Anaheim Lady Ducks
Tier I Coaches
Caroline Marchant
General Manager, College Tour/Tournament Coordinator, Fundraising Chair, Coach, 14UAAA, 16AAA & 19AAA Team Manager
Caroline Marchant is in her 16th year with the Lady Ducks program, virtually making the “Behind the Scenes” work on fundraising, college planning and Team Support what it is today. After earning an Engineering Degree from Clarkson University, Caroline spent time in Edmonton and Columbus, OH along with her husband Todd, and young family. After moving to California, in 2005, Caroline immediately stepped up to help grow the Lady Ducks program. Caroline uses her 20 years of coaching experience at all youth levels to help assist the coaches and managers with needed support in creating the culture of their team that fits within the Lady Ducks Culture. Caroline’s commitment to supporting the management of all Lady Ducks teams, fundraising for the greater program and her endless energy to make so many things possible for all Lady Ducks is unsurpassed. Aside from competing with the Women’s team and earning nationals medals as well, Caroline has and will step on the ice for practices or the bench for any team in need of help to make their game successful. Caroline is the go-to person for many Lady Ducks as they approach high school and pursue dreams of attending college as student-athletes in the future.
Stephanie Yates
Female Goalie Coach - In - Chief of the Pacific District, Lady Ducks Goalie Head Instructor
Entering her 8th year working with the Lady Ducks program and goalies, Stephanie has recently been appointed Pacific District Female Goalie Coach-in-Chiefwith USAHockey. Born and raised in Garden Grove, California, her hockey career started when her family would attend her sibling’s hockey games at Disney ICE (now Anaheim ICE). There was a sudden goalie opening and she jumped at the chance to fill the spot. Shortly after she joined The Anaheim Lady Ducks for their inaugural season in 1999, net-minded our very FIRST Pacific District Champion team and has been in net for the last 21 years.
After her youth career she headed back east to play for Utica College, 2003 to 2007 where she set a single season save record and received ECACWest honors. She returned to her Alma Mater as the goalie coach and recruiting coordinator for 3 years before moving over to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut in 2011 - 2012.
Stephanie later put her Business Management degree to work and in the business operations side of hockey joining the NAHL Springfield Jr. Blues for 2012 - 2013 before deciding to head home and be closer to family again. This decision brought Coach Steph full circle and she has been with the Lady Ducks and Rinks programs ever since.
I’m a paragraph. Double click here or click Edit Text to add some text of your own or to change the font. This is the place for you to tell your site visitors a little bit about you and your services.
Lillian Marchant
19AAA Head Coach
Lilli is entering her 2nd full season of coaching for the Lady Ducks. Her experience playing NCAA hockey balanced with earning a Biology degree have given her the perspective which is great for the mentoring our AAA program looks to offer our players.
Born in Edmonton Alberta Canada while her father played for the Edmonton Oilers, Lilli started skating at 18 months old and fell in love with the game immediately. Lilli moved to Southern California in 2006 at the age of 8 and began playing in the in-house league at Anaheim Ice coached by her mom Caroline Marchant, making the Anaheim Lady Ducks 10u team the following season. She continued through the program playing 10u-19AAA winning a bronze medal at nationals for 14u in 2012. Lilli followed up with National Player Development camp selection and went on to play NCAA Division I at Lindenwood University in St Charles, MO where she was an assistant captain her senior year playing both forward and defense.
Lilli has experienced many successes throughout her playing career and knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level. After moving home in August of 2021 Lilli got right back into hockey. She enjoyed coaching this past season while being the assistant coach of the 14AAA team. Some of her favorite childhood memories are from being a Lady Duck developing camaraderie, team work, overcoming the challenges of school, travel, competition and the X's and O's of the game. Her next chapter is deeply rooted in her desire to bring back to the program her knowledge, skills and leadership to the bench for the program that helped build her into the person/player she has become.
Zealin Cronk
16AAA Head Coach
We are excited that coach Zealin is returning to the LD program for his 3rd season. Taking on a new role at the Tier I level, Zealin’s extensive hockey background as a player and coach along with taking the 16AA team to nationals in back-to-back years have shown his tremendous value to the LD program.
Z grew up in Huntington Beach and played for the Jr Ducks from the mite level on up. Having an advanced grasp of the game even as a mite player, Z started coaching at camps and helping as a junior coach with teams by the time he was 12. After playing prep, then Junior hockey in Massachusetts injuries sidelined him. The obvious step was to move into coaching which led Zealin to mentor in the Rinks and jr. Ducks programs where he quickly became coordinator of youth hockey at Westminster ICE and head of the Beckman Area high school program.
Zealin coached with the Jr. Ducks for 6 years and worked with various Lady Ducks players already for training which was a major reason he felt transitioning to the girls program in 2020 was the next step. He has helped to build confidence, teamwork and skill/strategy growth and is fired up to take on the AAA level in 2022-23!
Lillian Marchant
14AAA Head Coach
Lilli is entering her 2nd full season of coaching for the Lady Ducks. Her experience playing NCAA hockey balanced with earning a Biology degree have given her the perspective to teach the skills, strategy and team development all while these college prep athletes get the mentoring our AAA program looks to offer.
Born in Edmonton Alberta Canada while her father played for the Edmonton Oilers, Lilli started skating at 18 months old and fell in love with the game immediately. Lilli moved to Southern California in 2006 at the age of 8 and began playing in the in-house league at Anaheim Ice coached by her mom Caroline Marchant, making the Anaheim Lady Ducks 10u team the following season. She continued through the program playing 10u-19AAA winning a bronze medal at nationals for 14u in 2012. Lilli followed up with National Player Development camp selection and went on to play NCAA Division I at Lindenwood University in St Charles, MO where she was an assistant captain her senior year playing both forward and defense.
Lilli has experienced many successes throughout her playing career and knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level. After moving home in August of 2021 Lilli got right back into hockey. She enjoyed coaching this past season while being the assistant coach of the 14AAA team. Some of her favorite childhood memories are from being a Lady Duck developing camaraderie, team work, overcoming the challenges of school, travel, competition and the X's and O's of the game. Her next chapter is deeply rooted in her desire to bring back to the program her knowledge, skills and leadership to the bench for the program that helped build her into the person/player she has become.
Vince Valles
12AAA Head Coach
Over the past 20 years, Vince has played, coached and been involved in every aspect of hockey development in Southern California, including with the Lady Ducks the past two seasons. Vince has worked with players age 5 through Bantam AAA and also at the high school level since 2010. Vince is a USA Hockey Certified Level 4 coach and hockey director.
Vince has worked with dozens of Lady Ducks on skill development and through summer hockey camps for years. He was excited to finally come to work with our teams on a full-time basis in 2020! He brings a positive coaching outlook, corrective instruction, and a competitive atmosphere for all players at this level, working to improve their game and team concepts