Nikos Tselios

Nikos Tselios (Greek: Νίκος Τσέλιος; born January 20, 1979) is a Greek-American former professional ice hockey defenseman. Tselios became the first draft pick in the history of the Carolina Hurricanes when he was selected 22nd overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

Nikos Tselios
Born	(1979-01-20) January 20, 1979 (age 46) Glen Ellyn, Illinois, U.S.
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position	Defense
Shot	Left
Played for	Carolina Hurricanes KalPa Färjestads BK
NHL draft	22nd overall, 1997 Carolina Hurricanes
Playing career	1996–2007

Playing career

As a youth, Tselios played in the 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Chicago Blackhawks minor ice hockey team.^[1]

Tselios was the first draft pick for the inaugural Carolina Hurricanes in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. After he was drafted, Tselios returned to the OHL to play for the Belleville Bulls.^[2]

Tselios made his NHL debut with the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2001–02 season, playing two games.^[3][2] Those would be the only NHL games he would play as he spent the next four seasons playing in the minor leagues. In October 2005, Tselios signed with KalPa of the Finnish SM-liiga and played with them until January 31, 2006, when he moved to Färjestads BK of the Swedish Elitserien. He scored his first goal at Färjestad on March 25 in the semifinal of the Swedish Championship against HV 71. He then played in the United Hockey League with the Chicago Hounds before returning to Sweden, signing with HK Örebro in the Swedish First Division, the country's third-tier level.^[4]

Personal life

Tselios is a cousin of long-time NHL defenseman Chris Chelios.^[5] Tselios also tried for the Greece national team in the 2006.

Tselios owns and operates an instructional hockey business called Infinity Hockey Selects, and resides in Illinois with his wife and son.^[6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995–96	Chicago Young Americans	Midget		27	5	8	13	40		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Belleville Bulls	OHL		64	9	37	46	61		6	1	1	2	2
1997–98	Belleville Bulls	OHL		20	2	10	12	16		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Plymouth Whalers	OHL		41	20	8	28	27		15	1	8	9	27
1998–99	Plymouth Whalers	OHL		60	21	39	60	60		11	4	10	14	8
1999–2000	Cincinnati Cyclones	IHL		80	3	19	22	75		10	0	2	2	4
2000–01	Cincinnati Cyclones	IHL		79	7	18	25	98		5	0	3	3	0
2001–02	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		2	0	0	0	6		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		70	3	16	9	64		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		61	4	8	12	65		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Springfield Falcons	AHL		13	0	2	2	12		6	0	0	0	4
2003–04	Springfield Falcons	AHL		75	5	8	13	105		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Utah Grizzlies	AHL		5	1	1	2	4		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Springfield Falcons	AHL		35	3	6	9	37		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	KalPa	SM-l		21	0	3	3	67		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Färjestad BK	SEL		7	0	0	0	10		11	1	0	1	12
2006–07	Chicago Hounds	UHL		4	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Örebro HK	Div.1		8	3	4	7	2		2	2	0	2	14
2007–08	Örebro HK	Div.1		32	4	13	17	132		3	1	0	1	25
NHL totals				2	0	0	0	6		—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				259	16	41	57	287		6	0	0	0	4

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997	United States	WJC			7	1	1	2	6
1998	United States	WJC	5th		6	0	0	0	8
Junior totals					13	1	1	2	14