The Pittsburgh Penguins have found their new play-by-play voice for radio broadcasts.
Joe Brand was hired for the position on the Penguins Radio Network, president of business operations Kevin Acklin announced Tuesday.
Brand, 33, replaces Steve Mears, who took a position as the television play-by-play broadcaster of the Blue Jackets.
He will handle the play-by-play duties for regular-season and playoff games, alongside 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,” Acklin said. “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 worked the past three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks as their studio host and fill-in play-by-play broadcaster on WGN Radio 720 AM. He hosted pre-game, intermission and post-game shows and hosted a weekly radio show, “Blackhawks Live.”
He also called preseason and select regular-season games when John Wiedeman was unavailable.
Prior to that, the Chicago, Ill., native spent more than a decade calling baseball, football, basketball and other sports at both the professional and collegiate level, including a stint calling White Sox games.
