Latest news with #AshtonBell
CTV News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Ottawa Charge lose 2 key defenders during PWHL expansion draft
Ottawa Charge's Ashton Bell (left) goes airborne after colliding with Montreal Victoire's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) during first period PWHL playoff hockey action in Ottawa, on Friday, May 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby The Ottawa Charge lost two key players from the blue line during the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) expansion draft Monday night. Vancouver and Seattle each selected seven players from the original six clubs to fill out a 12-player roster during the expansion draft. The draft was the second part of the expansion process after the two teams were allowed to sign up to five players each last week. PWHL Vancouver selected blueliner Ashton Bell from the Ottawa Charge with the first pick in the expansion draft. Bell played two seasons with the Charge, and had three goals and three assists last season. With their first pick in the PWHL expansion draft, Seattle selected Aneta Tejralová from Ottawa. The blueliner had one goal and nine assists for the Charge last season. Ottawa lost goalie Emerance Maschmeyer and forward Danielle Serdachny during the exclusive signing window last week. Each PWHL original six team lost four players during the expansion process. The Charge protected forwards Emily Clark and Gabbie Hughes, goalie Gwyneth Philips, and defender Ronja Savolainen during the expansion window. Several Charge players went undrafted during the expansion process, including captain Brianne Jenner, forwards Mannon McMahon, Anna Meixner and Kateřina Mrázová, and defenders Jocelyne Larocque and Stephanie Markowski.
CTV News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Vancouver takes defender Ashton Bell first overall in PWHL expansion draft
Ottawa Charge's Ashton Bell (left) goes airborne after colliding with Montreal Victoire's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) during first period PWHL playoff hockey action in Ottawa, on Friday, May 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby A long, anxious day of waiting paid off in a big way for Ashton Bell on Monday. The 25-year-old defender became part of hockey history when she was selected No. 1 by Vancouver in the Professional Women's Hockey League's first-ever expansion draft. 'It's just a huge honour,' she said. 'And I'm just super excited to be one of those first players in Vancouver. Could not be more thrilled to be part of that organization.' Hailing from Deloraine, Man., Bell heads to Vancouver following two seasons playing in Ottawa. She contributed three goals and three assists over 27 regular-season games with the Charge during the 2024-25 campaign, and added one more of each over eight playoff appearances. 'Not only is she extremely talented on the back end, she's played both offence and defence in her career,' Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey said of the young defender who she briefly coach with Canada's U-18 development program. 'But she's also one of those great teammates and great human beings that's always showing gratitude and doing things the right way. Her work ethic is outstanding and, to me, that's the exact type of player we wanted to bring in.' Vancouver picked seven players on Monday, including forwards Brooke McQuigge (Minnesota Frost), Abby Boreen (Montreal Victoire), Izzy Daniel (Toronto Sceptres), Gabby Rosenthal (New York Sirens) and Denisa Krizova (Minnesota) and defender Sydney Bard (Boston Fleet). Heading into the draft, Gardner Morey was looking for undervalued players. 'I think we really went with a lot of grit, a lot of two-way forwards that can also score goals. Obviously we solidified the back end tonight,' the GM said. 'I just think we got a lot of players that were overachieving last year and those are the type of players we want to bring in.' Bell believes she has more to show, too. The five-foot-nine University of Minnesota-Duluth product believes she grew into her role as a shutdown defender at the end of the regular-season campaign. She embraced it further during a playoff run where Ottawa ousted Montreal from the semifinals before falling to Minnesota in the Walter Cup final. 'I've grown a lot just in the last couple of months of playing in this league,' Bell said. 'And I'm just excited to kind of continue that.' Bell and the six other draftees join five players Vancouver snapped up during last week's exclusive signing window for the PWHL's two expansion teams. Defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques (both Minnesota), forwards Sarah Nurse (Toronto) and Jenn Gardiner (Montreal), and goalie Emerance Maschmeyer (Ottawa) will also be part of the club's inaugural roster. Gardner Morey, a former defender herself, said she's been building the team from the back end and stocking it with 'great skating, puck carrying defenders.' 