NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nic Kerdiles, a former professional hockey player for the Anaheim Ducks, tragically lost his life in a motorcycle accident in the early hours of Saturday. The 29-year-old was involved in a collision with a BMW in Nashville, succumbing to his injuries at a local hospital.
The accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday when Kerdiles reportedly hit the side of a BMW. The driver of the BMW immediately stopped, and Kerdiles was rushed to a nearby hospital. According to local police, there were no indications of impairment from either Kerdiles or the BMW driver.
Kerdiles, a native of Irvine, California, had a brief stint in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Anaheim Ducks. He was the first player from Orange County to play for the Ducks, making his debut in 2017. He also played 199 games in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Before his tragic accident, Kerdiles had shared a picture of himself on a motorcycle on his Instagram story, with the caption ‘night rider’. He was previously engaged to Savannah Chrisley, a former pageant queen and a member of the family featured on the USA Network reality television show ‘Chrisley Knows Best’. The couple began dating in 2017 and got engaged in 2018, but they never married. In 2020, Chrisley announced their split on Instagram, emphasizing their mutual respect and love for each other.
Born and raised in Lewisville, Texas, Kerdiles moved to France before eventually settling in Irvine, California. He represented the United States in multiple prestigious youth hockey tournaments, winning silver and gold in the 2011 IIHF U-17 and U-18 World Championships respectively. In 2012, he was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks and later attended the University of Wisconsin for two seasons.
The Anaheim Ducks expressed their condolences in a statement released on Saturday afternoon, extending their deepest sympathies to Kerdiles’ family and loved ones.