Former Hockey Star Nic Kerdiles Dies in Nashville Motorcycle Accident

In a tragic occurrence that struck before dawn in Nashville last Saturday, former hockey player Nic Kerdiles lost his life in a fatal motorcycle accident, according to police reports.

Kerdiles, aged 29, met with the ill-fated accident as his motorcycle crashed into an SUV at the crossing of 14th Avenue North and Wheless Street. The initial investigation findings revealed that Kerdiles, evidently not abiding by the stop sign, collided with the driver’s side of a BMW. The SUV driver acted responsibly, halting at once. There was no evidence of substance-induced impairment in either of the drivers involved, and it appears no charges will be forthcoming.

After the unfortunate incident, Kerdiles was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. However, despite the best efforts of medical professionals, he could not survive his injuries.

Selected as a part of Anaheim Ducks during the 2nd round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Kerdiles made his mark as a left wing. His inaugural appearance for the Ducks materialized in 2017, making him the first native of Orange County to play for the team. Within the span of two seasons, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, he played a total of three games. Following his tragic death, the Ducks expressed their heartfelt condolences, stating, “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his family and loved ones.”

Off the hockey rink, Kerdiles also featured in the popular USA Network reality shows “Chrisley Knows Best” and “Growing Up Chrisley”, which centered around Todd and Julie Chrisley, the mega-successful Atlanta real estate moguls, and their progeny. Kerdiles’ romantic relationship with Savannah Chrisley, one of the show’s stars, was a major subplot. The two remained close even after their engagement, announced in a 2019 episode, was mutually called off a year later. Kerdiles’s shift from his hockey career was a significant factor in their relationship dynamics.

Indeed, he acknowledged in a 2022 episode, “A career change for me was huge. Hockey was my entire life, and so when I had to retire, I can admit that I didn’t handle it the best way.”

Following Kerdiles’s tragic death, Chrisley took to Instagram to express her profound grief, pairing melancholic words with a poignant photo of them hand in hand on the beach: “Heaven gained the most beautiful angel today… I miss you and I love you… I’ll forever save our last messages of ‘I love you’ …”

Alas, Kerdiles’s tragic passing underscores the increasing risks motorcyclists face on the road. A troubling 8% surge in the number of motorcyclist fatalities was detected in 2021, the highest ever recorded since data collection began in 1975. Despite making up a mere 3% of all registered vehicles in the US, motorcyclists alarmingly account for 14% of all traffic-related deaths.