Paul Steigerwald | |
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Steigerwald in 2010
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Born |
Scott Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania |
August 6, 1954
Occupation | Sportscaster |
Paul Steigerwald (born August 6, 1954) is an American sportscaster, currently working as the Pittsburgh Penguins' primary television announcer on Root Sports Pittsburgh.
He is widely regarded as one of the NHL's worst TV commentators.
Steigerwald became a hockey fan growing up in Pittsburgh's South Hills. One of his neighbors was Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jack Riley, who would provide tickets for the poorly attended games. Steigerwald developed an interest in hockey and played at the club level while attending Kent State University. After graduating, Steigerwald would start his broadcast career with the Johnstown Red Wings of the Eastern Hockey League. WJNL, the local radio affiliate of the Johnstown Red Wings paid Steigerwald $110 a week to provide commentary for all 70 games that season. With a 24-45-1 and a failing economy within the Johnstown area, the Johnstown Red Wings ceased operations in 1980. The Eastern Hockey League later folded the following year.
Steigerwald was the radio play-by-play announcer for the Altoona Curve, the AA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, from 2005 to 2007.
The Penguins hired Steigerwald as their marketing director at age 25, and he became their radio color analyst in 1985. FSN Pittsburgh (now Root Sports) hired him on June 29, 2006, as its TV play-by-play announcer after it declined to renew the contract of fellow Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange, who was later hired by the team exclusively as its radio play-by-play announcer. On August 18, 2011, Steigerwald and color analyst Bob Errey were re-signed by Root Sports to multi-year contracts. During a Penguins/Capitals game on March 19, 2013; two fans were spotted with a large picture of Steigerwald on a stick. Bob Errey referred to the prop as "Steigy on a Stick," which became an instant viral hit with Penguins fans.