ABC/ESPN studio host Steve Levy is an NHL broadcast icon after more than three decades of covering the Stanley Cup Final.

Levy, who made his debut in 1994, has missed only two appearances since then due to the NHL’s lockout season and the Covid pandemic.

“Yes, I do have an incredible streak,” Levy reflected during ESPN’s national teleconference last week. “I think I’ve been to every single Stanley Cup Final other than when we were in the bubble. Yeah, my buddy Barry — it reminds me of all those times with Barry Melrose, and for maybe half of those years, we didn’t have the games themselves.

“We were strictly there for SportsCenter, and with one producer and three people, and trying to put on a boatload of coverage for everybody, but those were good times.”

Evolution of ESPN’s Stanley Cup Coverage

Levy’s seen his fair share of changes – some good, some bad – during his tenure with ESPN.

“I feel like (with) the game broadcast and the presentation based on technology, we have more access,” he said. “There’s more mic’d up, there are more cameras, obviously the analytics.”

He added, “What’s changed, unfortunately, is the lack of media coverage and the lack of attending media in person, based strictly on the business of newspapers and those kinds of things. You’re not seeing nearly as many national correspondents attending the Stanley Cup Final in person.”

Intensity Remains on Full Display This Year

Carolina and Vegas are in the midst of a memorable Cup final, scoring a combined 25 goals in the first three games. Two of those games were decided in overtime, with the Golden Knights taking a 2-1 series lead into Game 4 tonight.

“On the ice, the game is the same,” Levy said. “The want and the will of the players is the same. The dream never ends, it never goes away. I think it means just as much now as it always has to all the players and to the coaches and to the staff and to the fan bases as well.”

Levy says Carolina’s fans make the Lenovo Center in Raleigh the most raucous arena in the league.

“It’s such a blast to be in the building,” he said. “Carolina, I’ll maintain, is the loudest building in the NHL, and other buildings are nearly as loud, but I think some of that is fake noise, if you will. I feel like Carolina’s noise is real, and that comes from the Caniacs themselves and this crowd.

“Our ears were buzzing and ringing the whole night following Game 1, and there was plenty to cheer about.”

No matter who prevails tonight, the series will return to Carolina for Game 5 on Thursday.

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