From triple axels to the biomechanics of skating, Danielle Fujita proved herself more than capable of working in the NHL, but now her role in the Flames organization is much bigger than she could have imagined.
Fujita grew up in the small town of Taber, Alberta, where the sports selection for girls was limited. Her brother played hockey while she stuck to what she was naturally good at, which was figure skating.
“Skating came really easy to me. I wish I was better at hockey, but skating, we were limited as to what we could do for winter sports in our town.”
From a young age, Fujita knew she wanted to teach skating.
“I had a desire to coach.”
After a few bad experiences with coaches in the past, Fujita decided that she wanted to be a different kind of coach. She has a unique style of coaching, especially considering she works with grown men most of the time. Fujita doesn’t change her ways depending on the player; she sticks to what works, and her energy and attitude are what work.
While she relies on feedback from players on her style of coaching, there are specific things she believes sets her apart.
“One is my energy and two is I am super creative and also very silly.”
“I wish I could say it was an amazing experience to be coached the way I was coached, but it really wasn’t. The way I was coached was the reason why I wanted to become a coach and impact kids in a different way because it just wasn’t positive.”
After completing national skating programs and working different coaching jobs, Fujita had put it in her mind that she wanted to work in the NHL, and she wanted to complete everything she put her mind to. Becoming a power skating coach for an NHL team was something she needed to prove she could do, and that included redefining the term.
Fujita works specifically on the techniques of skating; the science behind the blade.
“Power skating, it maybe should be more defined as technical skating. You’re getting into the details of how to skate, what the technique is behind all the skating skills that exist, the movements, the patterns, the biomechanics. It’s more than skate hard, skate fast. It’s more than that.”
Fujita began part-time work with the Flames in 2018. She trained with veteran players through the summer development period, and then began to train anyone who needed the help. Fujita’s work with the players was showing improvements on their end, and was especially seen in some of the AHL and NHL players she worked closely with. From there, her work could be seen in games. The skill, the speed, the edge work, and the power of players' strides all took off.
In 2022, with results appearing, Fujita got the special delivery signifying she was officially a full-time skating coach with the Calgary Flames.
“The moment I received the tracksuit was the moment like the happy dance happened. It was almost a moment of shock, but also – I was very proud of myself then I got a little scared, like I went through all the emotions, but I'll never forget it,” Fujita said while getting a little emotional. It was a big moment in her career.
One of the proudest and most emotional moments of Fujita’s career so far came from watching someone else succeed. Connor Zary, a player she has been working with for 5 years now, made his NHL debut with the Flames in November of 2023, and has been with the team since.
“He’s not the prettiest guy to watch when it comes to skating but don’t underestimate his ability. He needed to work on his skating. He did and now he is making a career in the NHL,” Fujita said when talking about her players who make her proud.
Zary took her kind words to heart.
“It means a lot. I think over the last few years we’ve worked really hard together, and we’ve done a lot of skating. She’s a huge impact on my career so far.”
Fujita holds an important role not just on the ice, but off it as well. Sitting in cold arenas, Fujita spends her time picking out future NHL stars for the Flames scouting department.
Tod Button, director of amateur scouting for the Flames, has been working with her since 2022 and acknowledges just how important her role is.
“I always say this to people, she is like our secret weapon,” Button said when describing her job with the department.
“I call Danielle our skating expert.”
Players are considered, looked at and drafted based on her notes and recommendations.
“Helping the scouting department with video analysis and figuring out, okay, is this guy somebody that would be good in our organization? What's their skill level at for their skating? Where do I think they can go with their skating?” Fujita explained.
Even after the draft, her work even after players are drafted is not done yet. She needs to see if her intuitions were correct.
“If they're drafted to us, then I re-evaluate them. So I usually see them in the summer at some point, whether they come here or I go there to see them and visit them. And we hit the ice and I see, okay, what are you really like?”
With the positive effects of her work being recognized, Fujita knows she is an important member of the Calgary Flames.
“I know I can make a difference to this organization.”
Seeing the effects of her work, Fujita sees the need to increase the number of power skating coaches.
“I just truly believe the league as a whole would be better off if there were skating coaches involved in every organization.”
From scouting potential superstars to watching them make their NHL debut and skating circles around legends of the game, Fujita has made her mark within the Flames organization.
Edited by Neha Grewal
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