Evan Pivnick

Long before he stepped into a broadcast booth, Evan Pivnick was muting video games and calling the play-by-play himself. Today, he does it for real as the television and radio voice of the Coachella Valley Firebirds. “I get to talk about sports for a living, and people get to listen to what I have to say,” he says. “I try to educate fans and entertain fans and make them feel like they’re a part of the game.”

Pivnick, who relocated from Long Island for the gig in 2022, has become one of the faces of the hockey franchise, helping turn a new team into a rallying point for the entire valley.  Along the way, he has immersed in desert life — participating in the Leadership Coachella Valley Speaker Series, volunteering with FIND Food Bank, and raising funds for the One Valley Foundation to expand access to hockey and education.

“I think the biggest satisfaction for me, besides the fact that I get to do what I love, is that I get to enjoy the ride with the fans,” he concludes. “We have probably, if not the most devoted fan base in the league right now, and they listen to every game. … It’s an honor, and it makes my work fulfilling.”