LITTLETON — On a recent blustery afternoon at the Edge Ice Arena, home of the Foothills Hockey Association, distinguished alum Nicole Hensley tried to connect the past and present and explain how she got this far — how she became America’s No. 1 women’s hockey goaltender.
Six years ago, Hensley was a senior at Green Mountain High School and playing for the all-girls Colorado Select hockey program. Her only college scholarship offer came from a start-up program at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., and playing international hockey was a far-fetched fantasy.
Six years later, Hensley is the NCAA Division I all-time saves leader and on pace to lead Team USA on the ice for its Olympic opener in February at Pyeongchang, South Korea.