From Third String to National Champion: Johnny Hicks & Nathan Wolfe on the Goalie Mindset

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What does it take to go from third-string goalie to helping your team win a national championship?

In this episode of The Goalie Mindset Podcast, Pete Fry sits down with Johnny Hicks, fresh off winning the NCAA National Championship with the University of Denver, alongside his longtime goalie coach, Nathan Wolfe. Together, they share the mindset, habits, and relationship that helped Johnny reach one of the biggest moments of his career.

This isn't just a conversation about winning. It's about everything that happens before the trophy.

Pete, Johnny, and Nathan dive into:

• How Johnny learned to manage fear and treat it as nothing more than background noise
• Why routines, positive self-talk, and confidence became the foundation of his game
• How to bounce back after a goal against without letting it affect the next save
• Why every game should be treated the same, whether it's opening night or the national championship
• The importance of staying present instead of chasing results
• How body language, breathing, and preparation help build confidence

Nathan also shares what he saw in Johnny from the very beginning and why his willingness to learn, stay disciplined, and trust the process separated him from so many other goalies.

One of the biggest lessons from this episode is simple:

Your opportunity may not come when you expect it, but when it does, you need to be ready.

Johnny started the season as Denver's third-string goalie. Instead of getting frustrated, he stayed patient, kept learning, trusted his preparation, and was ready when his chance came. That mindset helped lead him all the way to a national championship.

 If you're a goalie, coach, or parent looking to build confidence, improve your mental game, and learn what it really means to trust the process, this episode is one you won't want to miss.

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