How a Hall of Fame Hockey Broadcaster Enjoyed his Last NHL Season 🎙️

How a Hall of Fame Hockey Broadcaster Enjoyed his Last NHL Season 🎙️

After 45 years, the Kings can wear their crown. When I first came on board, he expressed to me that, you know, people don’t have the luxury to see what we’re seeing. So, we’ve got to paint a picture for them. Back on the point it comes, but it’s intercepted. And Sandstöm sets up Gretzky. Gretzky back to Sandstöm in the zone. Fakes the shot. now centers. A pass across by Petting to Gretzky. He scores. 50 years in professional hockey broadcasting. He just has it down. And you’re talking one of the most difficult games to broadcast. One-time save, rebound, score. His call doesn’t depend on the excitement of the game. You can still hear that tenor. You can still hear that crescendo of when the plays taking off. Pass to Kopitar driving wide on goal. Shot. Score. You get up every day. It’s not like going to work. You’re going to see something and wonder what you might see that you never had a chance to describe before. After 45 years, the Kings can wear their crown. The Los Angeles Kings have won the Stanley Cup. If it weren’t for the fans, none of this happens. I’ve never forgotten that. And I think that has helped us create a bond between the Kings radio TV with the Kings fans. Reb, [Music] I look back at the the King schedule and in the early ‘7s, I think they had a 16-day trip. This trip, the 18-day trip to start, well, to end the preseason, to start the regular season, will be the longest in Kings history and damn proud to be part of it. I’ve been thinking about retiring for a couple of years. For everybody who’s not getting ready to retire, I think there comes a point when you just get that sixth sense that, yeah, I think this is about the time to do it. And for me, I think it is and I’m and I’m happy with the decision. I’m quite sure quite sure I’ll have no regrets. I think as the season started, I think it was really in the back of Nick’s mind. He wasn’t thinking about a lot. I know he’s thought a lot about it over the last couple years. And you know, just the ability to go out on your own terms. That is fantastic. When you think about the legacy, you have to just think first of all the 44 years. You have to feel proud that Nick Nixon has been part of this organization for that long and then able to do the quality work that he’s done. All right. No problem. Joel, how you doing? Nick Nixon, radio TV. Nice to meet you. Nice meeting you. Welcome. Thank you. I know you’ve been asking. When you go on the road and you see the relationships that he has, it makes you feel good that you know that you’re working with somebody that’s well respected in your industry. Again, you go back to being inducted in the hockey hall of fame and I remember going there with our broadcast team and we’re a proud group. You know, you see one of your peers go in there and you know it’s well earned, welld deserved and it’s special to have a partner like that and I’m fortunate to have worked with them for so long. When I started back in 1981, two players that were on the Kings are still involved with the Kings as broadcasters, Jim Fox and Daryl Evans. And I worked with Daryl on the radio side for 26 seasons, 25 and Jim on TV for the last two years, my my final two years, but I’ve known those two individuals since I came to Los Angeles, and we’ve always gotten along fabulously. Daryl Evans, has to be a great thrill for you. Your first ever NHL playoff game. You picked up four points, two goals, and two assists. Yeah, it was a really good feeling like um I’ve been scoring some points there in the last few games of the season and uh it was a great feeling there to get that the first year of Staple Center. We were looking for someone to to join me in the booth and I remember Daryl did a couple of games and I remember talking to him afterwards. I says, “Darl, you did a great job here.” And Dowy’s lead pass neatly up to Brown into the zone, feeds it cross ice, spinning prolof backands it, score deflected by Dustin Brown. Well, a good execution there. Dustin Brown taking that puck down the right wing with speed. He threw it over to Frolaf pretty aggressively. I remember when I was in the car industry before I came on board with the Kings, I would listen to Nick. And when when I started with him on the air, it made it real easy cuz I felt like I’d been working with them already for years because I, you know, knew when to jump in. from listening to me on the car radio to being the one that people are listening to in the car radio. He made the transition and I would give him advice early on and he would take it to heart and I think we made a pretty good team. Nick’s the type of guy that does not have an ego and that’s why he’s been able to last 50 years in professional hockey, 44 with the LA Kings. He’s there to help. He’s here to