{{Short description|American ice hockey player (1994–2023)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | name = Nic Kerdiles | image = Nic Kerdiles 2 (cropped).jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = Kerdiles with the Norfolk Admirals in 2014 | birth_date = {{birth date|1994|1|11}} | birth_place = Lewisville, Texas, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2023|9|23|1994|1|11}} | death_place = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lb = 196 | position = Left wing | shoots = Left | played_for = Anaheim Ducks | draft = 36th overall | draft_year = 2012 | draft_team = Anaheim Ducks | career_start = 2014 | career_end = 2019 }}

'''Nicolas Kerdiles''' (January 11, 1994 – September 23, 2023) was an American professional ice hockey forward. He played briefly in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Anaheim Ducks. Kerdiles was selected by the Ducks in the second round (36th overall) of the 2012 NHL entry draft.

==Early life== Nicolas Kerdiles was born January 11, 1994, in Lewisville, Texas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nicolas Kerdiles Stats and News |url=https://www.nhl.com/player/nicolas-kerdiles-8476866 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=September 24, 2023}}</ref> The Kerdiles family moved frequently due to his father's job in medical equipment sales before settling in Irvine, California, where Nicolas began playing roller hockey.<ref name="miller">{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Jeff |title=Ducks head home to find a piece of their future |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2012/07/04/ducks-head-home-to-find-a-piece-of-their-future/ |work=The Orange County Register |date=July 4, 2012 |access-date=September 24, 2023}}</ref> He transitioned to ice hockey at the age of eight, playing with the Los Angeles Kings youth affiliate.<ref name="burnside">{{cite news |last=Burnside |first=Scott |title=Nic Kerdiles on a worldly journey |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/8088305/2012-nhl-draft-anaheim-ducks-hometown-pick-nic-kerdiles-journey-ends-shot-top |work=ESPN |date=June 23, 2012 |access-date=September 24, 2023}}</ref> In 2007, Kerdiles participated in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Los Angeles Hockey Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|title=Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA|year=2018|website=Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament|page=10|access-date=February 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|archive-date=March 6, 2019}}</ref>

==Career in ice hockey== ===U.S. National Team Development Program=== Kerdiles moved to Michigan and joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program for the 2010–11 season. At the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, he was named as a forward on the tournament's All-Star team as Team USA claimed a silver medal.<ref name="2011 U-17">{{cite news |title=Team Ontario into World U-17 playoff round |url=https://www.sootoday.com/local-sports/team-ontario-into-world-u-17-playoff-round-133561 |access-date=26 September 2023 |work=SooToday.com |date=3 January 2011 |language=en |quote=2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge All-Star Team ... Forward – Andreas Athanasiou (Ontario / London Knights) Forward – Nicolas Kerdiles (United States) Forward – Hunter Shinkaruk (Pacific)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wiebe |first1=Ken |title=Ontario crowned U17 Challenge champions |url=http://www.winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/2011/01/04/16763226.html |newspaper=Winnipeg Sun |access-date=27 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131421/http://www.winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/2011/01/04/16763226.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 |language=en-ca |date=4 January 2011}}</ref> Later that year, he moved up to the under-18 age-group and helped Team USA win gold in the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championships.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team Edges Russia, 4–3, at 2011 IIHF World Men's U18 Championship |url=https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/238295 |website=U18 Men's World |publisher=USA Hockey |access-date=29 September 2023 |language=en-us |date=17 April 2011}}</ref> The following year, he led Team USA with 4 goals and 9 points in 6 games and captured another gold medal in the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships.<ref>{{cite web |title=U18s Roll to Gold Medal Over Sweden |url=https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/238271 |website=U18 Men's World |publisher=USA Hockey |access-date=29 September 2023 |language=en-us |date=22 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Peters |first1=Chris |title=Four of a Kind – U.S. Sets The Gold Standard At IIHF Under-18 World Championship |url=https://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2012-06/four-kind |magazine=USA Hockey magazine |publisher=USA Hockey |access-date=29 September 2023 |date=2012 |volume=2012|issue=6}}</ref>

