In its game on Tuesday night against the Toronto Scepters, the Minnesota Frost secured a victory in an overtime shootout. With this win, the Frost reclaimed first place in the PWHL as the team headed into a two-week break.
VIS Mentor and Frost goalie Nicole Hensley has played a key role in the team’s success over the past two years. As a starting player, Hensley has proven herself as one of the league’s top goalies. Even though she didn’t play in Tuesday night’s game, Hensley remains a crucial part of Frost’s lineup and continues to be a driving force behind the team’s success.
Managing the Pressure of Goaltending
As a professional athlete, Hensley teaches young athletes a valuable lesson: Take your goals seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously. “I am an overthinker in life and in sport. So, I try to occupy my mind leading up to the game,” Hensley says while reflecting on how she manages performance anxiety.
To calm her nerves, Hensley occupies her mind by listening to music, juggling a soccer ball with her teammates, and tapping her stick. “Doing these things gives me something small and immediate to focus on before the game,” Hensley says. What matters most is finding what works best for you, as long as you try to clear your mind and calm you down.
Finding Balance as a Professional Athlete
In her second season with the Frost, Hensley opened up about the importance of finding balance amidst the high demands of being a professional athlete. For Hensley, her dog Kai plays a key role in providing that balance outside of hockey. “People often say that what you do in your sport doesn’t define you, or that you’re more than just an athlete. But if you don’t have anything else to focus on besides your sport, it’s hard to believe those things. Kai helps provide that balance for me,” Hensley says.
No matter how many pucks she saves or how her practice goes, Kai is always excited to see Hensley. Whether it’s taking Kai on walks, playing fetch, or cuddling on the couch, these moments help Hensley focus on something entirely separate from hockey. She reminds us that when we take the time to put aside our sport and do things that make us happy, we can be better athletes.
“People say a lot that what you do in your sport doesn't define you, or that you're more than just an athlete. If you don't have anything else to focus on other than your sport, it makes it pretty difficult to believe those things.”
Building Community
Hensley understands the importance of building a strong support system. “Your support system is huge. I think it is important to have people to go to outside of your team/sport,” she says. For her, one of those key figures is her collegiate goalie coach, who knows her well enough to understand her needs but is removed from the daily ups and downs.
Hensley also shares the importance of connecting with teammates away from sport. “It helps build trust/communication/understanding/etc. When you do this, it helps you be able to lean on each other in tough situations,” Hensley says. The more that you can do to build your identity and community outside of sport, the more benefits you will get from your sport.
Advocating for Mental Health Awareness
As an advocate for women’s mental health in sport, Hensley encourages athletes to enjoy their journey. “I would say that being anxious or nervous often just means you care and want to do well, which is a good thing,” Hensley says. When she faces performance anxiety or struggles related to hockey, Hensley reaches out to her support system. “Don’t be afraid to talk about how you feel with teammates, parents, friends, etc,” she adds.
Hensley uses her VOICE to promote the importance of prioritizing mental health in sports. Through her journey, she highlights how essential it is to balance life and sport, while also building a supportive community to lean on – no matter how we perform. Hensley encourages us to develop our identity beyond sports, and to remember that our worth is not based on our performance.