guide. Especially in our industry where, you know, it’s it’s the norm to have this big flashy eagle. Nick’s not like that. Beautiful day in Buffalo as we start another season. A lot of great trips here to this city. One of the few times, I will say I’ve been in Buffalo during a hockey season and seen green grass. Great weather. My first team as a professional broadcaster, the Rochester Americans, is the AHL team of the Buffalo Sabres. So, kind of interesting how that all worked out with our first road game being in Buffalo. I was fortunate within a year after graduating from college, I was doing pro hockey games, the Rochester Americans in my hometown, and I would go to their games when I was a kid. I think my first game I was probably six or seven years old. And this might be the picture from their very first season. So this gentleman here, Paul Nepier, worked in radio with my dad in Rochester before he moved to LA in the 60s, became an actor. My dad was a broadcaster, a disc jockey back in Rochester, New York, my hometown. So if you think my voice is deep, you should have heard my dad’s. The one thing that stands out about Nick is his powerful voice. And it was funny early on we were playing in Buffalo and Nick’s dad came to join him to, you know, while he was broadcasting and I remember being down the hall and I could hear both of them like they were right next door. And this is through room and room and room and room just that powerful voice. Pick and show. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We do hope that you’re feeling quite well today. You know, that weather is really grand, isn’t it? From now till 5:00, we’re going to be around. We’ll be Whenever my folks would come out to visit me, we’d always have lunch with Paul and his wife. So, it’s kind of neat to see his picture there. That’s 56. Gosh, that’s almost 70 years ago. Wild. They’ve got me miked up. That’s why. All right. Thank you. Yep. Here’s another connection we have with the the Sabres. This is Frank Christie who was their trainer when they first entered the NHL. He was their trainer in the AHL with the old Buffalo Bison. And he grew up with my dad in New York City. Who’s this guy? Once again, he’s outdressed me. Can you believe it? you heading up? All right. How are you, sir? Good. Good. All the way up, please. Foxy. I always wanted to try and do every broadcast the best that I was able to do. And that involves the preparation, working with different people. I always looked at every game as a new experience because in our sport it is so spontaneous that you don’t know from game to game, from period to period what you might see that you’ve never seen before in hockey. Yeah, this is my scorecard I use pretty much for every game. And obviously I I fill it out before the game starts. A lot of the notes I’ve done I will do once the season gets going after tonight after the last game. So I’ll put nights for notes for our team, their team, uh lines for both teams and then as the game goes on I keep track of goals, assists, penalties. Um a lot of guys don’t do that now. They have all their computers and laptops. They just do it on that. But I’ve done this since day one. So, I’m not I’m not going to change this date in King’s history. October 10th, 1973, Hall of Famer Bob Miller did his first game as a king. So, if I’m doing the math correctly, 51 years ago tonight, he came to California to Los Angeles in 1981. got there just in time to be my partner for the miracle on Manchester. So, it was a great start to uh his king’s career. No one in Los Angeles, Edmonton, or around the National Hockey League would soon forget what happened in the forum the night of April 10th. The Oilers led 5 nothing at the end of two periods. Having seen five Kings goals in the final period, the forum crowd was in a frenzy as the teams faced sudden death overtime. Pure Doug Smith out. Daryl Evans and Bozac. An all rookie front line. Wells and Chartra back. Smith on the draw. Shot by Evans. He’s going. Oh, [Applause] [Music] look at him wins the game. Before I could get he scores out, Nick went, whoa. So, kind of ruined my goal call that night, but that was all right. We were all happy. It’s funny cuz he was the analyst in that position there. So he was the one that was all riled up. When I hear him, the excitement that he’s coming, I could just see Bob next, you know, going next. Okay, you know, settle it down there because he’s he’s the young guy in the group. We just got along great off the ice, on the air, everything. He was well prepared and ready to do a game all the time. And it was wonderful for me to work with someone like that. You know, when I was playing, I remember talking to Nick and Bob after games when things aren’t going well. Hey guys, what are you seeing? Can you help me out here? The people within our sport, from the players to the coaches, everybody, they’re