Three-sport Athlete Nick Seaman Has Hockey National Champion On This Resume
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By Ross Forman, 08/26/25, 7:00PM CDT
Nick Seaman scored the overtime game-winning goal against the Chesterfield (Mo.) Falcons during his 16U season in a much-anticipated game between the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams, which he tagged as “one of the best hockey games I’ve been a part of,” adding that his goal, “was a great moment for me.”
This past season, Seaman tallied another against Chesterfield. “They got it out of the zone and I quickly turned it back up the ice and went through four guys, then finished with my backhand,” he said.
Then there was the final regular season game this past season against the Leafs, which Seaman’s Orland Park Vikings won 4-3, “which gave us the energy we needed to get by the best team in the league,” he said. “We battled hard that game and deserved the gritty win.”
Seaman, 17, who lives in Orland Park and will be a senior this fall at Carl Sandburg High School, said played for the Vikings since he was 7 and he will skate for the 18U team this season. He is a left-handed shooting defenseman in uniform No. 8.
“Every team (during my career) has been a blast to be on and the program is top tier,” Seaman said. “It offers everything you need to succeed in the sport of hockey – great coaching, plenty of ice time and teaching lessons through failure.”
And success. Specifically, during the 2023-24 season, when he was a team captain. “I struggled a bit at first, but along the way, I learned what it takes to be a strong leader and I hope to get that opportunity this year,” Seaman said.
He was named a USA Hockey 16U first-team all-star at the 2024 Nationals, which he said “was a great honor, (especially alongside) some of the other best players in the country.”
He added, “That makes me want to continue to play with and against the best.”
Seaman said winning the national championship was “the best and most surreal moment of my life.” He added, “No other group deserved it more than (we did) that year. We battled and battled the whole year, through ups and a lot of downs.
“It still feels like a dream that we won it, really; that feeling of throwing the gear and hugging my guys was a high I’ll be chasing the rest of my life. It was so special for everyone involved.”
Seaman treasures the memories formed at nationals, some on and some off the ice. Such as, morning walks.
“The first game day we had, Coach Nick (Pollos) made the team go on a mandatory team walk in the morning,” he said. “The rest of the week, even without Coach Nick having to tell us, we went on the walks. Even when our game was at 8 a.m., we went on the walk at 5 a.m., which woke us up and got us ready for every game.
“The other favorite moment came during the championship game (centered around) teammate David Kundrat, and he was going through a tough time with his mom battling cancer so she couldn’t make it to nationals,” Seaman said. “Kundy is one of the hardest workers I know, but he wasn’t known for scoring goals. He scored our opening goal in the championship game and that just stuck with a lot of our team and pulled the heart strings a bit. It really motivated us to give it all we had for one last time together because you never know what can happen.”
Said Pollos, Orland Park Vikings Hockey Director: “Watching Nick evolve as a player from his first year of mite travel hockey through his second midget major season has been very rewarding. His game has grown a great deal and he has become one of the top defensemen in the CSDHL. Nick brings great poise and ice awareness to our blue line and is an enormous part of our offense coming from the back end.”
Pollos added, “Nick brings a unique style of leadership to our group. By example (he) is very committed in the off-season to his training yet his voice carries loudly at the right times when our team needs him the most. Nick has been a great example of what it means to be a Viking and his family has been nothing short of fantastic for the past 11 years.”
Seaman’s hockey career has included time skating for the Arctic Jr. Fury, among others. He is a two-time Central States all-star, an AHAI Development League invitee, and more.
He is a playmaking offensive defenseman.
“My coaches Nick Pollos and Sean Donnelly have helped me so much throughout my Vikings career, helping me become better in all aspects on and off the ice. Also, my parents have trusted and supported me throughout the entire time; I wouldn’t be anywhere in hockey without them,” Seaman said.
Seaman is a three-year varsity golfer and also has played varsity baseball. Those sports, he said, “really challenge you mentally since both are pretty slow-paced games. You have to stay mentally focused and dialed in the whole time, which translates to being mentally tough in hockey.
“Hockey helps me in golf and baseball by having intensity and focus. Hockey creates an intensity like no other sport and I use that to fuel my energy to reach my goals.”
SLAPSHOTS WITH … Orland Park Vikings defenseman Nick Seaman
Long-term Goals: “Get an education and become successful in whatever I pursue.”
Hobbies: “I love to hang out with my local friends and family; it always ends up being a great time, no matter what we do as long as it’s together. I love to golf, but also play any competitive games like bags or spikeball.”
Off The Ice: “I do workouts with our off-ice trainer and my dad puts together many different workouts to keep me in shape while getting stronger (during the) off-season.”
Favorite NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Favorite NHL Player: Patrick Kane
Favorite Sports-themed Movie: Southpaw
Favorite TV Show: Breaking Bad
Motivational Song: Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue by Toby Keith
Favorite Pre-game Meal: pasta or mac and cheese
Favorite app: Clash Royale or Instagram
Celebrity You’d Like To Meet: “Bob Does Sports group are hilarious; I’d love to see those guys in action.”