Ashton Bell

Ashton Bell
Bell with PWHL Ottawa in 2024
Born (1999-12-07) December 7, 1999 (age 26)
Deloraine, Manitoba, Canada
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Position Defence/Forward
Shoots Right
PWHL team
Former teams		 Vancouver Goldeneyes
Ottawa Charge
National team  Canada
Playing career 2017–present
Medal record
Women's ice hockey
Representing  Canada
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2022 BeijingTeam
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2021 Canada
Gold medal – first place2022 Denmark
Gold medal – first place2024 United States
World U18 Championships
Silver medal – second place2016 Canada
Silver medal – second place2017 Czech Republic

Ashton Julia Bell (born December 7, 1999) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain for the Vancouver Goldeneyes of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She previously played for the Ottawa Charge of the PWHL. She played college ice hockey at Minnesota Duluth.

Early life

During high school, she played for the Western Wildcats of the Manitoba AAA Female Midget Hockey League, twice winning the league's Most Valuable Player Award.

Playing career

College

In 2017, she began attending the University of Minnesota Duluth, playing for the university's women's ice hockey programme. She had originally committed to the University of North Dakota but was forced to change plans after UND eliminated its women's hockey programme. She scored 23 points in 35 games in her rookie NCAA year, good for second on her team in scoring. She was moved from forward to defence ahead of the 2019–20 season. She posted a career-high 32 points in 36 games that year, leading all Western Collegiate Hockey Association defenders in scoring and being named to the All-WCHA First Team. She was then named team captain for the 2020–21 season. She was named Western Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Month in November 2020.

Professional

Bell began her professional career when she was selected by PWHL Ottawa in the second round, eighth overall, in the 2023 PWHL Draft. As one of the league's inaugural players, she quickly established herself as a reliable two-way defender, contributing in all situations and emerging as a key part of Ottawa's blue line. During her two seasons with the club, Bell developed a reputation for her strong skating, defensive awareness, and leadership qualities, helping Ottawa remain competitive during the PWHL's formative years.

On June 9, 2025, Bell was selected first overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft, making her the first player in franchise history. Vancouver viewed Bell as a cornerstone piece around whom to build its inaugural roster, citing her experience, versatility, and leadership. On August 14, 2025, she signed a two-year contract extension with the club through the 2027–28 season, solidifying her role as one of the organization's foundational players. Later that year, on November 21, 2025, Bell was named the first captain in Goldeneyes history, becoming the face of the expansion franchise as it entered its inaugural season.

International play

Bell represented Canada at the 2016 and 2017 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship, scoring a total of eight points in ten games and winning silver twice.

In 2017, she served as the Canadian team captain. She was one of 28 players invited to Hockey Canada's Centralization Camp, which represents the selection process for the Canadian women's team that shall compete in Ice hockey at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

On January 11, 2022, Bell was named to Canada's 2022 Olympic team.

Personal life

Bell studied biology at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She previously graduated from Deloraine High School in Manitoba, competing in the Manitoba High School Rodeo Association alongside her hockey play.

Bell is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and is in a relationship with former University of Minnesota-Duluth teammate Nina Jobst-Smith, who was drafted by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the 2025 PWHL Draft.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 University of Minnesota-Duluth WCHA 351112236 —————
2018–19 University of Minnesota-Duluth WCHA 355121725 —————
2019–20 University of Minnesota-Duluth WCHA 3611213210 —————
2020–21 University of Minnesota-Duluth WCHA 19410144 —————
2022–23 University of Minnesota-Duluth WCHA 3912213310 —————
2023–24PWHL OttawaPWHL 242572 —————
2024–25Ottawa ChargePWHL 273360 81120
2025–26Vancouver GoldeneyesPWHL 302460 —————
PWHL totals 81712192 81120

