Last Updated on November 10, 2026 by Carmen Marins
Nino Niederreiter is a Swiss professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the Winnipeg Jets in the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on September 8, 1992, in Chur, Switzerland, Niederreiter comes from a hardworking family that supported his dream of becoming a professional hockey player.
His parents are Rene and Ruth Niederreiter. His father worked as a metalworker, while his mother worked as a midwife. Nino is the youngest of three children and has two older sisters who also participated in competitive sports.
In his personal life, Niederreiter is in a long-term relationship with Cecilia Schuler, a Swiss legal professional. The couple began dating in November 2018 and have maintained their relationship despite spending considerable time in different countries.
Here is everything publicly known about Nino Niederreiter’s family, including his girlfriend, children, parents, siblings, and upbringing in Switzerland.
Nino Niederreiter’s Girlfriend: Meet Cecilia Schuler
Nino Niederreiter’s girlfriend is Cecilia Schuler, a Swiss legal professional originally from the Zurich region of Switzerland.
The couple began their relationship on November 11, 2018, according to an interview published by Swiss newspaper Blick.
The relationship became publicly known in early 2019, shortly after Niederreiter joined the Carolina Hurricanes from the Minnesota Wild.
During that period, Nino and Cecilia traveled to Jamaica for a vacation while his new NHL team had a break in its schedule.
In a March 2019 interview with Swiss publication Nau.ch, Niederreiter confirmed that he was dating Cecilia, although he initially preferred not to disclose many details about her.
He explained that she was someone who made him happy and appreciated her cooking skills.
Despite the public interest surrounding their relationship, the couple have generally maintained a relatively private personal life.
Who Is Cecilia Schuler?
Cecilia Schuler is a Swiss legal professional who studied law at the University of Zurich.
According to a February 2024 report from Swiss news publication Watson, Cecilia completed a master’s degree in law and was pursuing doctoral studies.
Her academic commitments required her to spend much of her time in Switzerland while Niederreiter played professional hockey in North America.
In May 2026, Blick reported that Cecilia was working for a law firm in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.
Outside her legal career, Cecilia enjoys sports and has previously played competitive soccer.
In a December 2019 interview, Niederreiter discussed her involvement with FFC Südost Zürich, a women’s soccer club in Switzerland.
The couple share an enthusiasm for sports and have attended major sporting events together, including Formula One races.
How Nino Niederreiter and Cecilia Schuler Manage Their Relationship
One of the defining aspects of their relationship has been the geographical distance between Switzerland and North America.
Niederreiter has spent most of his adult life playing hockey in Canada and the United States, while Cecilia’s education and professional commitments have largely kept her in Switzerland.
They have managed the distance through visits, vacations, and spending time together during the NHL offseason.
In a December 2019 interview with Blick, Niederreiter explained that Cecilia had helped him choose an apartment in Raleigh, North Carolina, during his time with the Hurricanes.
He appreciated her involvement in creating a comfortable home environment.
In later interviews, Niederreiter acknowledged that the long-distance arrangement required commitment from both partners.
He also expressed pride in Cecilia’s academic and professional achievements.
During a May 2026 interview with SWISS International Air Lines, Niederreiter said that spending time with his girlfriend, family, and friends was among his priorities whenever he returned to Switzerland after an NHL season.
Are Nino Niederreiter and Cecilia Schuler Married?
There is no verified public announcement confirming that Nino Niederreiter and Cecilia Schuler are married.
Swiss media reports published in May 2026 continued identifying Cecilia as his girlfriend and long-term partner rather than his wife.
The couple have not publicly disclosed a wedding date or confirmed a marriage ceremony in the reliable sources reviewed.
Therefore, Cecilia Schuler is best described as Nino Niederreiter’s longtime girlfriend.
Does Nino Niederreiter Have Children?
There is no reliable public information confirming that Nino Niederreiter has children.
Although he has been in a long-term relationship with Cecilia Schuler, the couple have not publicly announced the birth or adoption of a son or daughter.
In interviews discussing his personal future, Niederreiter has indicated that starting a family is something he and Cecilia have considered.
During a 2026 conversation with fellow Swiss hockey star Roman Josi, published by Blick, Niederreiter discussed how family planning could become an important consideration as his professional hockey career approaches its later stages.
However, these comments concerned possible future plans rather than an announcement that the couple already had children.
Niederreiter is also an uncle and godfather within his extended family.
In October 2022, his sisters attended a hockey game in Bern alongside four of his nieces and nephews.
His close relationships with these younger relatives demonstrate the importance of extended family in his personal life.
Nino Niederreiter’s Parents: Meet Rene and Ruth Niederreiter
Nino Niederreiter was born to Rene Niederreiter and Ruth Niederreiter in Chur, Switzerland.
His parents raised three children in a middle-class household in the canton of Graubünden.
According to Nino’s official website, his father worked as a metalworker, while his mother worked as a midwife.
Both parents made considerable sacrifices to help their children participate in sports.
Nino Niederreiter’s Father: Rene Niederreiter
Nino Niederreiter’s father is Rene Niederreiter, a Swiss metalworker who played an important role in his son’s hockey development.
