Nikos Tselios

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

Tselios made his NHL debut with the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2001–02 season, playing two games. 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 Swedish Färjestads BK. 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.

Nikos is a cousin of long-time NHL defenseman Chris Chelios. Nikos also tried for the ELLAS Greece National Team in the 2006. Nikos early childhood summers were spent in Greece on the island of Evia. Nikos and cousin Chris, spent summers playing ball hockey in their parents village of Farakla. They joke about this at family gatherings today in Chicago, as their cousins in Evia, Greece, continue to play ball hockey in a country where soccer reigns. Their uncle George Spartalis (Chris Chelios mother's brother)who lives on the Island, runs a small inter ball hockey league today where 4 teams compete. Trifonia Spartalis, Evia's mayor, finds the spirit of the game to be more exciting than the local soccer clubs which gather more attendance.

Tselios now owns and operates an instructional hockey business entitled Ultimate Hockey Camps, and resides in Winfield, Illinois with his personal assistant, Joe Renzi and his chauffeur, Jesse Ratzloff.

--- Regular Season ------- Playoffs ---- SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIMGPGA Pts PIM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1996-97Belleville BullsOHL64937466161122 1997-98Belleville BullsOHL202101216---------- 1997-98Plymouth WhalersOHL4182028271518927 1998-99Plymouth WhalersOHL602139606011410148 1999-00Cincinnati CyclonesIHL803192275100224 2000-01Cincinnati CyclonesIHL79718259850330 2001-02Carolina HurricanesNHL20006---------- 2001-02Lowell Lock MonstersAHL703161964---------- 2002-03Springfield FalconsAHL130221260004 2002-03Lowell Lock MonstersAHL61481265---------- 2003-04Springfield FalconsAHL755813105---------- 2003-04Carolina HurricanesNHL2004-05Springfield FalconsAHL3536937---------- 2004-05Utah GrizzliesAHL51124---------- 2005-06KalPa KuopioFNL2102267---------- 2005-06Farjestads BK KarlstadSEL7000101110112 2006-07Chicago HoundsUHL40000------------------------------------------------------------