Article by Sam Roering. Photo by Sam Roering.
Greta Henderson’s love for hockey started with her family. Growing up in Regina, Saskatchewan, she watched her brother play hockey and knew she wanted to follow in his footsteps. What began as a dream to be just like her older brother soon became her passion and took her from the local rinks of Regina to the competitive ice of the WCHA.
In a small Canadian town like Regina, hockey is the heartbeat. Almost every kid in the town plays, bringing the community together. For Henderson, her youth hockey experience also provided the opportunity to challenge herself by playing up in age levels.
Much of her youth career was spent playing boys’ hockey. It was a normal part of her experience until she made the transition to junior hockey with the Regina Rebels. The shift to playing girls’ hockey in U18s was a significant adjustment, especially since the contact rules were different. In her first season with the Rebels, she totaled 54 penalty minutes as she adapted to the new style of play.
Despite the growing pains, Henderson knew the Rebels were the right fit for her, and her performance backed it up. In just two seasons, she had 114 points, along with 27 points in 19 playoff games. Playing for Regina also allowed her to continue living at home, which was important to her.
“It was nice because I’m a homebody and my family is really close. It was definitely a great experience for me,” Henderson described.
Her time with the Rebels also gave her the opportunity to develop as a leader. She wore the “C” and embraced the responsibility, considering herself a vocal leader, someone who isn’t afraid to speak her mind.
One of her favorite hockey memories comes from her time with the Rebels. In 2023, she scored the overtime winner in the Western Regionals, sending her team to the Esso Cup.
Her ability to perform in clutch moments has carried over to her college career as well. Henderson’s first collegiate goal was a game winner against Ohio State, the No. 1 ranked team in the country at the time. It’s a perfect example of her knack for showing up when it matters most.
But the transition to the WCHA hasn’t been without its challenges. Even her recruitment process had its hurdles when the head coach at the time, Steve MacDonald, was let go. When Brian Idalski took over, Henderson didn’t know what to expect, but after their first conversation, she knew she wanted to be a part of it.
“What St Cloud had to offer was amazing. As soon as I stepped on campus, I knew this was my future home,” Henderson recalled.
Moving from juniors to college hockey was a major jump. The pace of the game was faster than she was used to, and it took time to adjust. By the end of her freshman season, though, she started to get more comfortable, even finishing the regular season with a hat trick against Bemidji State.
Looking ahead, Henderson knows that increasing her speed and adding a bit more physicality will be key to taking her game to the next level.
St. Cloud State has not only helped her develop on the ice, but it’s also introduced her to some of her closest friends, especially within the sophomore class. The line of her, Alice Sauriol, and Sofianna Sundelin has been making an impact in recent games, partially because of their strong off ice connection.
“We’re all just like best friends. I feel like we can talk and communicate with each other. We find each other on the ice so well,” Henderson said.
Another area Henderson has focused on is staying mentally tough throughout the season. Balancing academics with athletics can be challenging, but she manages to stay on top of her schoolwork. It helps to have everything done before leaving for road trips so she can focus on hockey without distractions.
Maintaining a good mindset has been made easier by the continued support from her family. Her parents try to make it to every home game, and her brother, along with his fiance, also make the effort to attend when they can.
When she’s not on the ice, Henderson enjoys golfing, flag football, and wake surfing. Wake surfing, in particular, is a summer favorite. It’s the perfect way for her to unwind when she gets a break from training at the rink.
Looking to the future, Henderson is determined to graduate with her degree in Finance. But that’s just one of her goals. She’s also setting her sights on the PWHL, where the rise of the league is giving women the opportunity to play professionally after college.
Though those big milestones are still a few years down the road, there’s one other goal she’s working toward every day:
“Just to be the best version of myself I can be,” Henderson said.
Recent Comments