A few months afterwards, the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League selected him 36th overall in the 2012 entry draft.<ref name="Buckys5thQuarter.com">{{cite web| url = http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/wisconsin-badgers-mens-hockey/2014/4/5/5568496/nic-kerdiles-anaheim-ducks-nhl-contract-early-departure-wisconsin-hockey | title = Nic Kerdiles leaves Wisconsin, signs NHL contract with Anaheim Ducks | publisher = Buckys5thQuarter.com | date = 2014-04-05 | access-date = 2014-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 NHL Entry Draft |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/draft/nhl-entry-draft/2012 |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=eliteprospects.com}}</ref>

===College=== Kerdiles attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he played two seasons of NCAA Division I hockey with the Wisconsin Badgers. During his freshman season, his 11 goals and 22 assists<ref name="eliteprospects">{{Cite web |title=Nic Kerdiles |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/90347/nic-kerdiles |access-date=2023-09-24 |website=eliteprospects.com}}</ref> helped the Badgers capture the Broadmoor Trophy as the WCHA playoff champion, and he was recognized for his outstanding performance by being voted the most valuable player of the 2013 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.<ref name="WCHA2013MVP">{{cite web |url=https://wcha.com/men/recaps13.php?mcc_wis1.m23 |last1=Gilbert |first1=John |title=Wisconsin Claims WCHA Final Five Title With 3-2 Win Over Colorado College - Freshman forward Nic Kerdiles named MVP of the 2013 Red Baron WCHA Final Five |publisher=Western Collegiate Hockey Association |date=March 23, 2013 |access-date=26 September 2023 |archive-date=September 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926223914/https://wcha.com/men/recaps13.php?mcc_wis1.m23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

While at university, Kerdiles represented his country in the world stage again, and was the leading scorer (7 points in 5 games) for Team USA in the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Sweden. Despite his goal against Andrei Vasilevskiy giving his team a lead, they were eliminated by Team Russia in the quarter-finals.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Podnieks |first1=Andrew |title=USA vs RUS – 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship |url=http://www.worldjunior2014.com/en/games/2014-01-02/USA-vs-RUS/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105151449/http://www.worldjunior2014.com/en/games/2014-01-02/USA-vs-RUS |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 5, 2014 |website=www.worldjunior2014.com |publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation |access-date=29 September 2023 |date=2 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Andy |title=Nic Kerdiles, USA eliminated at WJC by Russia |url=https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/wisconsin-badgers-mens-hockey/2014/1/2/5268668/2014-world-juniors-kerdiles-usa-eliminated-from-tournament-by-russia |website=Bucky's 5th Quarter |access-date=29 September 2023 |language=en |date=2 January 2014}}</ref>

===Professional=== ====Anaheim Ducks (2014–2018)==== thumb|upright|Kerdiles with the Norfolk Admirals in 2014 On April 5, 2014, Kerdiles forfeited his final two seasons of college hockey eligibility to sign a three-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks.<ref name="Buckys5thQuarter.com"/> He made his professional debut with the Ducks' American Hockey League affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, during the 2014 Calder Cup playoffs.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.norfolkadmirals.com/release_story1.php?id=3164 | publisher = Norfolk Admirals | date = 2014-04-16 | access-date = 2014-04-16 | title = Kerdiles makes professional debut with Admirals | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140529225223/http://www.norfolkadmirals.com/release_story1.php?id=3164 | archive-date = May 29, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref> After the 2014–2015 season, the Admirals moved to the West Coast, bringing Kerdiles along for the San Diego Gulls' first three seasons.<ref name="TimesOfSD-obit">{{cite news |title=Former Gulls Forward Nic Kerdiles Killed in Nashville Motorcycle Crash |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2023/09/24/former-gulls-forward-nic-kerdiles-killed-in-nashville-motorcycle-crash/ |access-date=29 September 2023 |work=Times of San Diego |date=24 September 2023}}</ref><ref name=AP-obit>{{cite news |title=Former San Diego Gulls winger Nicolas Kerdiles, 29, dies in Nashville motorcycle crash |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/nation-world/story/2023-09-24/former-nhl-player-nicolas-kerdiles-dies-after-a-motorcycle-crash-in-nashville-he-was-29 |access-date=29 September 2023 |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=24 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