International

Year Team Event Result GPGAPtsPIM
2016 Canada U18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 53360
2017 Canada U18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 52020
2021 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 71230
2022 Canada OG 1st place, gold medalist(s) 71450
2022 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 70000
2024 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 70110
Junior totals 105380
Senior Totals 282790

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
PWHL
PWHL All-Rookie Team 2024

References

  1. ↑ https://umdbulldogs.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster/ashton-bell/6383
  2. ↑ "Bell tolls and Campbell rolls for Team Manitoba". Brandon Sun. 2015-02-21. Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  3. ↑ Jaster, Chris (2017-01-03). "Krzyzaniak, Bell making marks with national women's teams". Brandon Sun. Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  4. ↑ Jaster, Chris (2017-05-04). "Bell chooses Minnesota-Duluth after UND dropped program". Brandon Sun. Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  5. ↑ Bell, Jason (2017-03-29). "Four 'Tobans on axed UND hockey team". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  6. ↑ "Athlete of the Week: Ashton Bell". Twin Ports Sports Hub. 2019-10-11. Archived from the original on 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  7. ↑ "UMD's Ashton Bell Named WCHA Defenseman of the Week". WDIO. October 8, 2019. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  8. ↑ Hinseth, Kelly (May 9, 2020). "Ashton Bell excited to captain UMD women's hockey team". Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Minnesota's Zumwinkle And Bench And Minnesota Duluth's Bell And Van Wieren Earn WCHA Players Of The Month Honors Presented By Sterling Trophy - Western Collegiate Hockey Association". www.wcha.com. Archived from the original on 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  10. ↑ Kennedy, Ian (September 18, 2023). "Ashton Bell Picked 8th Overall by Ottawa". The Hockey News. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  11. ↑ "PWHL Vancouver takes defender Ashton Bell first overall in expansion draft". sportsnet.ca. June 9, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  12. ↑ "PWHL Vancouver signs defender Ashton Bell to a two-year extension". thepwhl.com. August 14, 2025. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  13. ↑ "VANCOUVER GOLDENEYES ANNOUNCE ASHTON BELL, CLAIRE THOMPSON, AND SARAH NURSE AS TEAM'S FIRST-EVER LEADERSHIP CORE". thepwhl.com. November 21, 2025. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  14. ↑ Josh Crabb (2016-01-15). "Manitobans will go for gold at U18 Worlds | CTV News". Winnipeg.ctvnews.ca. Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  15. ↑ Dreger, Clayton (6 January 2017). "Ashton Bell to Captain Canada at U18 Women's Worlds". DiscoverWestman.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  16. ↑ Morken, Eric (May 26, 2020). "Revering overcomes injury, ups and downs to be a captain at UMD". Echo Press. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  17. ↑ "CANADA'S NATIONAL WOMEN'S TEAM UNVEILS OLYMPIC CENTRALIZATION ROSTER: 28 players to centralize in Calgary ahead of 2022 Olympic Winter Games". hockeycanada.ca. May 12, 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  18. ↑ "UMD's Bell, Betinol Named to Canadian National Summer Camp Rosters". www.WDIO.com. 22 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  19. ↑ Awad, Brandi (11 January 2022). "Team Canada's women's hockey roster revealed for Beijing 2022". Canadian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Canada's 2022 Olympic women's hockey team roster". Canadian Press. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 11 January 2022. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "2022 Olympic Winter Games (Women)". www.hockeycanada.ca. Hockey Canada. 11 January 2022. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  22. ↑ "Ashton Bell - Women's Hockey". UMD Athletics. Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  23. ↑ Graves, Wendy (4 November 2015). "Of breakaway … and breakaways". www.hockeycanada.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-12-30. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  24. ↑ Laba, Nick. "Vancouver's PWHL players skate with youth at North Shore Winter Club". North Shore News. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  25. ↑ Kennedy, Ian (June 11, 2024). "PWHL Hands Out Year End Awards, Spooner Named MVP". The Hockey News. Retrieved June 11, 2024.