Former NHL player Nicolas Kerdiles dies after motorcycle accident in Nashville. He was 29 years old

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former NHL player Nicolas Kerdiles died Saturday after a motorcycle crash in Nashville, police say. He was 29 years old.

The former Anaheim Ducks hockey player drove his motorcycle past a stop sign early Saturday and struck the driver’s side of an SUV, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department. The driver of the SUV immediately stopped and neither driver observed any signs of impairment, police added.

Kerdiles died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Police do not anticipate any charges in the crash.

The Ducks drafted Kerdiles in 2012 and he spent two seasons with the team, appearing in three games combined during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. He was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in 2018 and played for the Manitoba Moose in the minor leagues. Most recently, he had worked in real estate in Nashville.

“We are heartbroken to hear the news regarding Nic Kerdiles,” the Ducks posted on social media Saturday. “A native of Irvine, Nic became the first Orange County player to play for the Ducks in 2017. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and loved ones.”

USA Hockey, the sport’s national governing body, posted on social media that it was heartbroken to learn of Kerdiles’ death. The organization noted that Kerdiles helped the U.S. under-18 team win two gold medals at the International Ice Hockey Federation U18 World Championship.

He played in college for the University of Wisconsin, whose hockey program also mourned Kerdiles on social media, citing his “great spirit within our Badger family.”

Kerdiles was formerly engaged to Savannah Chrisley, known for starring on the TV show “Chrisley Knows Best.” The couple split in 2020. Chrisley posted on social media about Kerdiles’ death on Saturday, saying: “I miss you and I love you.”

“We loved it…and I can’t wait to bike along the heavenly beaches with you one day,” Chrisley posted.