In the 2016–2017 season, Kerdiles suffered a concussion in a game in September, and was unable to play till January 2017; four goals and five assists in 10 games upon his return had him called up by the Ducks from the Gulls.<ref name="TimesOfSD-obit" /> On February 22, 2017, he made his NHL debut in a 5–3 victory against the Boston Bruins, becoming the first player raised in Orange County to play for the Anaheim Ducks.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brady|first1=Adam|title=Orange County's Kerdiles Makes History with the Ducks|url=https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/orange-countys-kerdiles-makes-history-with-the-ducks/c-287064242|website=NHL.com|publisher=Anaheim Ducks|access-date=15 December 2017|date=23 February 2017}}</ref> After that season, the club re-signed him to a one-year, two-way extension worth $650,000 on June 17, 2017.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/ducks+ryan+kesler+surgery+will+months/13455068/story.html | title = Ducks Ryan Kesler to undergo surgery, sidelined months | newspaper = The Province | date = 2017-06-17 | access-date = 2017-06-17}}{{dead link|attempted-fix = yes|date=December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ducks Sign Kerdiles to One-Year Contract Extension|url=https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-sign-kerdiles-to-one-year-contract-extension/c-289979014|website=NHL.com|publisher=Anaheim Ducks|access-date=15 December 2017|date=17 June 2017}}</ref> He then played two more NHL games for the Ducks, but otherwise spent most of the 2017–2018 season with the Gulls.<ref name="TimesOfSD-obit" />

====Winnipeg Jets (2018–2019)==== As an impending restricted free agent, Kerdiles was traded by the Ducks to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Chase De Leo on June 30, 2018.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-acquire-nicolas-kerdiles/c-299359112 | title = Jets acquire Nicolas Kerdiles | publisher = Winnipeg Jets | date = 2018-06-30 | access-date = 2018-06-30}}</ref> He was later signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Jets on August 21, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jets sign Kerdiles to one-year contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-sign-kerdiles-to-one-year-contract/c-299820830 |website=NHL.com |access-date=August 22, 2018 |date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> Due to injuries, he was only able to suit up for three games for the Jets' farm team, the Manitoba Moose, in the 2018–2019 season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Minuk |first1=David |title=Injury News: Manitoba Moose forward Nic Kerdiles is done for the season |url=https://illegalcurve.com/injury-news-manitoba-moose-forward-nic-kerdiles-is-done-for-the-season/ |website=Illegal Curve Hockey |access-date=30 September 2023 |date=20 March 2019}}</ref>

===Post-playing career=== After his contract with the Jets, Kerdiles started a new career as a real estate broker in the Nashville area.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nic Kerdiles |url=https://nashkap.com/ |website=NASHKAP Group |publisher=Compass Tennessee, LLC |access-date=25 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615222806/https://nashkap.com/ |archive-date=15 June 2023 |location=Archived by the Wayback Machine |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life and death== Born to a French father and a French-Canadian mother, Kerdiles was a native French speaker.<ref name="miller" /><ref name="burnside" /> Kerdiles began dating reality television star Savannah Chrisley in November 2017, and the couple became engaged in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ramirez |first=Christina Dugan |title=Savannah Chrisley Is Engaged to Nic Kerdiles! All About Her Surprise Proposal |url=https://people.com/tv/savannah-chrisley-is-engaged-nic-kerdiles/ |work=People |date=April 3, 2019 |access-date=September 24, 2023}}</ref> Kerdiles and Chrisley separated in September 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ramirez |first=Christina Dugan |title=Savannah Chrisley and Nic Kerdiles Split Nearly 2 Years After Getting Engaged |url=https://people.com/tv/savannah-chrisley-and-nic-kerdiles-split/ |work=People |date=September 15, 2020 |access-date=September 24, 2023}}</ref>

