Have you met anyone who is ambidextrous in both their feet and can write with both their hands? It's any soccer player's dream to be ambidextrous with both their feet, but first-year Ontario Tech Ridgebacks women's hockey player, Nicole Escano (Kingston, Ont.) is blessed naturally with this skill set.
 
Growing up she has always had a constant presence on the soccer field and on the ice. Before playing for the Ridgebacks, Escano played for Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves in the Provincial Women's Hockey League (PWHL). Finishing her first Ontario University Athletics (OUA) season with three goals and five assists, Escano is currently preparing herself to hit the ice when the season is back by following the ETS workouts three to four times a week alongside some weight training.
 
Escano recently completed her first year in the criminology and justice studies program at Ontario Tech University, while living at South Village Residence. She lived with teammate Brooklyn Duff, who she claims to be the most hilarious person on the women's hockey team.
 
"Just before Christmas break, we (the team) started hanging out more together, practices became more fun, everyone was really relaxed," said Escano about the team's improved second half of the season. "We all just realized, wow, we all have to really step it up. Everyone was working much harder and the practices were more fluid."
 
When asked about her hockey career, Escano says that she always wanted to play rep hockey and soccer but found it difficult to do both. Her family was a huge influence in her decision to play varsity hockey with her father, age 51, being a constant presence on the ice himself.
 
"He always pushes me past limits that I thought I couldn't go to. My parents have never missed any of my games and are always super supportive of my hockey career," she said, while sharing that her dad had been a coach at her previous teams.
 
Growing up with several learning disabilities and battling with adjusting to learning differently than others, Escano said she uses this as her greatest motivation on and off the ice.
 
"I just think about everything I fought through when I was younger," she said. It provides me with extra motivation to fight through everything and give my very best to come out on the top always."
 
When it comes to role models, she said former Toronto Furies player and fellow Kingston native, Brooke Beazer has been a huge support.
 
"She has helped me for the past four years to become a better skater, player and person. She has always been there to help me. She is extremely supportive of me."
 
With family in Montreal, Escano says that the Habs have a special place in her heart as she often visits their rink and watches the players practice. Little does her family know, that she secretly roots for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
 
"My family doesn't fully know that I cheer for the Leafs, but they suspect it," she said. "I was starting to watch Morgan Rielly play, their star defenceman and I always attempt to base my game off on how he plays. Then I thought about Auston Matthews. It got me thinking that this team is super talented."
 
During the current province-wide lockdown, Escano fills her time up by going on nature walks, runs and playing soccer with her older brother.