Nicole Hensley (born June 23, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for PWHL Minnesota of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and a member of the United States women's national ice hockey team.
Nicole Hensley | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Littleton, Colorado, U.S. | June 23, 1994||
Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | ||
Weight | 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb) | ||
Position | Goaltender | ||
Catches | Left | ||
PWHL team Former teams |
PWHL Minnesota Lindenwood Lady Lions | ||
National team | United States | ||
Playing career | 2012–present | ||
On June 12, 2018, Hensley signed a contract with the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL).[1] In her debut for the Beauts, Hensley earned a shutout win over Finnish Olympian Meeri Räisänen of the Connecticut Whale in a 4–0 final on October 7, 2018.[2] In the 2019 NWHL All-Star Weekend, Hensley won the Chipwich Fastest Goalie competition.[3]
Hensley was scheduled to be one of three goaltenders to play in the PWHPA Dream Gap tour stop in Tokyo, Japan, along with Kimberley Sass and Alex Cavalinni.[4]
On September 18, 2023, Hensley was selected in the 2nd round, 12th overall by PWHL Minnesota in the 2023 PWHL Draft, the first goaltender selected.
Hensley was named one of three goaltenders to compete for the United States women's national ice hockey team at the 2016 IIHF Women's World Championship in Kamloops, British Columbia.[5] Hensley was also named to the 2017 team, where she was in net for a shutout against Canada in the preliminary rounds, started the quarterfinal against Germany, and played in Team USA's 3–2 OT win against Canada for the championship.[6][7]
She made the 2018 Olympic team, where the United States won the gold medal, earning a shutout win over the Russian team in her only appearance.[8]
Hensley was one of the goaltenders named to Team USA's rosters for the second half of the rivalry series between Team USA and Team Canada in 2019–2020.[9]
On January 2, 2022, Hensley was named to Team USA's roster to represent the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[10]
Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | SVS | GAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012–13 | Lindenwood Lady Lions | NCAA | 27 | 7 | 16 | 3 | 1597:16 | 1083 | 3.42 |
2013–14 | Lindenwood Lady Lions | NCAA | 33 | 5 | 25 | 3 | 1864:16 | 1198 | 3.31 |
2014–15 | Lindenwood Lady Lions | NCAA | 30 | 10 | 17 | 2 | 1750:10 | 866 | 2.71 |
2015–16 | Lindenwood Lady Lions | NCAA | 32 | 8 | 20 | 4 | 1904:12 | 947 | 2.52 |
NCAA Totals | 122 | 30 | 78 | 12 | 7115:55 | 4094 | 2.98 |
Statistics source[11]