Alexis downie Interview
From hosting Ducks Stream broadcasts to appearing on Fox 11 Plus, Alexis Downie has built a career that blends on-camera work with behind-the-scenes production. Now in her fourth season covering the Anaheim Ducks, Downie continues to expand her role while inspiring students hoping to break into sports media.
Downie has known she wanted to work in sports media since middle school. “I’m kind of one of those people that always knew what I wanted to do,” she said. At Michigan State, she took advantage of internships, worked with the hockey team, and gained experience in broadcasting, communications, and PR to prepare herself for life after graduation.
After college, Downie moved to Chicago, where she worked for nearly three years in social media and broadcasting. During that time, she freelanced and created her own NHL digital show to grow her brand. “I was basically doing a little bit of everything,” she said, knowing her goal was to eventually work in NHL broadcasting. That opportunity came when she applied online for a position with the Ducks and moved to California three and a half years ago.
Game days with the Ducks are long and busy. On home game days, Downie starts early with morning skate, production meetings, and preparing storylines for broadcasts. “Those days can last from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.,” she said. Road games are different, as she often hosts broadcasts remotely from her home studio, a setup that requires flexibility and strong communication.
This season has been especially rewarding for Downie as she’s watched the Ducks’ rebuild begin to show results. “To see the young players growing and the recognition this team is getting nationally has been really exciting,” she said.
Behind the scenes, Downie says Ducks fans might be surprised by how close the team really is.
“I think you see it a little bit more now like they're a pretty silly group, honestly, and the one thing I will say and you don't get this in every locker room is they're close...,” she said. “You know you've got a guy like Beckett Sennecke playing alongside a guy like Alex Killorn you know there's a huge age gap there, but they all just they're kind of you know chirping each other they're a little silly in the locker room...it's a good group, especially when they're winning, it always makes a difference.”
She also pointed to goaltender Lukáš Dostál as a player who has stood out to her this season.
Downie said Dostál has impressed her with how he’s handled the pressure of stepping into the Ducks’ number one goaltender role, especially with the added expectations of international play and a rotating goalie group. “Everyone just knows him as this level-headed, calm guy; that's just how he's known, you see it in his interviews. But I think the way he has handled the pressure of being the starter, and now of going to the Olympics. He really cares, he really wants to win, I'll tell you that.”
According to Downie, Dostál may seem soft-spoken on camera, but off camera, he’s far more witty and shows more personality than fans usually see. “I've been very impressed with him, even when he went through a slump after his injury, getting back out there,” she said. “He had a number of losses and still handled it really well and you know he's had the the rotating Peter Mrazek, Ville Husso so it's a good goalie room between the three of them, so I think long story short it has been him and really happy to see his success and for him to get recognized a couple times now by the league.”
Like many broadcasters, Downie faced challenges early on. She shared that she went through nearly 40 interviews before landing her first job. “The hardest thing is all the no’s,” she said. Still, she believes persistence is essential. “It only takes one yes to change your life.”
Her advice to students and aspiring broadcasters is straightforward: get experience, build relationships, and don’t fear discomfort. “Don’t be too hard on yourself early, give yourself some grace because it’s not easy in this industry,” said Downie. “But there are so many different opportunities everywhere, and someone will always take a chance on you at some point, and that’s all it takes.”
If she weren’t working in sports media, Downie says she could see herself as a social worker or therapist. “I really like to listen to people and help people,” she said, a skill that naturally connects to her work as a journalist.
Despite the highs and lows of sports, Downie wouldn’t change her path. For her, one opportunity made all the difference, and her journey shows that persistence, passion, and preparation can lead exactly where you’re meant to be.
