Bell eager for next PWHL chapter

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This article was published 09/07/2025 (330 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While Ashton Bell may be plying her trade in a new city next season, she remains grateful the opportunity exists at all.

The 25-year-old blue-liner from Deloraine, who was the first overall pick in the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s recent expansion draft, said the timing of the PWHL was perfect.

She was graduating from the University of Minnesota-Duluth after the 2022-23 season, was drafted by the Ottawa Charge eighth overall in September 2023 and began her pro career in January 2024.

“That crosses my mind quite a bit,” Bell said. “To be able come right out of college into this league, I definitely got lucky in that way. I’m just super grateful for everyone who made this league possible and to all the pioneers who didn’t get the chance to play in this league but have made it possible for us.

“I definitely try to show my gratitude to them as much as I can and don’t take a day for granted that I get to play hockey for a living.”

Bell’s elite hockey journey began with the Westman Wildcats and later led her to an assortment of national teams. She committed to the University of North Dakota, but ended up at Minnesota-Duluth instead after UND cut its women’s hockey program. She also changed positions from forward to defence.

In her debut PWHL season, Bell posted two goals, five assists, two penalty minutes and a plus-minus of +3 in 24 games. Last winter, she had three goals and three assists, no penalty minutes and a plus-minus of +1 in 27 games while playing on Ottawa’s top defensive pairing alongside Jocelyne Larocque.

Third-place Ottawa, which had 12 wins, two overtime victories, 12 losses and four overtime losses, eliminated the Montreal Victoire in the semifinals and then fell 3-1 in the best-of-five league final to the defending champion Minnesota Frost.

“I enjoyed my time very much there for the past couple of seasons,” Bell said of Ottawa. “It was an incredible place to start my professional career. It was an amazing community that welcomed us right away and also the league. We had some of the best fans in the league, so just having that opportunity to play in front of them on our home ice was such a surreal experience.

“I’ll definitely miss them. I had a lot of close friends. Leaving the community behind and playing in front of the Charge fans and my teammates are definitely things I’ll miss.”

EXPANSION DRAFT

With the announcement in April that Vancouver and Seattle are joining the PWHL for the 2025-26 season, a massive shakeup around the league was imminent due to the ensuing expansion draft on June 24.

In an effort to make the new clubs competitive, PWHL draft rules allowed teams to protect just three players who were under contract. After two of their players were selected, they were allowed to protect one more.

By contrast, when the National Hockey League held an expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken in 2021, teams were allowed to protect either seven forwards, three defencemen and one goaltender, or any eight skaters and a goalie.

When Ottawa protected American goalie Gwyneth Philips, Canadian forward Emily Clark and Finnish blue-liner Ronja Savolainen, Bell understood she was probably on the move.

“I respect their decision 100 per cent,” Bell said. “Those are great, amazing players that should have been protected so I definitely don’t hold that against them. As soon as I wasn’t protected, I knew the chances of being picked up were high just based off what I was hearing in the media and around me.

“It was obviously a little scary at times just not knowing what to expect and if I would end up in Seattle or Vancouver or if I would get to stay in Ottawa. That was definitely stressful.”

She didn’t have to wait long to find out where she was headed on the West Coast. Vancouver won the draft lottery and had the option to choose between keeping the first pick or making the second and third picks instead. Vancouver kept the pick and took Bell.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” Bell said with a chuckle. “I wasn’t too sure how the cards would play out, if Vancouver or Seattle would get first pick and if they were going with a D or a forward. There were lots of unknowns there. It was a huge honour to be selected first by them.

“I love what they have built there so far: (General manager) Cara (Gardner Morey) has done an incredible job bringing in not only incredible players but great people as well.”

Both clubs ultimately made seven picks each.

MOVING ON

From a practical perspective, Bell was living in a house with two other players, so she moved most of her stuff in June as she transitions to Vancouver. She’s also trying to find a third roommate for them to take over her lease.

“There’s lots of logistical things that still need to be sorted out,” Bell said.

She came home to Deloraine to regroup and sort through her stuff, heading to Vancouver recently to start training out there with some of her teammates who have already made the move.

They’ll have lots of time to work together since training camp doesn’t begin until November. The 2025-26 schedule hasn’t yet been released.

There will be a familiar face with the new club. Brandon goaltender Kristen Campbell, 27, was acquired on June 24 in a pre-draft deal with the Toronto Sceptres that saw Campbell and the 19th overall pick head west in exchange for the 16th and 23rd overall selections.

The two both skated with the Westman Wildcats program, although Campbell left after the 2012-13 season to attend Winnipeg’s Shaftesbury High School and Bell arrived the next season.

Both have played extensively together on the national team.

The hockey world is a small one, especially at the elite level of the women’s game, so Bell has a lot of friends out on the ice. She said that doesn’t change what goes on between whistles during games.

“I’ve definitely played against or with most of the ones but I think once you hit that ice and you’re competing for your team and the logo on the front, that’s all put to the side,” Bell said. “All those feelings are put aside. It’s great hockey to be a part of and the compete level is like no other.

“The games definitely take a toll on your body. The physicality and speed of the game have increased tremendously. I think we’re all just so excited about this league and getting to play against the best every single game. It’s pretty cool.”

After games or when a visiting team arrives in town, she adds players often connect with each other to catch up.

NEW HOME

While Bell hasn’t spoken much to the Vancouver brass since the expansion draft — Vancouver hired American college coach Brian Idalski on June 23 to join Gardner Morey — she does expect there will be a leadership component for her, regardless of whether she wears a letter.

“I think either way, whether I’m named a leader or not, I want to take on that veteran role and be somebody who players can look to for anything,” Bell said. “It’s definitely exciting for me getting a new opportunity. I would love to be back in that leadership role after having two seasons under my belt.”

She certainly has experience as captain, wearing the C with the Wildcats, at the under-18 world championship with Canada and also in her final two seasons at University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Regardless, Bell thinks the expansion club has the talent to make an early impact.

“The players who have signed onto the Vancouver team definitely excite me,” Bell said. “There is so much talent and skill there. I’m excited to get to know every one of them more and to get to play with them. It’s definitely exciting with our roster. I think we can have a pretty successful season if we put everything together and believe we can do it.”

Bell is looking forward to her next chapter with a move to a city where she has family and a fresh opportunity to grow the game. She noted she and other players around the league certainly understand the impact they’re having on girls as the female game continues to grow.

“Seeing how many more girls are being involved in hockey now across North American is pretty cool to see,” Bell said. “To think we’re the generation they’re looking up to is definitely a huge honour and something I take a lot of pride in, giving back to the communities and getting out there and getting to know the younger generations and inspiring them to dream of playing in this league one day.”

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