humble. They’re down to earth. And dealing with that type of person game after game, year after year, makes it easier for you. From Western New York and Key Bank Center in Buffalo, the Kings open their new season against the Buffalo Sabres. And I again everybody, Nick Nixon along with Jim Fox, soon to be joined by Daryl Evans and Carl Bade. Want to thank Jared Stole for an outstanding job on that open. Former Kings center, obviously. Jim, uh, the Kings go into the new season with some Yeah. What’s this microphone? Oh, police. The love for watching the players perform night after night and not knowing what I might see. That was a big factor in doing the games as long as I did do them. up the right wing. Buffalo short-handed, clipped in to the net. Couldn’t get a shot away. Now the wrap around. Oh, save made. Keer on Mloud. Here we go. A left shot. Ryan Mloud in on an angle in on Keer. Deaks. Save is made. Darcy Keer. We’ll take a break. We’ll be back in Buffalo. I was trying to pause it and then you could do your further analysis while we split away. But he wanted us to go right to the plate. Preparation to me is the most important word in broadcasting and Nick was always prepared and is always prepared and that was a big step toward doing a good job on the air. Well, we started this season, as everybody knows, with a seven-game road trip. And the first five were back east. And you only play the East twice a year, home and away. So, I’ve done my last broadcast in Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Buffalo, and Ottawa. And I think being early in the season, I I wasn’t feeling real nostalgic about it. People after the broadcast would come up to me on the bus or the airplane says, “Well, how do you feel about doing your Well, I never really thought of it. I think it’s too early in the season for that, but looking forward obviously to tonight, first home game finally. So, yeah, this will be my last first home game at at Crypto.com Arena.” Celebrating his 44th and final year in the broadcast booth, hockey hall of famer Nick Nixon. You and I have had a lot of great memories over the years to go along with a few changes. From watching games across town at the fabulous forum to where we are tonight. Hard to believe, but it was 25 years ago tonight that the Kings played their first game in this building. The building still looks pretty good. But over the years, one thing has never changed. The passion, the enthusiasm, the dedication that you fans have for your hockey club. Thank you a thousand times over. With that, go Kings. Go. You know, everybody’s got to do their own thing that sets them apart from somebody else they listen to. Nick’s right there. Good player identification. Who’s got the puck? And and that’s important to the fans. Up the ice comes Moore. Moore feeds it right side. Shot. Score. Jordan Spence beats Blackwood from the right wing. One- nothing LA. keeping up with the speed of the game at a pace where the viewer or the listener if it’s radio can see that in his in his mind and know where they are on the ice what you’re talking about is is very very important and Nick does that very well air drops it to Clark down to the left circle cuts to his right Clark throws it in front he scores great job screening the goalender by Fogle and the Kings. Clark’s shot makes it way through. Oh, it’s starting. Kings at Nashville. Who’s that guy with Foxy? [Laughter] I now have a new routine of what I do when I watch the Kings on TV instead of do the Kings on radio or TV as a broadcaster. So, I understand they’re they’re going to listen to some different voices fill in for me this year to see if maybe they’ll take over full time next year. Daryl Evans with us. So, I’ve got my score sheet here, which I keep during a game that I’m doing. Uh, Kings lineup, Nashville’s lineup, notes that I have. Not that I’m going to use the notes on the air tonight, but next time we play Nashville, I can refer back to this. When we had Gretzky back in the day, our traveling secretary would just randomly hand out a boarding pass to you cuz we were all getting on the same plane. So, I got Wayne Gretzky’s boarding pass once. It’s up there. [Music] I have a box full of those credentials. I could probably wallpaper the whole office. [Music] My pride and joy as a broadcaster and in being associated with the game is my 500 goal collection. I have signed autographs of all 48 now players in NHL history that have scored 500 goals. It started when Marcel Deion, who was the ninth player to do it, was playing for the Kings in the early 80s, maybe my second or third year as a broadcaster. I decided, “Oh, Marcel, can you get me a signed autograph?” After that, I said, “You know what? I’m going to try and get the other eight.” And it just grew from there. And at the time, I said, “This will be something I’ll look back on.” I called the 500th goal for Robbitai and