'I was a defender, and I just really think it's such a valuable position. And finding the right D and having a great core, one through eight even, is what makes championship teams,' she said. Seattle, the PWHL's other expansion franchise, took former Ottawa defender Aneta Tejralova with the second pick Monday. General manager Meghan Turner then added forwards Hannah Bilka (Boston), Jessie Eldridge (New York) and Julia Gosling (Toronto) before claiming defenders Anna Wilgren (Montreal), Megan Carter (Toronto) and Emily Brown (Boston). They join forwards Hilary Knight (Boston), Alex Carpenter (New York), Danielle Serdachny (Ottawa), defender Cayla Barnes (Montreal) and goalie Corinne Schroeder (New York), who all inked deals with Seattle during the exclusive signing period. 'I think it's a great roster that we've built so far with the early signings and then just filling in tonight,' Turner said after Monday's draft. 'We've got the first two lines, I feel like, pretty solid. And then, obviously, defence is so important and wins championships, so not overlooking that at all. We got some good young talent. And then, two solid kind of league veterans for the past couple of seasons to round out the D core there.' Each of the PWHL's six founding teams picked three players to protect during the expansion process. A fourth was added to each list before or during Monday's draft, depending on how many players the club lost in the signing window. Only players under contract for the 2025-26 season — or those whose playing rights are held through that season — were eligible for the draft. Players on expiring contracts, including Toronto Sceptres forward Natalie Spooner, could not be selected, but teams can ink those athletes to new contracts when the free agency period opens Monday. A leaguewide entry draft will be held in Ottawa on June 24. Gardner Morey knows what she'll be looking for as she continues to build out Vancouver's roster. 'I think that we're going to look for a couple more top-six forwards in the free agency period and see who we might, I guess, lure to Vancouver and who wants to be a part of this amazing team,' she said. 'Because I think we have the building blocks in place.' This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025.
Reuters
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Vancouver picks D Ashton Bell to open PWHL expansion draft
June 10 - Ottawa Charge defender Ashton Bell was selected by Vancouver with the first overall pick in the Professional Women's Hockey League expansion draft on Monday. Seattle then had the next two choices and selected Ottawa defender Aneta Tejralova and Boston Fleet forward Hannah Bilka. Bell, 25, had three goals and three assists in 27 games for Ottawa last season, giving her five goals and eight assists through two seasons (51 games) with the Charge. The University of Minnesota-Duluth product was part of Canada's gold-medal-winning 2022 Olympic team and its 2021, 2022 and 2024 championship squads in the IIHF Women's World Championships. Tejralova, 29, produced one goal and nine assists in 30 games last season after posting two goals and six assists in 23 games the prior campaign. She won bronze medals with the Czech Republic team at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships. Bilka, 24, is coming off a five-goal, six-assist rookie campaign in 16 games for the Fleet. The Ohio State alumna was on the United States' winning 2023 World Championships squad. A lottery win allowed Vancouver to either have the first pick or the second and third pick, and Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey went for the former option. Following Seattle's picks at Nos. 2 and 3, the teams alternated making two selections apiece. Vancouver wound up choosing five forwards and two defenders, while Seattle picked four defenders and three forwards. The expansion draft came after both teams had an opportunity to sign up to five players left unprotected by the existing six clubs, and each team reached the limit. Seattle made a big splash by signing former Boston forward Hilary Knight, a four-time U.S. Olympian. Neither the Vancouver team nor the Seattle team has announced a nickname ahead joining the PWSL for the 2025-26 season. Vancouver's PWSL expansion draft picks D Ashton Bell, from Ottawa Charge F Brooke McQuigge, from Minnesota Frost F Abby Boreen, from Montreal Victoire F Izzy Daniel, from Toronto Sceptres F Gabby Rosenthal, New