Ducks’ Power Players bring heat to the ice

By Eric Stephens
The OC Register
July 8, 2012

ANAHEIM – As she walked toward the metal building and the goal that was inside, Ashley Abate didn’t hide her nervousness.

Abate was a member of the Ducks’ popular Power Players squad during the 2010-11 season but she took off a year to take on a new task – being a mom to her now 10-month-old baby girl Zoe.

Now it is time to get back in the action.

“The thing is, which I think it’s why I get nervous, it’s because you never know what all these awesome girls bring,” Abate said. “You never know who’s a better skater or who has the experience on camera or on the ice. You honestly just never know. Every girl here has a different strength.

“And that’s why you have to really make your personality show.”

Personality was on full display Saturday at Anaheim Ice as dozens of females took to the rink to show the judges that they’ve got the stuff to be part of the next group of Power Players for the 2012-13 season. Fourteen are ultimately chosen to make up the new team, which has a host of responsibilities during the NHL season.

The Power Players meet and greet fans during each Ducks home game, cleans up the Honda Center ice surface during stoppages in play and makes a number of appearances on behalf of the club in various community events.

Erica Johnson said she used the experience of being part of last year’s group to change her major at Cal State Fullerton to communications “because I just love talking to people and hearing their stories. It’s just changed me as a person and it’s made me want different things in life.”

Now a veteran, Johnson remembered how she felt the first time she auditioned for a gig she now loves.

“I love seeing all the new girls and the fresh faces,” Johnson said. “Just the people who are so excited to try out. Because I’m excited to try out every year so it’s nice to see there’s other people on the same level.”

Jennifer Dixon was trying out for the second time and thought she had “a better chance of getting noticed.” But she didn’t want to “jinx it.”

“I’m going to hope for the best,” said Dixon, 23, of Rancho Santa Margarita. “If I don’t make it, there’s always next year.”

Abate said the on-ice duties for the Power Players are harder than it looks even though she has to keep a smile on her face. But shoveling up after guys competing hard was just one part of something she’s hoping to get back to doing.

Besides, Abate wants to show that a mom can be sexy enough to appear in the Power Players’ swimsuit calendar.

“It was such a rush,” she said. “It was so amazing. Before games, all of a sudden you would see all the lights come on and you would hear the music. Everything would go dark and then you’d hear the music and see al the guys come out. And just that energy right there is the reason why I loved the job.

“The fans were amazing. It was the best part of the job. Seeing little kids smile and they’d come up to you and say, ‘I want to be like you. I want to be a Power Player. It was amazing.

“I felt like I was part of a family at the Honda Center. You’re so comfortable. And it’s just the best job on earth.”