JACQUI VONA POWER & EDGE
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ABOUT JACQUI VONA POWER & EDGE
Jacqui Lovato Vona is in her 12th coaching season in the Greater Boston Area and has specifically focused on the development of hockey players’ skating skills in the last 7 years. With over 20 years of coaching experience, Jacqui has established a name for herself in the skating/hockey community as a premier skating skills coach focusing on speed, agility, and explosiveness while concentrating on edge use and stride development.
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Originally from Lincroft, NJ, Jacqui attended Miami University (OH) graduating in 2009 with a B.S. in Kinesiology and Health and a minor in Nutrition. During her time at Miami, she was a four year member of the Miami University Senior Varsity Synchronized Skating Team where she helped her team earn two National Championships and a Silver World Championship medal which was the first World Medal earned by a US team.
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Jacqui’s experiences as a DI NCAA athlete and certified personal trainer has influenced her knowledge of developing explosive movements and patterns needed to take one’s skating to the next level. Jacqui is a USFS and PSA registered coach, as well as a USA Hockey CEP Level 3 coach thus proving her versatility in the skating community. In the past few years, organizations such as the Winchester Youth Hockey Association and Melrose Youth Hockey Association have brought Jacqui onto their coaching staff to work with athletes on speed, agility and edgework. Jacqui’s passion for skating shows through her instruction and the energy she brings to each ice session makes her a rising star in the coaching community.
COACHES
Courtney Sheary
Courtney is currently the head coach for the Rivers School in Weston, MA and is in her first season as assistant coach for the Boston Pride of the PHF. Prior to that, Courtney was the assistant Women’s ice hockey coach at Boston College. She worked with the team’s forwards and handled the team’s video scouting system.
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Before The Heights, Sheary spent one season on staff at Dartmouth as the Big Green’s second assistant coach, where she worked under Canada Women’s National Team coach Laura Schuler.
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Prior to Dartmouth, Sheary spent five years at her high school alma mater, Cushing Academy, where she was the school’s Assistant Athletics Director and coached girls’ varsity hockey. Sheary co-coached the Penguins to the NEPSAC semifinal appearances in 2013 and 2014 before being named head coach ahead of the 2014-15 season.​ Sheary has also participated in USA Hockey’s Player Development Programs as a player, coach and evaluator.
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Sheary was a member of the UNH women’s hockey program for five years, capping her senior season as an Assistant Team Captain. Sheary helped lead the Wildcats to four Hockey East regular season titles and three Hockey East Tournament titles (2007, 2008, 2009), as well as three NCAA Tournament berths. She left the program having played in 130 games and was the team leader in blocked shots as a senior. She was also the recipient of the 2011 Colleen Coyne Award, which is given annually to the team’s top defenseman.
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Sheary was drafted by the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. A member of a strong hockey family, Courtney’s brother Conor is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburg Penguins and current Washington Capital.
Ayrton Valente
Aimee Rooney
Ayrton Valente was born and raised in Toronto, ON where he played hockey since the age of 4. He played at the highest level all through minor hockey and then ultimately played at the junior level. Ayrton attended Plattsburgh State (D3) from 2014-2018, earning multiple all division team awards. In 2016-2017 he was an ACHC All American. After completing his college career, he finished his senior year playing for the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL, an affiliate for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since the completion of his playing career, Ayrton coached U18 for 3 years in Ontario as well as U7. He is currently coaching a 2009 Crimson Pride with a level 1 US hockey designation. Ayrton has always taken an interest in the skills of skating since his upbringing and development in this game. He has additional experience in working hockey camps and other private skill sessions.
Aimee Rooney (she/her) is a member of United States Figure Skating, Learn to Skate USA, USA Hockey, & the Professional Skaters Association. She has been figure skating since the age of three and trained under accomplished PSA-rated coach Julianne Pondelli. She is also PSA certified in hockey 1, 2, and 3. Aimee holds a Master of Arts in English and is a high school English instructor. She is currently on staff with Flynn Rink Learn to Skate, Stoneham Learn to Skate, and Winchester Figure Skating Club.
Website: https://linktr.ee/aimeerooney
TESTIMONIALS
“We have been so impressed with Jacqui’s abilities to not only teach the technical part of skating, but to push the kids at a very high pace where they translate what they learn into their practices and games. We highly recommend Jacqui to anyone who wants to compete at the highest level.”
BRAD MARCHAND, BRUINS ALTERNATE CAPTAIN
“My son and daughter both learned to skate with Jacqui. They both progressed very quickly. Jacqui has a great understanding on teaching skating for hockey players. She makes it fun, and at the same time pushes the kids to get out of their comfort zone.”
JAY PANDOLFO, BU HEAD COACH, FORMER BRUINS ASSISTANT COACH
"My son has skated with Jacqui the last three years, after having been referred to her by some really knowledgeable hockey people. The experience and the growth have been fantastic. My son is faster, stronger and more agile on the ice. He has also quickly risen from AA hockey to elite club hockey, and his work with Jacqui has been a very big part of his progression. As my son sets his sights on high-school prep hockey, Jacqui will figure prominently in the overall plan."
JON LARSON