(b. 1947-)

Neil Edward Stevens was a reporter who documented hockey all over the world for over three decades. He began his career in 1968 at the Peterborough Examiner, moved on to work in Sudbury and by 1974 he was working as a reporter for the Canadian Press. He remained a sports writer for the Canadian Press until the beginning of March 2008 when he decided to retire and work from home as a freelance writer.

Stevens was born in St. Catharines on June 14, 1947 and lived in St. Catharines for 21 years. He attended Lakeport Secondary school and graduated in 1966. He went on to study journalism at Niagara College from 1966-1968.

Stevens was a very successful sports journalist and it has been said that he might have been the most widely read hockey writer in Canada. Kevin Allen, president of the Professional Hockey Writers Association has also said that Stevens “is an old-school reporter who can craft a game story in 30 minutes and make readers feel like they were there.” (2008)

Stevens began covering hockey in the early 1980’s and reported the first of many Stanley Cup finals in 1982 when the New York Islanders beat the Vancouver Canucks. He has been a part of every Stanley Cup Final from 1991-2008. Stevens has also covered four Canada Cup Tournaments, two World Cups, four IIHF World Hockey Championships, the 2001 World Junior Championship in Moscow and the 1999 World Women’s Championship in Espoo, Finland. Stevens has also covered numerous NHL drafts, award ceremonies and all-star games.

In 2008 Neil Stevens was honoured at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto by being given the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award, which recognizes print reporters who have brought honour to journalism and the game of hockey.

Stevens currently (2014) lives in Brampton and works as a freelance writer.