The men still hadn’t come to grips with the passing of one of their most dedicated fans, Ernie Kieswetter, the 87-year-old father of head coach Tom Kieswetter and grandfather of Warriors guard Luke Kieswetter, Tom’s nephew.

Then, came the shocking news of the death of the longtime voice of the Warriors, Rich Nichol, who passed away earlier this month after suffering a stroke. He was 43.

Not long after that, the grandfather of UW’s fifth-year guard and all-time assists leader, Dave Burnett, died.

“It’s been a difficult term for us. Rich’s passing was the real tragedy,” said Tom Kieswetter.

“I keep looking at one side of our bench where my dad used to sit and down at the other where Rich used to sit,” said a sombre Tom Kieswetter. “It’s a bad feeling.”

The Warriors will continue to wear a black memorial patch emblazoned with Nichol’s initials for the rest of the season.

“Rich was an integral part of the team,” said UW athletics director Bob Copeland. “He was the consummate pro.”

Along with providing his trademark soothing, informed narrative as the Warriors’ public address announcer from his seat at the scorers’ table, Nichol also pioneered UW’s webcasts for its men’s basketball, football and hockey teams, serving as play-by-play man.

Throughout his run, Nichol checked his pompoms at the door, despite his passion for all things black and gold.

He was so accomplished, the rival Wilfrid Laurier men’s hockey team sought out Nichol’s play-by-play services for their playoff run last season.

Despite Nichol’s enormous talent, he remained low-key, his hushed baritone infused with a unique lexicon that included brilliant phrases that conveyed covert meaning, like “Warriors Cam McIntyre at the line ssssssshooting two.”

“When I started, I was terrified. But I guess you get better as you go along,” Nichol told The Record in January 2000.

A self-professed sports fanatic, the former UW math major was the sports editor for the campus paper during his school days before landing the gig as PA announcer for UW’s female cagers in the early 1990s, then for the men’s team.

The Hespeler native also briefly served as the media relations director for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, winning a Grey Cup ring with the CFL team in 1999.

Former Warriors’ great Sean Van Koughnett first came to know Nichol as the authoritative voice emanating through the rafters at UW’s Physical Activities Complex during Van Koughnett’s freshman season of 1990. Van Koughnett then came to know Nichol as a friend when the two shared the broadcast booth for Warrior webcasts.

“One of the things I remember is Rich’s voice. As a player, it’s always in my subconscious,” said Van Koughnett.

“As a person, I couldn’t think of a more genuine, good-hearted guy. I can’t think of one bad word or negative thing he ever said about anyone or anything.”

Nichol leaves his wife Michelle and two young daughters, Arwen and Claire.

Keith Reinhart, the P.A. announcer for UW’s women’s basketball games, takes over for Nichol at Saturday’s regular-season finale when Waterloo’s men entertain the Laurier Hawks. Game time is 4 p.m.