Julie Stewart-Binks is back on the local NHL beat.<\/p>\n
The longtime hockey and soccer broadcaster is filling in as the rinkside reporter on Tampa Bay Lightning broadcasts while full-time reporter Gabby Shirley is on maternity leave.<\/p>\n
Stewart-Binks announced the role this past weekend on X.<\/p>\n
New chapter\u2026 absolutely thrilled to be rinkside reporting for @TBLightning<\/a> while @Gabby_Shirley_<\/a> is on maternity leave (and yes, I forced her to hand me the mic like this \ud83d\ude02)\u2026 don\u2019t worry she\u2019ll be back! #GoBolts<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/rNjk5tji5W<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_TV) December 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Despite being perhaps better known for her national commentary gigs at Fox Sports and Barstool, Stewart-Binks came up in the industry covering hockey. She previously covered the Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs on local television.<\/p>\n Later, Stewart-Binks made the leap to Fox Sports 1<\/a> as a news anchor and soccer reporter, followed by stints at ESPN and Barstool covering soccer and hosting radio.<\/p>\n More recently, Stewart-Binks has gone back to her roots. She hosted NWSL coverage for ION during the 2024-25 season and hosts an NHL podcast for iHeartMedia<\/a> while contributing digital content for SNY and BetRivers<\/a>, according to her LinkedIn page.<\/p>\n Lightning games in Tampa follow an increasingly popular model, airing on free linear television in partnership with Scripps as well as through an out-of-market streaming service and the NHL Power Play service on ESPN+. The opportunity to cover a recent two-time Stanley Cup champion could help Stewart-Binks get back in the mix in hockey media as the league spreads its wings under new broadcast deals with ESPN and TNT Sports.<\/p>\n \t