York Sirens F Denisa Krizova, from Minnesota Frost D Sydney Bard, from Boston Fleet Seattle's PWSL expansion draft picks D Aneta Tejralova, from Ottawa Charge F Hannah Bilka, from Boston Fleet F Jessie Eldridge, from New York Sirens F Julia Gosling, from Toronto Sceptres D Anna Wilgren, from Montreal Victoire D Megan Carter, from Toronto Sceptres D Emily Brown, from Boston Fleet Players signed by Vancouver D Claire Thompson, formerly with Minnesota Frost D Sophie Jaques, formerly with Minnesota Frost F Sarah Nurse, formerly with Toronto Sceptres G Emerance Maschmeyer, formerly with Ottawa Charge F Jennifer Gardiner, formerly with Montreal Victoire Players signed by Seattle F Hilary Knight, formerly with Boston Fleet F Danielle Serdachny, formerly with Ottawa Charge D Cayla Barnes, formerly with Montreal Victoire F Alex Carpenter, formerly with New York Sirens G Corinne Schroeder, formerly with New York Sirens --Field Level Media
National Post
21 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
Vancouver takes defender Ashton Bell first overall in PWHL expansion draft
Vancouver's new Professional Women's Hockey League team has selected defender Ashton Bell first overall in the league's first expansion draft. Article content The 25-year-old blue liner from Deloraine, Man., spent the last two seasons playing in Ottawa. Article content Article content Bell contributed three goals and three assists over 27 regular-season games with the Charge last season, and added one more of each over eight playoff appearances. Article content Seattle, the league's second expansion franchise, took former Charge defender Aneta Tejralova with the second pick. Article content Vancouver continued building its roster by picking up forwards Brooke McQuigge (Minnesota Frost), Abby Boreen (Montreal Victoire), Izzy Daniel (Toronto Sceptres), Gabby Rosenthal (New York Sirens) and Denisa Krizova (Minnesota), plus defender Sydney Bard (Boston Fleet). Article content The team also signed five players during an exclusive signing period for the two expansion clubs last week, including defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques (both with Minnesota), forwards Sarah Nurse (Toronto) and Jenn Gardiner (Montreal), and goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer (Ottawa). Article content Each of the PWHL's six founding teams lost four players during the expansion process. Article content Only players under contract for the 2025-26 season — or those whose playing rights are held through that season — were eligible for the draft.
The Province
21 hours ago
- Sport
- The Province
Vancouver takes defender Ashton Bell first overall in PWHL expansion draft
The 25-year-old blue liner from Deloraine, Man., spent the last two seasons playing in Ottawa. Published Jun 09, 2025 • 1 minute read Ottawa Charge's Ashton Bell (left) goes airborne after colliding with Montreal Victoire's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) during first period PWHL playoff hockey action in Ottawa, on Friday, May 16, 2025. Photo by Spencer Colby / The Canadian Press Vancouver's new Professional Women's Hockey League team has selected defender Ashton Bell first overall in the league's first expansion draft. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The 25-year-old blue liner from Deloraine, Man., spent the last two seasons playing in Ottawa. Bell contributed three goals and three assists over 27 regular-season games with the Charge last season, and added one more of each over eight playoff appearances. Seattle, the league's second expansion franchise, took former Charge defender Aneta Tejralova with the second pick. Vancouver continued building its roster by picking up forwards Brooke McQuigge (Minnesota Frost), Abby Boreen (Montreal Victoire), Izzy Daniel (Toronto Sceptres), Gabby Rosenthal (New York Sirens) and Denisa Krizova (Minnesota), plus defender Sydney Bard (Boston Fleet). The team also signed five players during an exclusive signing period for the two expansion clubs last week, including defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques (both with Minnesota), forwards Sarah Nurse (Toronto) and Jenn Gardiner (Montreal), and goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer (Ottawa). Each of the PWHL's six founding teams lost four players during the expansion process. Only players under contract for the 2025-26 season — or those whose playing rights are held through that season — were eligible for the draft. Players on expiring contracts, including Toronto Sceptres forward Natalie Spooner, could not be selected. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025. Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks News Sports News
