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Ashley Zdunich: From training Anaheim Ducks’ Power Players to coaching club teams
Courtesy: Tammy Brubaker

Ashley Zdunich: From training Anaheim Ducks’ Power Players to coaching club teams

CHINO HILLS, Calif. — When a little pink meets the hockey world, great things happen. This has never been more true than for Ashley Zdunich (36).  Coach Ashley has grown up in southern California and she began dance and figure skating as a very young child.  She loved these two worlds and excelled at them both.  She competed for many years as both a dancer and a figure skater.  You can tell as you watch her take the ice, her grace, confidence and sophistication shine.  These days you won’t see figure skates on her feet, but Bauer hockey skates.  You will, however, see her pink laces, hockey tape and nails.

Courtesy: Tammy Brubaker

Ashley teaches individual lessons for all ages (2 year olds to one skater who is 75!) and is also a team power skating coach for many of the OC Hockey Club teams, providing intense hockey clinics. Ashley trains young women for the Anaheim Ducks’ Power Players team as well.  She spent 16 years as a figure skating coach, then recognized that with her skilled edgework and mechanics learned through countless hours of tracing figures on the ice, that she could offer a lot in terms of breaking down hockey skills–she has her dad’s engineering brain- which likes to pick things apart to get to the very basic concepts.  She has taken those skills and for the past 6 years, has trained hockey players too.

This very active young lady also competes in the world of dance in West Coast Swing and plans to compete in Hustle as soon as the opportunity arises. She literally has to stay on her toes to keep up with a different partner each time, where a random song is played and competitors have to perform on the spot!

By far though, Ashley’s desire to reach others has come from her big brother, Adam (38). “He is my motivation for everything that I do.”  Adam has Down’s Syndrome, and through COVID, like many of us, has had to stop going to work.  Ashely has taken her love for her brother and put it into practice, working in various school districts with children with special needs. She contributes to IEP plans, does ABA data collecting and incorporates RBT (behavior therapy).  She has several clients with autism and would like to grow this part of her business.  In fact, when she’s teaching young students, you will see her with her hockey helmet and autism speaks bow on the back.

Coach Ashley has big plans for the future.  She wants to start a non-profit which would provide ‘ice-therapy’ to children and adults alike who have most any type of special need.  She feels this will combine all of her skills and passions.  She would like to one day be able to include IEP goals and to train other coaches on best practices.  Ashely is a hands on educator and loves sharing the ‘why’ behind the ‘how’. Her technique for all sessions include support and aims always to build confidence.

If you or someone you know are interested in learning to skate, improving skills/ confidence, or competing at the highest level, please reach out to Ashley at (714) 469-6619. 

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.