Vancouver Goldeneyes name defender Ashton Bell first-ever captain

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Goldeneyes have named Ashton Bell the team’s first ever captain.

The new Professional Women’s Hockey League club made the announcement Friday morning ahead of its inaugural game against fellow expansion side, the Seattle Torrent.

Star forward Sarah Nurse and fellow defender Claire Thompson were named alternate captains.

Being named captain “means everything” to Bell.

“I think it’s probably the biggest honour of my career to this date,” she said after Vancouver’s skate Friday morning.

“This team is full of leaders and has so much experience, so definitely makes our job easy. And we’ll definitely lean on all of them for their advice throughout the season. I just couldn’t be more excited and honoured to get things going today.”

Bell was picked first overall by Vancouver in June’s PWHL expansion draft.

She previously played two seasons for the Ottawa Charge, and put up three goals and three assists over 27 regular-season appearances in the 2024-25 campaign, then added one goal and one assist in eight playoff appearances.

The 25-year-old from Deloraine, Man., won gold with Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and was co-captain at the University of Minnesota-Duluth during her final season of collegiate hockey in 2022-23.

The three athletes who were awarded letters Friday were recognized not only for how they play, but who they are as people, said Goldeneyes head coach Brian Idalski.

“(Bell’s) first of all a great athlete, great hockey player, but also a great human being, shows up every day, very consistent.,” he said. “You always know what you’re going to get from Ashton Bell.

“And a very calm demeanour, but she’d probably be the first kid in a scrum to stick up for her teammates in the same vein. So super excited about her and the opportunity for her to wear to the C.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2025.