Play-by-Play voice Drew Blevins set to take next step

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.- After two seasons behind the mic for the Carolina Thunderbirds, play-by-play voice Drew Blevins has announced he will not be returning to the team for the 2021-2022 season.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity I’ve had here in Winston-Salem,” said Blevins, “this team and these fans are special not just in this league, but throughout the game of hockey.”

Blevins will end his time with the Thunderbirds having called 63 games for the team in his two seasons. This year, Blevins served as his own engineer, technician, director and graphics editor for 17 video-streamed telecasts on YouTube.

“We were fortunate to have had Drew for the past two years,” said general manager Kelly Curl, “he was so polished when he arrived, and we were spoiled getting to watch and listen to him over the past two years.”

“Drew elevated the presence of our team in Carolina. He’s a bright star in his field and is going to do great things from the booth with his talent and work ethic. We’re excited for him and for his future knowing that he will be a credit to the Thunderbirds name wherever he goes in his journey,” said team majority owner Barry Soskin.

Blevins joined the team prior to the 2019-2020 season at 24 years old, becoming the second-youngest broadcaster in the league and the youngest to ever take the reins in Winston-Salem.

“No matter where I go from here, I’ll always be grateful to the Thunderbirds for taking a chance on a 24-year-old kid really, and setting me on this career path,” said Blevins.

Prior to accepting the Thunderbirds job, Blevins was a high school media arts teacher at Franklin Academy High School (Wake Forest, N.C.). The North Carolinian earned his degree from N.C. State University where he majored in communication-media and minored in journalism. He was the four-year play-by-play voice of the N.C. State club ice hockey team and earned valuable experience working ESPN3 broadcasts in conjunction with GoPack.com.

While in Winston-Salem, Blevins’s calls appeared on ESPN, TSN, TMZ, CBS Sports, and various other national outlets. He spearheaded all media coverage for two neutral site games in Bloomington, Ill. in January of 2020 and elevated the Thunderbirds media presence to one of the top-performing platforms in all of minor league hockey.

“It’s sad to see him go, and in my case Drew was my broadcast partner and one of my really close friends,” said Curl, “but he’s going to go places and I expect we’ll be seeing him on a bigger stage soon. I have full faith he’ll be successful wherever he goes.”

Blevins will be working in the game of hockey still, with his new destination to be announced this afternoon.

“I’m excited for the next chapter,” said Blevins, “but I will miss the people here in the Triad. No matter where I go, I’ll fondly remember this city and this team and part of me will always be a Thunderbird.”