The Los Angeles Kings organization will be honoring play-by-play announcer Nick Nickson in a pregame ceremony on Tuesday night ahead of a matchup against the Winnipeg Jets from Crypto.com Arena. Nickson has called Kings games for the last 44 years across radio and television, stepping behind the microphone for over 4,300 professional hockey games during his broadcasting career. This past October, he announced his retirement from the broadcast booth at the conclusion of the season as the Kings look to compete for a Stanley Cup championship.
“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,” Nickson said in a statement announcing his retirement.
“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.”
Nickson has been working on Kings broadcasts from the booth named in his honor alongside lead analyst Jim Fox, ice-side analyst Daryl Evans and rinkside reporter Carrlyn Bathe throughout the season. On games where Nickson has not been behind the microphone, the team has utilized guest play-by-play talent to fill in on the role. Nickson started calling games on television in addition to radio with the 2023-24 season after the organization and play-by-play announcer Alex Faust parted ways as the team worked to combine radio and television broadcasts.
The ceremony will be hosted by Patrick O’Neal of FanDuel Sports Network West and will take place ahead of puck drop for the Western Conference matchup. Fans in attendance will also be receiving a commemorative poster that celebrates Nickson’s broadcasting career. Throughout his time behind the microphone, he has been honored with various accolades, including as the winner of the prestigious Foster Hewitt Award presented by the NHL Professional Broadcasters Association. Nickson was also inducted into the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2009 and added to the Frontier Field Walk of Fame located in his hometown of Rochester, N.Y. in 2011.
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