Evan Nichols

Quick Facts

• Son of Julie Wilhelmi and David Nichols
• The youngest player on the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 sled hockey roster at 17 years old

Biographical Information

Evan Nichols was born with Arthrogryposis, a condition that affected his joints in his knees and ankles. At age five, he was diagnosed with Bilateral Perthes, which affected both of his hips, and he had to learn how to walk seven times as a child due to multiple surgeries to his legs. He loved sports, trying soccer, swimming and archery, before a childhood friend, Alex Green, suggested he join his sled hockey team based in Washington, D.C.

With his rink closed down during the COVID-19 pandemic, his parents would drive Evan four hours to play with the Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins out of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. That experience help mature his game, and Evan would make his national team debut in 2022 at age 17, becoming the youngest player on the team on the gold medal-winning U.S. sled hockey team at the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. 

Nichols is considered a “rat player” by his teammates, a player who can score a lot of goals in the creases and causes opponents to lose the puck because of his quick sticks.

Paralympic Experience

• 2-time Paralympian; 2-time Paralympic medalist (2 gold)
• Paralympic Games Milan 2026, gold (Team - Mixed)
• Paralympic Games Beijing 2022, gold (Team - Mixed)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2025 – gold (Team - Men)
• Years of participation: Team - Men 2023, 2024, 2025
• Medals: 3 (2 gold, 1 silver)
• Gold – 2025 (Team - Men); 2023 (Team - Men)
• Silver – 2024 (Team - Men)