Danielle Serdachny: Inspiring the next generation of hockey stars
7 Minute Read
You've probably heard of Danielle Serdachny if you're a hockey fan. And if you haven’t you soon will.
From her earliest days learning how to skate with her siblings in Edmonton, Alberta, Danielle’s obsession for Canada’s game has propelled her along to her current role, donning #92 for the PWHL Ottawa Charge.
But hockey isn't just a passion for Danielle—it's a family legacy.
Danielle's dad, Steve, spent nine years as a skating and conditioning coach for the Edmonton Oilers while running Serdachny Hockey, an elite hockey and power skating program with a global reach. Growing up, Danielle's life revolved around the rink—whether it was her games, cheering on her siblings, or family skates with the Oilers.
Her family's hockey roots run deep. Danielle's older sister, Brooke, may have stepped away from the game, but her younger sister, Jordan, thrives in U18 hockey in Edmonton, falling more in love with the sport each season. Meanwhile, her brother, Noah, is making waves as an NCAA Division One player at American International College.
Danielle's journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Drafted after an impressive career at Colgate University, she left her mark as a member of the Raiders, an NCAA D1 hockey team. She scored two goals in her very first game, becoming the first Raider in a decade to achieve this feat. Her leadership extended beyond the ice as she founded the Rising Raiders program, connecting Colgate Women's Hockey players with local young athletes to inspire the next generation.
Her accolades don't stop there. Danielle won a gold medal at the IIHF World Women's U18 Championship and joined the Canadian women's national hockey team in 2022 for the Rivalry Series against the United States. In 2023, she helped Canada secure a silver medal at the IIHF Women's World Championship, and in 2024, she scored the game-winning overtime goal to bring home gold.
Danielle is settling into her new home in Ottawa after being drafted second overall by the Ottawa Charge in the 2024 PWHL Draft. Her impact extends beyond the rink—she participated in Sens Skills in February 2025, raising funds for the Senators Community Foundation and NHLPA Goals and Dreams Fund.
Do you want to know more about Danielle's journey and dedication to Canada's national winter sport? CAA Magazine spoke with her about family, hockey, and life in Ottawa.
It's your first year in Ottawa. How has it been?
It's been great. Ottawa is a very welcoming city, and we have a great team and group of girls, so it's been lots of fun. And then playing in front of the home crowds every home game is super exciting. I've been loving it here and looking forward to the second half of the season.
You've been around hockey your whole life. What's the energy like playing in front of a home crowd at TD Place Arena?
I feel like you have to kind of be there to experience it. There are a lot of passionate fans who obviously love hockey and love supporting us. A lot of little girls and boys are there holding signs and cheering loudly so we can play in front of them every time. Ottawa is definitely an exciting, passionate fan base.
Your dad was a skating and conditioning coach with the Edmonton Oilers. What was that like?
It was so cool. I think as a young player who loved hockey and loved being around the rink, just getting the opportunity to do things, I'd say that most kids weren't able to do, whether that was visiting the rank or meeting a player.
It allowed me to fall more in love with hockey. And yeah, it was special for me, my siblings, and obviously, him. It was a one-of-a-kind experience, for sure.
Do you have any memorable interactions with a player?
Every year, the Oilers had a Christmas skate, so you'd get a little gift there and get to meet Santa, which is cool—obviously meeting all the players. It was kind of the era where Edmonton was getting a lot of first-overall picks. I loved being around that.
But I would say one notable memory is meeting Hilary Duff at one of the skates. She was dating or married to Mike Comrie then so that stuck out. But just being around the players and being on the ice for the family skate was really exciting.
Did your dad ever coach you?
He coached us a little bit. We'd always like to train with him on the ice, but he was busy between the Oilers and running his own company, which he still does. He coached a little bit, but not anything full-time,
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Brianne Jenner is warm and supportive with kids and young girls, and she’s an incredible player on the ice. How do you view those two sides of her?
Hockey is obviously a competitive game, so there are a lot of elements to that and a lot of physicality, too. Her leadership style kind of goes hand in hand with how she plays. She's quieter on the ice, too, but a quiet leader. Brianne is very soft-spoken and incredibly hard-working every single day, whether that's on or off the ice. Even as a mom, she's very hard-working and caring.
I think how she is off the ice as a leader matches her style of playing on the ice. It's pretty incredible to be a part of it, and I look up to her day in and day out.
What was it like being part of the Rivalry Series?
It's so much fun. I think anytime you get to get together with that group, everyone has so much fun, both on and off the ice. The skill and talent that the group has speaks for itself on the ice. But just being there, obviously representing your country, and seeing new places is quite incredible. It was definitely a great week of hockey.
Getting to play with Brianne Jenner at that level was incredible, too. She's such a good player in person and leader of our group. We're hoping we can kind of carry some of that momentum into the Ottawa Charge in the second half of the season.
How do you bring together people together for the Rivalry team?
We all come from different teams, programs, and coaches, so it takes a day or two to get back into the routine of what the coach expects from us. But everyone's doing it together. We come from different places, but we have a common goal. At the end of the day, it is about winning. We must stick together and learn from one another.
What were your highlights from the Rivalry Series?
I think winning, for sure. That was the first time I was there when the trophy was presented because I had been in college before.
Another highlight was Blair Turnbull tying up the game in her hometown, hearing the crowd erupt and seeing the emotion she had. I think it was special. It could almost have been a storybook ending if we could pull off a win in the shootout. But just seeing that moment for her and knowing how hard-working and caring she was incredible for, I think, everyone involved in the situation. So that was a special moment.
Hockey is a demanding sport where players often retire early. Do you plan to coach, or is there another passion guiding your next move?
I haven't thought too much about it. I love being around kids. Through my experience at Colgate University, working with kids on the ice and getting the opportunity to coach them is something I was passionate about. If there was a career for me in coaching, I think that'd be special.
From being around the game, I think you won't know how you feel until you're at the point of retirement. But I think staying involved in the game would be special.
Do you have a hockey hero or somebody that you look up to?
I think many female hockey players would say Marie-Phillip Poulin. She's definitely mine. Growing up and watching her score big goals on TV has been incredible. What I think is even more special is kind of the type of person and leader she is.
I've been lucky to get to know her these past few years and to see how caring she is. I think we see that kind of competitive, fierce leader on the ice, but off the ice, she's also very soft-spoken, caring and makes you feel very welcome. I look up to her on and off the ice and know how great of a role model she is for many young girls and boys.
What are the differences between women’s and men’s pro hockey? You’ve never played in the NHL, but you know the world—what sets them apart?
One of the main differences I've noticed is that on the woman's side, whether that's hockey or other sports, fans care about the type of person you are and who you are away from the rink. It's been interesting to allow your personality to shine through different things. Fans want to get to know you as a person and enjoy watching you on the ice, too. But I would say that is one of the differences between women's and men's professional hockey.
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