Ashley Ommen

Amateur Hockey, Director of Summer Camps

“Huge thanks to Ashley Ommen, for sharing her inspiring journey from camp counselor to leadership—proving that passion, hard work, and paving your own path can open doors in the sports industry!

Ashley began with the Blackhawks at 18 and now oversees their youth summer camps, creating memorable experiences for over 230 campers each year. A former NCAA D3 goaltender, she’s pursuing her master’s in Sport & Performance Psychology and Mental Health Counseling to support athletes both on and off the ice. Her advice to young women in sports: Don’t be afraid to be the first—it’s okay to create your own path.” – Zara Halabu

Please describe your role & responsibilities at that position?

In this role I work with the Amateur Hockey coordinators to organize and execute the youth hockey summer camps. In 2025 we hosted three summer camps that saw approximately 230 campers. Our camps draw youth hockey players not only from all across the state of Illinois, but all across the world. My responsibilities include overseeing our counseling staff, organizing all administrative work for camps, and directing the day-to-day activities of each camp.

What did you study in college and how did your educational background shape your career in the sports industry?

In my undergraduate years of college, I studied Psychology with a minor in Communication Studies. I recently graduated from St. Norbert College in DePere, WI in May 2025 with my bachelor’s degree and am currently preparing to attend Minnesota State University, Mankato to pursue my master’s degree in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology as well as Mental Health Counseling. While I am still pursuing my academic goals, I have been fortunate to work with the Chicago Blackhawks for the past 5 summers to get my foot in the door in the world of working in sports. I began as a camp counselor in the summer of 2021 for the Chicago Blackhawks, which led to a promotion and my current position as Director of Summer Camps. My position with the Blackhawks has allowed me to learn a great deal about the business side of hockey while also furthering my education as both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels of study. In order to do this, the Blackhawks organization has been extremely supportive of my desire to work while still in school, allowing me to work part-time and virtually while away at school so I am prepared to return to in-person work in May to run our summer camps. In running these camps, we have been able to partner with the Sports Performance team of the Chicago Blackhawks, introducing mental skills work at a basic level to our young campers and also allowing me to network with these professionals, who helped a great deal in my preparation for graduate school. While I am planning to continue my career in sports upon the completion of my studies, my love for sports was truly shaped from my experience as an athlete. I played hockey as a goaltender for 17 years, even playing at St. Norbert College for their women’s NCAA D3 team. My experiences as an athlete motivated me to want to play a role in shaping a healthier culture for competitive athletes, one that supports and prioritizes not only physical health, but mental health as well. This has inspired me to make the shift from working in amateur hockey to pursue further education with the end goal of working with athletes as a counselor.

Can you share the key milestones in your career that led you to your current position in the sports industry?

I began working with the Blackhawks in May of 2021, I was promoted then from camp counselor to director of summer camps in 2023. This shifted my responsibilities from on-ice coaching of the campers to being in charge of administrative work. I will make another shift in August of 2025 when I begin attending Minnesota State University, Mankato to start my master’s program in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in the sports business, & how have you overcome them?

Originally, I struggled working in a male dominated sport (hockey) not only as a woman, but as a very young woman being freshly 18 years old when I began working with the Blackhawks and only 20 years old when I was promoted to the director of summer camps position. Not only was I working to navigate my first “big girl” job, but I was also learning to navigate the struggles of being young in a workplace and being a woman in a mostly male office. However, I was extremely fortunate to have my boss, Andrea Hahn, leading the way for women in my department as the Vice President of Amateur Hockey and Fifth Third Arena. Andrea has been extremely supportive of me throughout my time with the Blackhawks and has truly served as a fantastic role model for myself and other young women trying to get their foot in the door. In order to overcome the challenges I faced in coming to understand my role in the organization and being a young woman working in sports, I leaned on my experiences as an athlete. I have always strived to be the coach I wish I had growing up and create memories for the campers that I hold near and dear to my heart from my childhood.