Curry when he was with the Kings. I was with Bob when Marcel got his 500th. Just something I can look on my wall and say, you know, I saw all these guys play. I guess it’s fitting that I’m retiring soon because, as you see, I’m running out of wall space after I put Mulan up. There’s really nowhere else in my office to put more pictures. So, I guess timing is everything. I’ve got a lot of stuff and it’s found a place over the years and it’s a big part of my history as a broadcaster covering hockey for for almost 50 years now. Kramer, Charlie, Charlie, Rudy. Yeah, Luke. Look at Luke. Keith Redmond. The 9293. A fan at the event gave me this. He has a collect memorabilia. He He thought Jim Hiller might like this. And this these are the photos, the media photos of the 92 93 Kings. And there we go. Right there. Jim Miller right next to a great one. So, I’m going to give these to Jim. Maybe he can put it in a scrapbook. So, the this is the entire team. He said, “That’s a good one.” That’s a Will you give this to Jim? So, Oh, he’s giving it to me. Oh, I thought he scrapbook or whatever. That’s a cool picture. I looked through some of the names the other I don’t remember. That’s a cool picture. No, that one’s got to go up for sure. Yeah. Might even get Tony and Wayne to sign and Mike Connley. organization. Daryl Gilmore, who was my buddy there at the time. Excellent. Yeah. Thank you. In my career and Nick’s, I’m sure you get up every day. It’s not like going to work. You’re going to see something and wonder what you might see that you never had a chance to describe before. Dowy sends it down low into the zone. A shot. Score. Andre Kmeo, his first as a king. I think the most important thing for any broadcaster, especially someone that’s done radio and now they’re moving to TV, is just the cadence, the beat, the flow. And that’s where I think Nick is really good. And off the draw, Kempe a shot score. I don’t know if Kopitar got a touch on it, but it appeared to trickle between the pads of the goalie. Kopitar won the faceoff. Kempe with a shot. The Kings third unanswered goal and they’re up five to four. There’s just been so many games. I know it’s over 3,800 with the Kings and it’s over 4,300 in pro hockey. I did close to 500 in the American League. So yeah, 3,800 4,300. Thinking about when Nick is not going to be here, it’s difficult just to pick his brain. He is he’s sharp. He comes up with these ideas sometimes and we always joke a lot. He has the old that’s the box and get out outside the box. Buck who leads the league in just about every goalending category. Shot score. Edmonson shot tipped by Tremore. Keep form who scores the Perry. Will he get a point today? Hands it off. Shot. Score. Fa. Caps try to clear. They cannot. Held in. Piala feeds it across. Score. Quits in my field. That’s goes in five straight. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. For me, I remember falling asleep in bed listening to the Kings games when I was a kid and listening to Nick and Daryl do the games. That’s why I think he had fit so well in his transition from radio to TV because he is so methodical and deliberate with how he calls the game. Obviously, you watch him on TV now, but in the past, you know, you would listen to Nick on radio, and at the same time, if you’re watching the game on TV now, if you close your eyes, you can still follow the puck and know exactly what’s going on just by listening to how he describes the game. Very strange. Um, as I walked into the arena, Patrick was there. Patty and we’re going to rehearse in a few. I don’t want to be here for the rehearsal. I don’t want to know what’s going on. So, I made sure I wasn’t here. Hi. Right. Wow. Imagine all these people. I’m really really thankful to the Kings organization for letting me be part of this. Um, just it’s kind of like a once in a lifetime thing. I’ve never done anything like this before in front of this crowd. I love these Kings fans. So, I’m really fired up. I’m excited. Hope it goes well. Is that what we got going on? This is what I’m going to do. Yeah. I’m going to do a little open. I’m going to introduce a family. Then I’m going to do a little speech and lean into the video. And that’s all I have to do. Yeah, exactly. Right. What a perfect night to honor our broadcasting legend that is the Bear, Nick Nixon, in his final year behind the microphone for your Los Angeles Kings. To me, your call in Chicago in 2014 when the Kings beat the Blackhawks in game seven in overtime of the Western Conference Finals is one of the best calls in sports history. What you said about that game when it ended sums up your career as LA Kings play-by-play broadcaster for 44 years. Remarkable, incredible, unbelievable. It was just about 50 years ago I went into the production room at the radio station I was working at and I put together an audition tape for the first hockey broadcasting