockey League after joining Rochester prior to the 1986-87 campaign.
Stevens has seen many changes in the AHL since he first put on the headphones and called his first Amerks game at the old Rochester War Memorial. Known as the “Dean of AHL Broadcasters,” Stevens has witnessed the expansion of the league to an all-time high 32 teams and the explosion of media coverage of the AHL.
The Amerks’ broadcaster has served the team in numerous capacities during his tenure, including public relations director, TV host, radio talk show host, and TV and radio play-by-play broadcaster. In addition, Stevens founded the AHL Broadcasters/Writers Association and served as its president.
The “Voice of the Amerks” calls games on the radio home of the Amerks, 95.7 FM/950 AM WGR Rochester, in addition to calling select home games live on CW Rochester. Stevens also had the distinction of covering the Amerks on multiple occasions over the NHL Network and SiriusXM Satellite Radio, introducing Amerks hockey on both a national and international level.
This past season, Stevens delivered the call for what would be the Amerks’ 2,500th regular-season franchise win following a 6-3 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Nov. 8, 2024, making Rochester just the second team in league history other than the Hershey Bears to reach the mark. In 2009-10, Stevens called Rochester’s historic 2,000th franchise win as the Amerks joined an elite club, becoming just the second team in the American Hockey League and eighth overall in North American hockey history to achieve the feat. He was also behind the microphone for five of the 20 goals scored by an AHL goaltender, most recently in 2010-11 when Binghamton’s Chris Holt fired in an empty-netter against Rochester.
Stevens’ most memorable season with the organization came during the 2010-11 campaign, his 25th with the red, white and blue. Stevens’ years of dedicated service to the club was acknowledged with his enshrinement in the team’s prestigious Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2011. As the 50th member of the Hall, and just the second broadcaster inducted, Stevens joined an elite group of individuals whose tireless contributions and commitment to the franchise matches those of the original 1956 Rochester Americans.
From 1996-2009, Stevens maintained a dual role while also serving as the broadcaster for the Rochester Rhinos (United Soccer League). With the Rhinos, Stevens was part of back-to-back regular season championships (1998-99), three A-League championships in four years (1998, 1999 and 2001), the 1999 U.S. Open Cup and 14 consecutive playoff runs during his tenure. In 1998, he even covered an Amerks hockey game and the Rhinos’ championship game on the same day. Stevens was inducted into the Rhinos Hall of Fame on Sept. 24, 2016 during halftime of the club's final regular-season home matchup, becoming the first broadcaster in Rhinos team history to earn the honors.
Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards for his work on radio and television. In 1993-94, he won the AHL’s prestigious James H. Ellery Award, given annually to the person that has made outstanding contributions to coverage and promotion of the AHL for his work on the Amerks Radio Network. Stevens has also won a national ACE Award for Cable Excellence as the host of the weekly television show, “Amerks Report,” and received the Rochester Press-Radio Club’s Louis MacMillan Award for sportscasting excellence.
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’s sports history. Following the 2012-13 season, Stevens’ 27th as the Amerks play-by-play man, he was again awarded with the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for excellence in radio coverage for the second time in his career.
Stevens is a three-time winner of the Rochester Press-Radio Club’s Gary Smith and George Beahon Sports Media Excellence Award, the most recent of which came in May 2024. He was honored as the 2020 Sportsperson of the Year by the Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, and in February 2023, the Amerks dedicated the press box at The Blue Cross Arena in his honor in recognition of nearly 40 years of service to the organization.
With the Amerks, Stevens has broadcast seven Calder Cup Finals and the Spengler Cup in Switzerland, winning a pair of Calder Cup championships in the process. Stevens has taken the AHL to its highest level during the course of his career and has shown his true professionalism by working with younger broadcasters throughout the league. Each season he has made it a point to “promote the Rochester Americans and the American Hockey League,” from his seat in the radio booth to the podium at numerous charity events.
During his career, broadcasting has taken the Wainwright, Alberta, native all over the United States, Canada, Europe and Puerto Rico. He has worked in such markets as Seattle, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Rochester.