Kerdiles died in a motorcycle accident on September 23, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee, at age 29.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/former-anaheim-ducks-forward-nicolas-kerdiles-dies-at-age-29-1.2011620 | title = Former Ducks forward Kerdiles dies at age 29 | website = TSN.ca | date = September 23, 2023 | access-date = September 23, 2023}}</ref><ref name="IIHF-obit">{{cite web |last1=Podnieks |first1=Andrew |title=Nic Kerdiles, 1994–2023 |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/news/54683/nic_kerdiles_1994-2023 |publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation |access-date=26 September 2023 |language=en |date=24 September 2023}}</ref> According to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Kerdiles was driving his Indian Motorcycle when he allegedly drove through a stop sign and hit the driver's side of a BMW SUV at approximately 3:30&nbsp;a.m. Police confirmed that Kerdiles was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he later died from his injuries.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Alexis |title=Nic Kerdiles, Savannah Chrisley's Ex-Fiancé, Dies at 29 in Motorcycle Accident |url=https://people.com/savannah-chrisley-s-ex-fiance-nic-kerdiles-dies-in-motorcycle-accident-report-7973923 |access-date=24 September 2023 |website=People.com |publisher=People Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 24, 2023 |title=Former NHL player Nicolas Kerdiles dies after a motorcycle crash in Nashville. He was 29 |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/kerdiles-obituary-motorcycle-death-hockey-ducks-7d7d2f43adb17c8479eab392fda71649 |access-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Levenson |first=Eric |date=September 24, 2023 |title=Nic Kerdiles, former NHL player and Savannah Chrisley's ex-fiancee, dies in motorcycle crash |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/24/us/nic-kerdiles-hockey-death/index.html |access-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref> A subsequent autoposy report showed Kerdile's blood alcohol concentration was above Tennessee's legal limit of 0.08 at the time of the crash. The cause of death was ruled accidental.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/nic-kerdiles-cause-of-death-8403847 |title=Nic Kerdiles' Caused of Death Determined, Fatal Crash Ruled Accidental |website=People.com |date=November 17, 2023 |first1=Esther |last1=Kang |accessdate=May 5, 2024}}</ref>

==Professional and amateur career statistics==

===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2010–11 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 32 || 12 || 8 || 20 || 52 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2011–12 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 18 || 4 || 9 || 13 || 18 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2012–13 | University of Wisconsin | WCHA (NCAA) | 32 || 11 || 22 || 33 || 37 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2013–14 | University of Wisconsin | B1G (NCAA) | 28 || 15 || 23 || 38 || 33 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2013–14 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 6 || 1 || 3 || 4 || 2 | 10 || 3 || 1 || 4 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2014–15 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 51 || 9 || 17 || 26 || 43 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2015–16 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 45 || 15 || 12 || 27 || 70 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2016–17 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 27 || 7 || 8 || 15 || 25 | 8 || 4 || 4 || 8 || 6 |- | 2016–17 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | 4 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2017–18 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 49 || 15 || 19 || 34 || 34 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2017–18 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018–19 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 3 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 3 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 ! 4 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 !! 2 |} <ref name="eliteprospects" />

===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2011 | United States | U17 | {{silver2}} | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2011 | United States | U18 | {{gold1}} | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |- | 2012 | United States | U18 | {{gold1}} | 6 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2014 | United States | WJC | 5th | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" | Junior totals ! 22 ! 8 ! 14 ! 22 ! 12 |}<ref name="eliteprospects" />

==Awards and honors== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! |- ! colspan="3"|College |- | WCHA Most Valuable Player in Tournament | 2013 | <ref name="WCHA2013MVP" /> |- | WCHA All-Tournament Team | 2013 | <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wcha.com/men/tourney/history.php | publisher = Western Collegiate Hockey Association | date = 2013-04-05 | access-date = 2013-04-05 | title = History and Championships | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140702170427/http://www.wcha.com/men/tourney/history.php | archive-date = July 2, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref> |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Ice hockey stats|nhl=8476866|elite=90347|espn=|euro=|hr=k/kerdini01|hockeydb=130916|legendsm=|legends=|legendstype=|tsn=}} * [https://uwbadgers.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/nic-kerdiles/835 Player profile], Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerdiles, Nic}} Category:1994 births Category:2023 deaths Category:American men's ice hockey left wingers Category:American people of French descent Category:American people of French-Canadian descent Category:Anaheim Ducks draft picks Category:Anaheim Ducks players Category:Ice hockey people from Texas Category:Manitoba Moose players Category:Norfolk Admirals players Category:Sportspeople from Lewisville, Texas Category:San Diego Gulls (AHL) players Category:Sportspeople from Irvine, California Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players Category:Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey players Category:Road incident deaths in Tennessee Category:Motorcycle road incident deaths Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Ice hockey people from Orange County, California