Ali Arsalan
The hockey community mourns the loss of Nic Kerdiles, a remarkable player who defied the odds by becoming the first Orange County-born talent to join the Anaheim Ducks. Tragically, at the young age of 29, Kerdiles’s life was cut short due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Nashville.
Nic Kerdiles: From California to the NHL Ice
Nic Kerdiles, who moved to California as a child, played college hockey at the University of Wisconsin, tallying 26 goals and 55 assists.
Drafted by the Ducks as the No. 36 pick in 2012, Kerdiles made his NHL debut in 2017. He played one regular-season game and four playoff games during the Ducks’ Western Conference Finals run. In the following season, he had brief stints with the Ducks but spent most of his time with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls.
Tragic Motorcycle Accident Claims Anaheim Ducks Player Nic Kerdiles’ Life
In the early hours at 3:30 a.m. ET, Nic Kerdiles was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident, reportedly running a stop sign and colliding with an SUV according to WSMV-TV. Despite immediate medical attention, Kerdiles tragically passed away.
The Anaheim Ducks team expressed deep sorrow for the loss of Kerdiles, noting his historical significance as the first player from Orange County to join the team in 2017. Kerdiles had also been engaged to reality TV star Savannah Crisley for an extended period.