Goalie Nicole Hensley did not think the Olympics were a possibility.
Not while growing up in Colorado, which has never produced a female Olympic hockey player.
Not when she started her freshman season opener for little Lindenwood University. Ohio State shelled her with 64 shots in Columbus. She saved 60 in a 4-0 defeat. Lindenwood lost Hensley’s next seven starts, too.
But now, as the U.S. plays its pre-Olympic tournament this week, Hensley is all but assured of making the 23-woman roster for PyeongChang expected to be named in about two months.
She got the start in both games against rival Canada at the world championship tournament last spring, winning each time.