job with the Rochester Americans. Little did I know then that those two hours I spent that night would define my entire broadcasting career. And as it turned out, it has been a wonderful journey for me. No regrets for the road not taken. Thanks to Jan and Nick, mom and dad, for setting such a great example for myself and sisters Andrea and Jennifer. to Carolyn, the love of my life. One of our first dates was the senior prom in high school, and we’ve been going steady ever since. And finally, you, the fans. Let me put this in perspective. Without you, I’m not here. The players aren’t here. The building isn’t here. You are the lifeblood of it all. And over the years, I have met and talked with so many of you. And I hope I’ve been able to be courteous to you and shown you the respect each and every one of you deserves. With that, a final thank you to everybody. And let’s now sit back and do what we all enjoy. Let’s watch some Kings hockey. something I’m very thankful for that the Kings did for me. The loyalty I think I’ve shown the Kings, they’ve shown to me in kind as well. He’s been an accomplished announcer, very helpful to me in those early years, and I’m glad for him that he’s had this chance to do some last games and be honored, and he deserves that. [Music] It felt really like any other season for me and it was fun to do because the team was good going into the playoffs as the second place team in our division. I mean a lot of us felt really good about this team and the 105 points matched the franchise record and that record has stood for what 50 years 7475 season. Cope. How are you, man? You ready to rock or what? Let’s do it. Let’s do it. Yeah. Yeah. Kevin, how you doing? Good. What have you seen in Quinton’s development this year? [Laughter] No, he’s dissing you already. Oh, obviously a lot. Yeah. Chimbo, how are you, man? That time of year, dude. Let’s do it. When my wife and I were dating, before we got married, a lot of our dates were to hockey games. So, she knew what she was getting into. And when we got married, I was doing hockey games. I started my career. It became the Nixon routine. And I don’t know if our family would have been as close-knit had it had to have changed if I changed careers at age 35 or 40. But I’m thankful that it worked out that way. [Music] Playoff hockey, nothing like it. The Oilers played their best game in game five. Kings need to play their best game here in game six. Jim and I were talking the other day earlier in the series. I think he and I might be the only two people that have seen every game of the Kings Oilers series over the years. This of course is the 11th. First one was my first playoff series 1982 and Foxy was still playing then. And then we played the Oilers a few times when Jim was playing and then when Jim turned to broadcasting, Gretzky comes to LA. Gretzky plays for the Kings against the Oilers. And then of course this is the fourth straight season the two teams have met. So yeah, I think it’s over 50 games for sure. Probably close to 60 now. Hello sir. Hello there. Good to see you again. Yes, it’s good to see you again. Yes, that means we’re still alive. Yeah, playoffs is always big around the Nixon household. They either come over to our house and watch or my wife will go over to my son’s house and watch. Yeah, they got the rally towels and everything. So, it’s interesting. You make the playoffs in my situation and my last game is going to be a loss unless we win a Stanley Cup, right? So many great memories over the years that I can live with that. Guy, hi. How are you? Well, I did. Yes. my friends with all of their their fancy equipment. Game six test. One, two. One, two, three. One, two, three. You got me there, Hoover. Okay. Ready when you are, Hoove. Let’s give her a go. Oil Nation feeling pretty good after taking game five in LA. Tonight, a chance for Conor McDavid in company to eliminate the Kings in the first round for the fourth straight year. Expect a desperate Kings team with one goal, win a game, and send the series back to LA. Okay. If you like it, I like it. All right. Five minutes to rehearsal. Five minutes. Five minutes. You never told me to return. You never asked. I know. You just gone here. Like this is like the only second year we’ve worked together. I know it. What did you do before? Radio. Oh, radio for 42 years. I was down there with Jerry. Oh, yeah. Jerry. Yeah. Anyway, and I got to Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Regardless of whether it’s game seven. