From NHL Arenas to Sports Analyst
George Nicholas Kypreos was born, Xirokamapion, a village outside Sparta, Greece. Growing up on a farm with olive trees, goats and vegetables, he lived through World War II, Greek civil war, and difficult economic times, finally leaving his homeland, 1951, immigrating to London, Ontario, saving money, and bringing his family, one by one, to Canada. It was inevitable that George would meet Theodora, the daughter of Greek immigrants. She was born in Amikle, still another village outside Sparta. She, too, immigrated to Canada and settled, like her future husband, in London, Ontario. After their marriage, they moved to Toronto where son Nick was born. Raised by a family who worked hard to overcome culture and language barriers, Nick benefited from parents who desired he should pursue dreams with passion and determination. Playing professionally in the minor leagues for four years, by 1989, Nick Kypreos was skating for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Finishing his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, 1997, by the time he left the NHL as an efficient, hard-nosed winger, he had amassed 1,210 penalty minutes. Today, Nick is a polished CTV Sports Analyst, still demonstrating the passion instilled in him by immigrant parents who wanted only the very best of the very best for their son. [Photo, courtesy Nick Kypreos]