Thimo Nickl

Thimo Nickl (born 4 December 2001) is an Austrian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for EC KAC of the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL). Nickl was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks, 120th overall, in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career
Nickl began his career with hometown club EC KAC in Klagenfurt and worked his way through the club's youth teams. He made his adult debut for the club in October 2016 in the Alps Hockey League. In 2019, he joined Drummondville Voltigeurs in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

Nickl was drafted in the 4th round, 104th overall, in the 2020 NHL entry draft by the Anaheim Ducks. In the process, he became the first Austrian player ever selected by the club and the first player from Klagenfurt ever taken in the draft by any team. In 2020, the player remained in Europe because of the COVID-19 pandemic and joined Rögle BK of the Swedish Hockey League. During the season, he was loaned out to AIK IF. During the loan, Nickl recorded ten points in thirty-eight appearances, prompting AIK to sign the player permanently the following season.

On 30 March 2023, it was announced that Nickl's NHL rights had been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Judd Caulfield. Following three seasons of playing in Sweden, Nickl signed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League in July 2023 with the Penguins organization retaining his league rights until 1 June 2024. With the contract, he became the first-ever player from Austria to join Wilkes-Barre. Nickl was assigned to the Penguins' ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers, in October 2023. In the process, he became the first-ever Austrian player to join the club. He made his debut for the club on 15 October 2023 in a game against the Cincinnati Cyclones in the Nailers' opening game of the 2023–24 ECHL season. Within the first three minutes, Nickl assisted on a goal by David Jankowski in the eventual 4–1 victory. He scored his first professional goal in North America against the Reading Royals on 5 November.

In February 2024, it was announced that Nickl had re-signed for EC KAC and would return to the club by summer 2024, at the latest. The deal included the European rights for the player and various exit clauses. He was re-activated on the Nailers roster in March 2024 to finish out the ECHL season.