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Appreciate that. No problem. Then I got to, you know, I got to work on my golf game so I can beat Foxy on the course here. They were very gracious, the people around the league as the the season wound down congratulated me on my career. It was nice to hear some of them say, “Do you really want to do this?” I mean, I I watched your game the other night and you know, you you still got it. You I know I know I I feel the same way, but you know, I want to move on. I want to I’ve said this before. I want to do things when I’m healthy, still healthy enough to do them. Uh because I I just turned 71 and I want to be able to go out and play golf and travel and see my grandkids play games and and all of that. [Applause] The Oilers here on home ice are a perfect 2 and 0. They won games three and four here. They took game five in LA two nights ago and we’re underway here in game six. They must win. Kings get it ahead. Fiala in front. Byfield shoots. Scores. Quinton Biffield. Set up by Kevin Viala. And a minute 19 into game six. The Kings are up one- nothing. Well, this time, watch the pass. He just gets it to space. And then watch the hands. Wow. Edmonton. Henrik. Give and go. Puck comes in front and a save made. Loose puck. Connor Brown tease it up. Shoots, scores, deflected off a body in front and the Oilers come right back to tie it early. I think it worked that way. Yeah, it it looked like it hit Henrique and then maybe off Clark. It might have I think it hit another King before the shot. Here come the Kings. Score. Grant Clark. The Kings respond. So, we’ve got three goals before the game is even three and a half minutes old here in game six. Brand Clark, his second of the series. Two to one LA. You’ll see one side of the ice. Look at five Oilers on one side and they can’t readjust. Neat little pass there. Oilers gain the line. They’re on the power play. Rididle out to Bard and they send it across to the left wing side. Nan Hopkins in down low. Now he gets it back and scores. Ryan Nan Hopkins with the power play goal. Four goals in 555. We’re tied at two. [Music] Nurse off the draw. Shot tip and a score. Hands it off in the middle. Shot. Score. Darnell Nurse. Here come the Oilers. Good back check by Anderson. The buck in front and they score again. I kind of knew with, you know, 2 3 minutes left that this was going to be it. Um, and uh, you know, in a perfect world, right, we’d all like our last game, if we’re a broadcaster, to be a winning one. Well, that doesn’t happen in the playoffs unless you win the Stanley Cup. But it would have been nice if my last game would have been at home. Interesting because as as we all know, the Kings have played Edmonton more than any other team in the playoffs in franchise history. My first playoff series was with Edmonton in 1982. uh the Miracle on Manchester playoff series and the Kings won that in five games and my last one was this spring against the Oilers. Uh I think 11 times they’ve met now in the playoffs. And it’s going to end here tonight in Edmonton. And thanks to everybody that I’ve met along the way. Great friends, great Kings fans. I’ll miss everybody. and it’s been an honor and a privilege to bring you Kings hockey for 44 years. Thank you all. And I’ll speak on behalf of everyone involved with the Kings. Your unselfish attitude throughout the years. All you cared about was calling the games, bringing the product to the fans, and I know I’ve spoken to so many of them over the last little while, Nick, and we all appreciate everything you have done. They’ll shake hands here and I will be honored to shake your hand right now and thank you for everything you’ve done. I don’t know if it’s hit me yet, but so fortunate to meet so many great people in all walks of life in my journey around professional hockey that started almost 50 years ago. And it’s just been a pleasure to be associated with all these different people in all the different areas that we’ve touched uh throughout broadcasting hockey games. It’s it’s been special. Well, he’s meant everything for me. Again, Nick, uh you know, I was with you from day one of my broadcasting career, and I can’t thank you enough for everything that you did for me. Uh the things that you’ve taught me, the things that I’ve learned again for uh all the great things that you’ve done for our Kings family and our Kings fans. uh you know it’s going to be tough for them uh you know with not hearing your voice each and every day but I know and I hope and I use the word hope a lot because and I think you will I hope you’ll continue to keep visiting us a lot make some appearance with us but uh God bless you my friend you’re a hall of famer or class act and this is this is the last time I’ll let him wear my old suit thank you very much love you very [Music] pictures. All right, boys. [Music] Let’s get a picture. Can we get a picture? Yeah. [Music] Yeah. You stand on a bunch. Not that small. All right. Bless you, Nikolai. Thanks, boys. I hope for the Kings and the fans sake that whoever takes over, my advice would be I hope you can do this as long as you want and I hope you do it for a long time because you’re going to build up a rapport with the organization and the fans that will really make you