Nicole Hensley came to Ball Arena a year ago, proud and excited to be part of the first PWHL game in her hometown.
But the Lakewood native was injured and didn’t get to play in front of more than 14,000 fans. Hensley and the Minnesota Frost were back Sunday afternoon, and a moment she’s dreamed about finally arrived.
Hensley made 23 saves and the Frost held off a furious rally from the New York Sirens to win 4-3 in front of 15,512 fans — another statement of intent for this city and its hope to land a professional women’s hockey team in the near future.
“It was so much fun to get to play here this time, and just kind of taking in the moment pregame,” Hensley said. “Got a little bit emotional when I heard how loud the cheer was before the game. That was really cool. And it was cool to see the ovation for (Arvada native Peyton Anderson) as well.”
This was the third PWHL Takeover Tour game at Ball Arena. There were 14,018 fans here in Jan. 2025, which was the most for an American-based tour game to that point.
The league was back on Jan. 25, and 11,612 were here to see the two expansion franchises, Seattle and Vancouver, play. There was also a football game happening on the other side of I-25 that day — the AFC Championship Game.
Denver’s attendance on Sunday was the second-highest of any takeover tour game, behind more than 17,000 at a January game in Washington, D.C. Among those in attendance were Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood, plus members of the Colorado Rapids, the Colorado Mammoth and the Denver Onyx.
Colorado hockey fans hold up signs while standing along the glass at Ball Arena during Sunday’s PWHL’s Takeover Tour game in Denver. More than 15,000 were in attendance to see the Minnesota Frost hold off the New York Sirens, 4-3. (Danielle Hersch/PWHL)
“Not that I watched the Jumbotron too much during the game, but to see how many other professional athletes were here from Denver to support the game — I think that just shows how dedicated this city is to its hockey,” Hensley said. “And I just think it shows the potential that we have here in Denver.”
Hensley and Anderson obviously had plenty of fans in the building and got the loudest ovations. The Minnesota goalie had a blast from the past moment during pregame warmups. Someone had a sign in the crowd that said Hensley had given her a concussion in a youth soccer game once upon a time.
“I was like, ‘Sorry, my bad,’” Hensley said. “But just to see stuff like that is really cool and a full-circle moment to have people you played with and against growing up to be here.”
Grace Zumwinkle gets cheers from her Minnesota Frost teammates after scoring one of her two goals in Sunday’s 4-3 win over the New York Sirens at Ball Arena in Denver. (Danielle Hersch/PWHL)
A celebration of women’s hockey
This game wasn’t just a homecoming for Hensley. It was a testament to the surge in popularity for women’s hockey and the demand for more access to women’s sports in general.
There were 12 players in this game who participated in the 2026 Winter Olympics, including six members of the United States. Three of the U.S. Olympians combined for all four Minnesota goals as the Frost built a 4-0 advantage in the first two periods.
Grace Zumwinkle scored twice, including a beautiful opener and the fourth, which became the game-winner after a wild third-period rally from the Sirens. The league’s leading scorer, Taylor Heise, also had a goal.
“”Our league is tight,” Frost coach and ex-Avalanche defenseman Ken Klee said. “I mean, you have to play good, you have to play a full 60 minutes or you’re not going to get a win. I think our skill was on full display. Some of our goals were unbelievable. (Zumwinkle) went short-side shelf. Britta (Curl-Salemme) dropped absolute hammer. That was a bomb of a one-timer, and Nicole obviously had great saves.
“Everywhere we’ve gone, we’ve had a great reception. Denver is no exception. It’s great to see 15,000 here supporting our ladies and theirs as well.”
The afternoon was a celebration of the PWHL, of women’s hockey and the community sports can inspire. There were plenty of fans wearing Frost and Sirens jerseys, but some of the other six teams in the league as well.
There were sing-alongs. There were signs everywhere. And there were several “We Want A Team” chants.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to be in a lot of takeover tour games,” Sirens captain Micah Zandee-Hart said. “For me, seeing that attendance record go up there, like it was 15,000, right? And then hearing, ‘We Want A Team’ chanted, like I have chills on the bench when that kind of stuff happens. Even though you’re not in your home rank, I think there’s so much momentum behind our league and our sport right now. We’re just really grateful to have these moments with maybe some people that we don’t normally get to interact with.”
The game was the culmination of a weekend’s worth of events. New York had an open practice and autograph session with fans Saturday at Family Sports Center. The Frost conducted a community at Family Sports later in the day.
The next Nicole Hensley was probably there. The next Peyton Anderson, too.
“I think it’s huge. I think that’s something the PWHL has done really well,” Hensley said. “We don’t just bring a game here. We bring clinics. We bring opportunities to meet athletes. That’s huge. As someone who grew up here, I didn’t have accessible female hockey player role models that I could actually see in person very often. It was just when the national team rolled through in 2002 and then again in 2010.
“The fact that there’s been three games here for young girls to be able to watch the Grace Zumwinkles and Taylor Heises, like that is so special. Especially on the heels of the U.S. winning gold at the Olympics. That’s only going to grow hockey out West. And that’s the whole goal for everybody is to grow the game and get more girls in it. That’s only going to help our league.”
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