Rene worked in a physically demanding profession while helping support his family’s sporting interests.
During Nino’s childhood, he frequently transported his son to practices, tournaments, and training sessions.
One particularly meaningful sacrifice involved learning to drive later in life.
In a July 2025 interview with Slapshot, Niederreiter explained that his father obtained his driver’s license at approximately 42 years old so he could drive Nino to hockey activities in Davos.
At the time, the young forward was developing through the HC Davos organization, which required travel from the family’s home in Chur.
Rene also supported his son’s development by creating opportunities to practice near home.
During winter, he prepared an outdoor ice surface where Nino could skate and improve his skills.
These early experiences helped Niederreiter develop his skating ability and passion for hockey.
Despite the financial demands of the sport, Rene and Ruth ensured their children had opportunities to pursue their interests.
In interviews, Nino has frequently expressed gratitude for his father’s dedication.
Rene has also remained an enthusiastic supporter of his son’s NHL career.
He has attended important games in Switzerland and traveled to North America to celebrate major professional milestones.
Nino Niederreiter’s Mother: Ruth Niederreiter
Nino Niederreiter’s mother is Ruth Niederreiter, a Swiss midwife who helped raise Nino and his two older sisters.
Ruth worked in healthcare while balancing the responsibilities of supporting three children involved in sports.
Like Rene, she initially had limited familiarity with professional North American hockey.
In a January 2010 interview with Swiss broadcaster SRF, Ruth explained that she had known relatively little about the NHL before Nino began pursuing opportunities overseas.
Nevertheless, she supported his ambition to become a professional player.
Ruth encouraged her son to maintain realistic expectations and develop strong personal values.
Her support became particularly important when Nino left Switzerland as a teenager to play junior hockey in Canada.
Moving abroad required him to adapt to a different culture, language environment, and style of hockey.
Throughout those challenges, Ruth remained an important source of encouragement.
She also followed his professional career closely, watching NHL games despite the time difference between Switzerland and North America.
In a December 2025 interview with Südostschweiz, Ruth and Rene reflected on their son’s journey toward reaching 1,000 NHL games.
They discussed the challenges of maintaining a professional hockey career and the pride they felt in his accomplishments.
Ruth has also attended several important games involving Nino, including the Nashville Predators’ visit to Switzerland in October 2022.
Nino Niederreiter’s Siblings: Meet His Two Older Sisters
Nino Niederreiter has two older sisters, making him the youngest child in his family.
He has repeatedly confirmed this family relationship through interviews and his official website.
Both sisters participated in sports during their youth and have remained important members of his support network.
However, their full names and private professional details have not been reliably established in the major public sources reviewed.
Nino Niederreiter’s Older Sisters
Nino grew up alongside his two sisters in Chur, where the siblings participated in various recreational and competitive sports.
According to a July 2025 interview with Slapshot, both sisters played floorball, a popular indoor team sport in Switzerland.
Their parents supported the sisters’ floorball activities while also helping Nino pursue competitive ice hockey.
Niederreiter has explained that the family tried to ensure all three children received equal encouragement.
Although his sisters did not become internationally recognized professional ice hockey players, they developed their own athletic interests.
Growing up with two older siblings also influenced Nino’s personality.
In a previously published interview translated by Hockey Wilderness, he explained that being the youngest child meant he was frequently surrounded by older people.
He believed this environment contributed to his maturity and ability to interact comfortably with people of different ages.
How Close Is Nino Niederreiter to His Sisters?
Niederreiter maintains a close relationship with both sisters despite spending much of the hockey season in North America.
On his official website, he identifies his family as one of his most important sources of emotional strength.
He also explained that he deliberately built his home in Chur near his parents’ residence to make it easier to spend time with family members.
His sisters have supported his professional hockey career and attended important games when opportunities arose.
One particularly memorable family gathering occurred in October 2022 when Nino played for the Nashville Predators against SC Bern in Switzerland.
Both sisters attended the game alongside their husbands, children, parents, and other relatives.
In an NHL Players’ Tribune article published in 2016, Niederreiter described how one of his sisters followed hockey particularly closely.
She organized a fantasy hockey competition with friends, and Nino occasionally participated in the league’s draft as commissioner during his summer visits home.
The story highlighted the close and playful relationship he shares with his siblings.
Nino Niederreiter’s Nieces and Nephews
Nino Niederreiter is also an uncle to several children within his extended family.
According to NHL.com reporting published on October 5, 2022, his two sisters attended the Nashville Predators’ exhibition game against SC Bern with four nieces and nephews.
The family gathered in the arena to watch Nino compete professionally on Swiss soil.
Both sisters’ husbands also attended the event.
The occasion was especially meaningful because it brought together several generations of the Niederreiter family.
Although Nino has mentioned his relationships with his nieces, nephews, and godchildren, their individual names and ages have not been widely published in reliable sources.
Nino Niederreiter’s Grandparents and Extended Family
Nino Niederreiter has also maintained close relationships with members of his extended family, including his grandmothers.
Two grandmothers, Anna and Maria, were publicly identified in NHL reporting about the October 2022 game in Bern.
