VANCOUVER–– PWHL Vancouver introduced immediately that defender Ashton Bell has signed a two-year contract extension to stick with the staff by way of the 2027-28 Skilled Girls’s Hockey League (PWHL) season. PWHL Vancouver acquired Bell with one 12 months remaining in her PWHL contract when she was chosen first total within the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft in June.
“We’re excited to type a long-term dedication with Ashton and have her assist lead our defence core in Vancouver by way of our first three seasons,” mentioned Cara Gardner Morey, PWHL Vancouver Normal Supervisor. “Ashton will play a big half in constructing the inspiration of our defence. She goes to be a frontrunner each on the ice and within the locker room, and we’re delighted to have her with us by way of 2027-28.”
The 25-year-old from Deloraine, Manitoba spent the final two seasons with the Ottawa Cost and was named to the 2024 PWHL All-Rookie Workforce within the league’s inaugural season, together with fellow PWHL Vancouver defender Sophie Jaques. Final season, Bell registered three objectives and three assists in 27 common season video games, then performed in all eight of Ottawa’s playoff video games and scored within the staff’s opening win over Montréal.
Bell is a three-time IIHF Girls’s World Championship gold medalist (2021, 2022, 2024) in addition to an Olympic champion, having represented Canada on the 2022 Olympic Winter Video games in Beijing. Her appreciable worldwide expertise began on the U18 stage, with silver medals within the 2016 and 2017 U18 Worlds. Bell performed with the College of Minnesota-Duluth from 2017 to 2023, with 119 factors by way of 164 video games (43G, 76A). She claimed staff MVP accolades in 2020-21 and co-captained the staff with former Cost teammate Gabbie Hughes in her last season.
“I’m so honoured for the chance to be a part of PWHL Vancouver for the following three years! Already in my brief time right here, this metropolis and the joy round having a staff out west has been unbelievable,” mentioned Bell. “I can’t look ahead to puck drop this season and to be alongside the inaugural group bringing skilled ladies’s hockey to Vancouver. That is the beginning of one thing particular and I’m trying ahead to constructing a legacy collectively.”
Bell is a part of a robust PWHL Vancouver defence core that features Claire Thompson, Sophie Jaques, Sydney Bard, Mellissa Channell-Watkins and Emma Greco, and is one among three gamers at present signed by way of the 2027-28 season, together with Jaques and Hannah Miller.
Season Ticket Memberships for PWHL Vancouver’s inaugural season can be found through the PWHL Vancouver website. Beginning at $27 per sport, Season Ticket Memberships embody a reserved seat for all 13 2025-26 common season dwelling video games on the Pacific Coliseum in addition to Founding Season Ticket Member standing. For the newest information and updates, followers can subscribe to the Vancouver publication.
Click on here for a full checklist of PWHL offseason transactions.
