Ducks’ Power Players tryout heats up ice
By Eric Stephens
The Orange County Register
July 9, 2011
ANAHEIM – The number of those trying out wasn’t quite as large as last summer’s record number but the energy and hope was just as plentiful among the dozens of young women that sought to become the next Power Player for the Ducks.
In all, there were 62 who started Saturday morning at Anaheim Ice dreaming to find their way onto the final 14-member squad.
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Erica Averkieff, 23, is the mother of 10-month old son, Ericson, with her boyfriend and stroller in tow. The nights of cheerleading at Rancho Alamitos High on Friday nights propelled her to chase after a spot where she’d be cleaning up the Honda Center ice surface in front of thousands.
“Everyone can have the same talent but really, I think it’s your personality,” Averkieff said. “You’ve got to stand out. You’ve got to have spunk. You’ve got to make people notice you.
“Everyone can skate. But you’ve got to have personality. You’ve got to have something that people will remember you by.”
The Power Players not only maintain the ice surface during timeouts at Ducks’ home games but they entertain and interact with the fans in attendance while also making appearances in the community on behalf of the team. They’ll also appear in a swimsuit calendar that is sold in the team store and are featured prominently on the team’s website.
It doesn’t pay much – say $13 an hour – but it can also be an avenue to bigger and better things. Just ask Paula Abdul, the one-time famed Laker Girl.
