Longtime Los Angeles Kings TV play-by-play voice Nick Nickson has been on the call of nearly every big moment in the history of the organization. But we now know that his legendary career in the booth will be coming to an end.
Dating back to 1981, Nickson has been the voice of the Kings, experiencing two Stanley Cup victories over the course of his tenure with the organization.
On Tuesday, the Kings released their 2024-25 television broadcasting schedule. But on top of that, the organization revealed that Nickson will be retiring after the season.
In a statement on NHL.com, Nickson broke down his decision, saying that he has “a sense that it is the right time to move on”.
“There comes a moment when you get a sense that it is the right time to move on, and I feel that after this season it will be that time,” said Nickson in the team press release. “Shortly after graduating from college in 1975, I began my hockey broadcasting career, and it has been an absolute privilege to bring the game to the listeners and viewers from one season to the next. Through it all, I have enjoyed calling every shot, every save, every goal, and two Stanley Cups. To my family and the Kings organization, thank you for your unwavering support and loyalty. To the great fans of Kings Hockey, thank you for your encouragement and kind words over the years. It has always meant the world to me.”
On top of his responsibilities with the Kings over the years, Nickson briefly served as a public address announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1983-1989. During that time, he got to experience the Dodgers World Series victory in 1988.
Throughout all of the meaningful moments that he has experienced across both sports, Nickson certainly ranks quite highly amongst some of the most influential and memorable West Coast broadcasters of all time.
LA Kings president Luc Robitaille offered a message about Nickson’s impact over the years, thanking him for the role he has played as both a broadcaster and an ambassador for the Kings.
“Nick has been a trusted and valuable voice for our fans during his incredible career and is synonymous with the LA Kings,” said Robitaille in the team’s statement. “He has been there for every historic moment to eloquently bring to life the action on the ice. Most importantly, he is a terrific person who has been equally important as an ambassador for our team and in our community. We look forward to celebrating his final season.”
[NHL.com]
