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.
Declan Kelly
Declan Kelly is currently a student at Wentworth Institute of Technology where he is studying Mechanical Engineering and on the Club Hockey Team. He has played junior hockey for the USPHL Islanders for the past two years and went to Nationals both seasons. Growing up, he played youth travel hockey in Florida. Declan has previous coaching experience towards the end of high school and through junior hockey. He started with Jacqui Power and Edge this past Spring and is interested in skills work that heavily focuses on skating mechanics, while controlling the puck.
Allie Reifler
Allie Reifler is from Binghamton, New York, and has been playing hockey since she was 7 years old. She is currently a Junior at UMass Boston and plays on the Women's NCAA Division III team. Prior to UMass Boston, she was a member of the East Coast Wizards hockey program for 2 years, where she was a captain. She has been selected for many New York State development camps and National development camp in 2018. She started to volunteer for kids in the East Coast Wizard Program at the age of 15. Since being at UMass Boston, she has helped coach power skating and skills for the previous 2 years.
McKenna Brand
McKenna Brand is from Park Rapids, Minnesota and is currently a skills coach in the Boston area. She has previous coaching experience as an assistant coach at the Rivers School in Weston and at the North American Hockey Academy in Braintree.
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Most recently, McKenna played professionally for the Boston Pride (2018-2023). Brand helped lead her team to back to back Isobel Cup Championships in '21 & '22, and was an assistant captain from '20-'23.
Before her professional career, McKenna played college hockey at Northeastern University from 2014-2018. During her collegiate career, she helped lead her team, as an assistant captain, to their programs first Hockey East championship. McKenna lead her team in scoring in her senior season and as a junior lead her team in goals scored and received First Team Hockey East All-Star Honors. She finished her career with 111 points, tied for the 20th-most all-time at NU.
Aimee Rooney
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
Elizabeth Kramp
Originally from Farmington Hills, Michigan, Liz has been playing and loving hockey since the age of 5. She is currently a Junior at UMass Boston and plays on the Women’s NCAA Division III team. Liz loves to share her knowledge of the game to grow others’ skills and the game as a whole. She started volunteering for learn to skate/learn to play programs at the age of 12. As she progressed as a player, she continued to take on bigger roles and teach more in-depth skating and skills. Most recently, during her last 2 years in Boston, she has assisted in coaching powerskating and skills at multiple companies, as well as at camps and private lessons.
Tori Sullivan
Tori started her collegiate career by playing two seasons at Boston College. Transferred to Northeastern, helping the Huskies win two Hockey East tournament championships and a regular-season title. She also helped earn four trips to the NCAA Tournament throughout four years of collegiate hockey. East All-Rookie Team in the first season. Earned BC Athletic Director's award for Academic Excellence. A four-time member of the Hockey East All-Academic Team. Student assistant coach for Northeastern in 19-20. Tori graduated from Northeastern with a Behavioral Neuroscience Degree in 20'. She is a former forward with the Boston Pride in the PHF.
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 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, BOSTON UNIVERSITY 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
BOOK A CLASS
FOCUS: Speed, edge work, developmental skating skills for ages; 5-7. Friday's 3:30P-4:20P
Starts Dec 6
445 US dollarsLoading availability...
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FOCUS: Specialized stride correction and speed training. Friday's 4:20P-5:10P
Starts Dec 6
450 US dollarsLoading availability...
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PRIVATE/SMALL GROUP LESSONS
Jacqui's private lessons and small groups are at multiple rinks throughout the Greater Boston area. Each lesson is tailored to the level and age of the skater/skaters. The primary focus of Jacqui's lessons is improving hockey players' speed and edge work to optimize their performance in games. Jacqui works with all levels of skaters from beginners ages 3 years old, to adults looking to fine tune their skating skills. Use the contact form below to inquire about available days and times!