When Don Stevens was hired as the Rochester Americans’ radio broadcaster in the summer of 1986, his wife asked how long they would be there. “Two years, max,” Don said. Stevens had his eyes on a career in the National Hockey League and thought Rochester would be the final minor-league s top on that journey.  “The feeling was that things would change with the (parent) Buffalo Sabres, and I’d get my shot,” he said. “But that never happened.” Two years turned into 40.  “It seemed like every NHL chance that came along, I was in the mix,” Stevens said. “And then, all of a sudden, a friend of a friend got the job.” He laughed.  “I’m still waiting for that call.” This spring, Stevens is retiring after a 58-year career in broadcasting. He has been the soundtrack for legions of Amerks fans, but the puck stops here. “I just got to the magical number of 40 and decided, ‘That’s it,’” he said. “That’s enough.” Amerks Hall of Famer Jody Gage, the team’s director of strategic planning, said Stevens made fans feel like they were sitting at center ice.  “You knew when the Amerks scored versus when the visiting team did,” Gage said. “He made the players, coaches, staff and fans feel welcome and a part of the family. He bled red, white and blue.” ROBERTO FELIPE LAGARES Stevens has worn numerous hats during his Rochester tenure, including public relations director, radio talk show host, and founder/president of the AHL Broadcasters/Writers Association. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he doubled as the voice of the Amerks and the pro soccer Rochester Rhinos — with the teams’ schedules often overlapping.  “I remember doing a home hockey game on a Friday night, then catching the red eye and flying to Seattle and driving to Vancouver for a Saturday Rhinos game,” he said. “After the game, I drove back to Seattle and caught a red eye to Buffalo. Then, I drove to Hamilton, Ontario, for another Amerks game that Sunday afternoon.” Stevens lived in Wainwright, a small town in Alberta, until his family moved to Vancouver when he was seven. He didn’t watch TV until he was 12, yet he has been on TV (and radio) for 40 years as the voice of the Amerks, his shouts of “He scoresssss!” and “What a save!” burned into the brains of diehard fans. Stevens’ broadcasting career began in 1969, when he served as disc jockey and sports director for a small station in Grand Island, Nebraska. Then it was on to Denver; Sioux City, Iowa; Grand Forks, North Dakota; San Diego; Seattle; Portland; Phoenix; back to Seattle; and then to Salt Lake City, Utah. He covered baseball, hockey — even World Team Tennis. In 1979, Stevens turned down the job of radio voice for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. He had just taken a job with a minor-league team in Seattle and felt he should honor his commitment. His wife at the time also didn’t want to leave her job and move to L.A. “So, I said ‘no,’” Stevens says. “I was 29. I figured there would be many opportunities along the way.” In 1986, he received a call from Amerks general manager George Bergantz. Play-by-play man John Gurtler was leaving for a job with the parent Buffalo Sabres. Bergantz interviewed 50 candidates but quickly settled on Stevens. “I’m really looking forward to being in a city where the fans like hockey,” Stevens said upon taking the job. “I’ve been in places where I say I work for a hockey team, and they say, ‘We have a hockey team?’’’ ROBERTO FELIPE LAGARES Some of Stevens’ greatest moments behind the microphone took place in his first year, which was the 1986-87 season. The Amerks won a shootout at Binghamton on the final night of the regular season, clinching the division title by one point over the host Whalers.  “We came back to town in the early morning hours and we couldn’t get our bus across the bridge,” he said. “It was totally packed with fans.” A few weeks later, the Amerks outlasted Sherbrooke in seven thrilling games to win the American Hockey League’s cherished Calder Cup championship behind coach John Van Boxmeer and star players like Gage, Gates Orlando and goalie Daren Puppa. This time, fans swarmed the airport in the middle of the night.  “You walk down the steps of the plane and look out and see thousands of fans outside of the chain link fence, yelling and screaming,” said Stevens. “It was magical.” The Amerks would win their only other Calder Cup with Stevens behind the microphone in 1996.  “That team was great, too,” he said, “but there’s nothing like the first championship.” He has been honored countless times through the years: A two-time recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Award for outstanding media contributions to the league, he was inducted into the Frontier Field (now ESL Ballpark) Walk of Fame in 2003 and the Amerks Hall of Fame in 2011. But to Stevens, the greatest honor came in 2023, when the press box at Blue Cross Arena was named in his honor.  “That one left me speechless,” he said. Stevens still spends “three hours of preparation for every hour I’m on the air” to get ready for his broadcast, studying statistics and player bios.  “If I use two percent of what I put on paper, I’d be surprised,” he said. “But you never know what you’re going to need — and when you’re going to need it.” ROBERTO FELIPE LAGARES The AHL has changed immensely since Stevens joined the Amerks.  “There were 12 teams when I started, and now there are 32,” he said. “And every team has a total one-to-one relationship with NHL teams.” When Stevens started, he would receive statistics from the AHL on Tuesday morning and use those stats throughout the week.  “I’m sitting there doing the broadcast saying, ‘Well, at the start of the week, so-and-so led the league with X number of goals,’ but it’s really four games later,” he recounted. “You couldn’t give accurate information. Now, everything is instant.” Stevens has no retirement plans, and he’s trying to soak in every moment of this final season. He’ll broadcast all 36 home games and select road games as he winds down his career. “I’ve been trying to slow the clock down, but that’s definitely not working,” he said. One thing is certain: Stevens’ legacy in Amerks lore is secured. “Don will always be remembered as the voice of the Amerks and an all-time great Rochester American,” Gage said. “I’m proud to call him a friend, teammate, colleague. His voice will be missed. To Don: Enjoy retirement, travel the world and remember: you’ve always got a home here with the Amerks.” Jim Mandelaro is a freelance writer and former sports reporter who covered the Red Wings for 24 seasons for “The Democrat and Chronicle.” In 2022, he was inducted into the Red Wings Hall of Fame. The post Don Stevens to retire after 40 years as voice of the Amerks appeared first on CITY Magazine. Arts. Music. Culture.. ...read more read less