They attended alongside Rene, Ruth, Nino’s sisters, and other relatives.
For the grandmothers, the event was particularly special because they had not previously watched him compete professionally in person.
After the game, Niederreiter spent time greeting his relatives and described the occasion as an emotional family experience.
The gathering demonstrated how his NHL career has brought together family members from different generations.
Nino Niederreiter’s Childhood and Family Background
Nino Niederreiter grew up in Chur, the capital of Graubünden, a mountainous canton in eastern Switzerland.
His family lived in a modest middle-class household, where work, sports, and spending time together were important parts of everyday life.
Nino developed an interest in hockey when he was approximately five years old.
One of his earliest inspirations was Harijs Vītoliņš, a Latvian professional hockey player who represented EHC Chur.
Watching Vītoliņš compete helped Niederreiter imagine pursuing a professional hockey career.
He began developing his skills with EHC Chur before joining HC Davos as a teenager.
At approximately sixteen, he made his debut in Switzerland’s top professional hockey league.
In 2009, Niederreiter moved to North America to join the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.
He quickly established himself as one of the team’s leading offensive players.
During the 2009-10 WHL season, he recorded 60 points in 65 regular-season games.
His performances earned him recognition among the leading prospects entering the 2010 NHL Draft.
On June 25, 2010, the New York Islanders selected Niederreiter with the fifth overall pick.
He became one of the highest-drafted Swiss players in NHL history.
After beginning his NHL career with the Islanders, Niederreiter went on to represent the Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators, and Winnipeg Jets.
In February 2023, he was traded from Nashville to Winnipeg.
His professional journey has taken him through several North American cities, but his connection to Switzerland and his family in Chur has remained strong.
Nino Niederreiter’s Historic 1,000th NHL Game and Family Celebration
One of the most important milestones in Niederreiter’s professional career occurred on December 13, 2025.
That evening, he became the first Swiss-born player to appear in 1,000 NHL regular-season games.
The Winnipeg Jets celebrated the achievement before their game against the Washington Capitals at Canada Life Centre.
The ceremony featured a tribute video containing messages from former teammates, coaches, family members, and prominent Swiss athletes.
Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer was among those who congratulated him.
The Jets also presented Niederreiter with a commemorative silver hockey stick.
Members of his family attended the celebration, making the occasion especially meaningful.
In interviews surrounding the milestone, Niederreiter emphasized that his parents’ sacrifices were essential to his success.
He acknowledged that competitive hockey was expensive for a working-class family and that his parents had sacrificed considerable personal time to support his development.
His achievement therefore represented not only an individual accomplishment but also a celebration of the people who had helped him throughout his career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nino Niederreiter’s Family
Who is Nino Niederreiter’s girlfriend?
Nino Niederreiter’s girlfriend is Cecilia Schuler, a Swiss legal professional. The couple began dating in November 2018 and have maintained a long-term relationship.
Is Nino Niederreiter married?
There is no verified public announcement confirming that Nino Niederreiter is married. Cecilia Schuler was still identified as his girlfriend in May 2026 reporting.
Does Nino Niederreiter have children?
No reliable public reports confirm that Nino Niederreiter has children. He has discussed the possibility of starting a family with his longtime partner in the future.
Who are Nino Niederreiter’s parents?
His parents are Rene Niederreiter and Ruth Niederreiter. His father worked as a metalworker, while his mother worked as a midwife in Switzerland.
Who is Nino Niederreiter’s father?
His father is Rene Niederreiter, who helped support his hockey development and obtained a driver’s license in his forties to transport Nino to hockey activities in Davos.
Who is Nino Niederreiter’s mother?
His mother is Ruth Niederreiter, a Swiss midwife who encouraged his hockey ambitions and supported his move to North America as a teenager.
How many siblings does Nino Niederreiter have?
Nino Niederreiter has two older sisters. He is the youngest of three children in his family.
What are Nino Niederreiter’s sisters’ names?
The names of his two older sisters have not been reliably established in the major public sources reviewed. Both sisters played floorball during their youth.
Does Nino Niederreiter have a brother?
No brother has been publicly documented. Niederreiter has consistently identified two older sisters as his siblings.
Is Nino Niederreiter an uncle?
Yes. NHL reporting from October 2022 confirmed that he has nieces and nephews. Four attended a game in Bern alongside his sisters and other family members.
Where is Nino Niederreiter’s family from?
The Niederreiter family is from Chur, Switzerland, in the canton of Graubünden.
Who is Cecilia Schuler?
Cecilia Schuler is Nino Niederreiter’s longtime girlfriend. She studied law at the University of Zurich and has worked in the legal profession in Switzerland.
What NHL team does Nino Niederreiter play for?
Nino Niederreiter plays for the Winnipeg Jets. He joined the organization in February 2023 after being traded from the Nashville Predators.
Combining a deep passion for hockey with an analytical mindset, Carmen Marins covers the NHL from the opening night of the season all the way through the Stanley Cup playoffs. She focuses on game strategy, team chemistry, trade deadline updates, and player performance metrics, breaking down high-speed ice action into engaging, accessible insights for readers.
