For the May 12, 2014 edition of Sportsnet magazine, we reached out to long-time employees of playoff teams for their favourite memories.
In Los Angeles we found Dieter Ruehle, the Kings’ organist and director of music. He’s been on the job for nearly 25 years and was standing above the top row of seats in The Forum, pounding on the organ, when he watched the Kings advance to the second round of the 1990 playoffs.
“The Kings were playing Calgary in the first round of the playoffs and we were in game six, up three games to two. We were in double overtime and Mike Krushelnyski scored this amazing goal that was almost like a golf shot, like a chip shot. He was falling down to the ice and the puck went up in the air and came down, and it just went over the outstretched glove of Calgary’s goalie, Mike Vernon. It went in, the game was over, the Kings won the game, Kings won the series and it all happened in double overtime. It was quite a way for me to experience my first-ever playoffs working for the Kings. That was my first season, ’89–90.
“I remember jumping up and down. I remember the entire building to my left, to my right, just in front of me, because I’m kind of up in the end zone, and the whole place was jumpin’ up and down and happy. That was a big goal.
“Back then we didn’t have a goal horn, and we didn’t even have recorded music in those days, it was all organ. When we’re in the playoffs, Kings fans are so loud and when they chant ‘Go Kings Go,’ it’s such an electric feeling in the building. And it’s definitely a thrill when I’m playing ‘Go Kings Go’ on the organ and it unites the fans and they’re all saying it together. I can’t say that I sing along. I don’t think you wanna hear me sing anyway.”