​Balancing a career is demanding. How do you manage a work-life balance? What strategies have worked well for you?

I am currently only working part-time in my role with the Blackhawks, only working 40-hour weeks during camp weeks (3-6 weeks in the summers). This has allowed me to complete my undergraduate education in May of 2025. In order to still balance work life with my personal life and interests, I set a strict boundary for myself between hockey for work and hockey for fun. For me, this looks likes saving time for myself to play and enjoy the sport I love so much, time that is not at all related to coaching or working with the Blackhawks. Additionally, I am also sure to pursue interest I have outside of sports entirely. I am extremely passionate about advocating for the end of stigma surrounding mental health. I have been fortunate to work with the nonprofit, The Hidden Opponent, to further learn about the stigma surrounding mental health and the role we play in ending that stigma. I also enjoy traveling, so I do my best to plan a few trips each year where I can totally get away from sports and spend time with the people I love.

How important is mentorship for women in the sports industry? Have you had mentors or role models who played a significant role in your career and can give some details?

SO SO SO important. As mentioned previously, my boss, Andrea Hahn, has been an amazing female mentor for me throughout my time working in sports. Andrea truly paved the way for women working in youth hockey in Illinois, making her way up the ladder from the team manager of her children’s hockey teams to her current role as Vice President of Amateur Hockey and Fifth Third Arena. In addition to Andrea, I have been extremely lucky to have coached with Kendall Coyne Schofield at her annual all-girls hockey camp. Kendall is not only an amazing athlete but has always been a role model for me in the way she works so hard to make the world of sports better for female athletes, which was truly apparent in the work she put in with Billie Jean King to get the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) started.

In a male-dominated industry, do you feel women are given equal opportunities? What steps do you think can be taken to promote gender equality in the sports industry?

In my experience with the Blackhawks, there has been huge steps in achieving gender equity in our offices. Look at our executives for instance, the President of Business is a woman, the assistant general manager is a woman. I have been extremely lucky to work in an organization the supports and lifts up our female staff members. With that being said, there is always more work to be done. Woman should continue to pursue their interest in sports, they should continue to push for high-level positions within organizations, and we should continue to support other woman in the industry, especially the athletes. Professional women’s sports are continuing to grow in every sport; we should continue to give them our time and attention and play a role in that continued growth.

What aspects of your work in the sports industry do you enjoy the most? What parts do you find the most challenging ?

I feel most fulfilled in seeing the impact my work is making on young athletes. Currently, that looks like putting on a successful camp that ends up being a kid’s favorite part of their summer. In my future, that will look like making a positive impact on an athlete’s mental health journey and strengthening their mental performance skills.

What advice do you have for young women aspiring to build a successful career in the sports industry?

Don’t be afraid of something just because another woman before you had not done it – it is okay to pave your own path to reach your goals.

What are your long term personal goals that you still want to achieve both business wise and personal?

As previously mentioned, I will be attending Minnesota State University, Mankato starting in August 2025 to begin pursuing my master’s degrees in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology and Mental Health Counseling. In finishing my degrees, I plan to get certified as a Mental Performance Coach and a Mental Health Counselor to work with athletes in a counseling capacity (like a therapist for athletes). In this role I hope to not only make an impact on the athletes I work with, but I want to continue the work I did with The Hidden Opponent and end the stigma that still exist in sports regarding mental health of athletes.

Any fun facts you’d like the world to learn about you? Favorite food, hobbies, how many kids, pet peeves, etc. The more the merrier!

I have two Bernese Mountain Dogs – Walter and Henry

I began ice skating when I was three years old – that lead to a 17-year hockey career as a goaltender, including 4 years at the NCAA D3 level.

I have two siblings – a little sister, Emily, and an older brother, Logan.

My dad, Tony Ommen, also works for the Chicago Blackhawks! He is the Vice President of Team Operations and began with the organization in 1999, 4 years before I was born.