feel proud and make you feel good about what you’re doing. One last popcorn for the one last popcorn. Thanks again, guys. Bye-bye. Whether or not you think you’re going to be here for 2 years or 20 years or 40 years, try to focus in on what you’re doing on a regular basis and don’t leave any stone unturned. Figure out how you feel comfortable doing a broadcast. Execute it and enjoy it. Enjoy your time off. Who know? Now I got to plan stuff. Maybe you’ll come back in a different capacity. I don’t know what that would be, but you can come back as a fan. What do we got now, Chris? What? What’s left? All right. What do we do? Anything? Do we have official tea off? Nick Nixon on the tea from Rochester, New York. Drivers work better when you have a T. An experienced golfer, Nick. 50 years. That’s right. My second career is about to begin. [Music] Boy, Nick down, I guess. Little tail. Yeah, you got to watch there. So, you playing a lot, Nick? Yeah, it’s been good. That’s going to be the plan. Play all the time. Play all the time. Do some traveling. See the grandkids play their games. Go in the hole. I’ll give you that one finally. Oh man. I’ll give you that one for the par. You’re a gentleman and a scholar. So what about this summer? What do you got? A lot of travel. Yeah. It’s interesting because now that I have all this time, the calendar really gets filled up in a hurry. You got You’re going to be busier than I know it. You going anywhere different this this summer, Nick? Yeah, we’re going to go to New England next week. Yep. My wife does a lot of research with Ancestry stuff. Go to New Haven. The Nighthawks are going to honor me for my career. I used to right do their games back in 77 to 81. Daryl was on one of those teams. So, and then from there we’ll go to Rochester, see my mom and uh sister and brother-in-law, come home, go back in September for a wedding. We’ve got a cruise in December. Oh jeez. It’s like uh excuse me, I’m going to have to go back to work just to rest. How many slices of pie in New Haven? Oh, Pepe’s Pizza. Pepe automatically. Got to make sure they’re keeping up. I would like to stay involved. You know, it’s in my blood. I mean, someone asked me, “What will you be doing on opening night next October?” I said, “Well, I’ll be at the building watching the Kings.” I mean, I’m not going to miss that. I’ll probably go to most of the games, but I think I still have a lot to offer. Nice, Nick. Great ball. Love me. Love best one of the day. All right, here we go. Here we go. Nice. Well done, Nikolai. Uh, that back to back bars. Back to back. Unbelievable. Wow. He’s my hero. Putting on a clinic. I came out to the Kings in 1981. Jim was playing his second year pro. It was your second year pro. You were both 1980 draft picks. I’ve worked with both of you for years. Known you my entire time here in LA, 44 plus years now. And I just want to tell you what a pleasure it’s been. Oh jeez. Being with both of you, true professionals, but more importantly, true friends. Hey, Nikolai. Thanks, guys. I appreciate your help with my career. I mean, I remember all the years that the beginning there, both of you, including you, Jim, as well. I mean, I was blessed to be, you know, with you guys. So, we all set our egos aside and we just worked hard at it and tried to do the right thing at the right time. And I think we did If I tried to take anything from you, Nick, it’s attitude. The way you approached it, the way you went at it, the way you were there, and you know, the coaches say all the time, no ups and highs. And yeah, I think you have the most even kill that I’ve ever worked with. Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment. There you go. All right. Oh, guys, are we going to cry now or we He was really good at what he did, and I think that comes across well to the listeners. It’s an easy voice for them to to latch on to. And I think over the years it’s the consistency that he has been able to maintain for all those years. You know, we go to dinner all the time. You’re going to miss that. But I think Nick will be in LA King forever. The people that I have worked with in the broadcast booth, they’ve been with me forever since I came to Los Angeles. And that’s been huge in my development as a broadcaster. knowing that that I have good people around me to this day. Hey, they’re my closest friends. [Music]

44 years behind the Microphone is no small task in Professional Sports, especially with one team. However, that was no problem for the legendary Nick Nickson. The Hockey Hall of Famer enjoyed almost 50 years in Professional Hockey, with the bulk coming in Los Angeles. Come along on the journey of Nick’s final season in the NHL!

Find Us 👇
Instagram: http://instagram.com/lakings
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lakings
Facebook: http://facebook.com/lakings
Web: http://lakings.com

#LAKings #NHL #GoKingsGo