{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1999)}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | name = Ashton Bell | image = Ashton Bell.jpg | caption = Bell with PWHL Ottawa in 2024 | image_size = | alt = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|12|7}} | birth_place = Deloraine, Manitoba, Canada | death_date = | death_place = | height_cm = 175 | weight_kg = | position = Defence/Forward | shoots = Right | league = PWHL | team = Vancouver Goldeneyes | former_teams = Ottawa Charge | played_for = <!-- Teams a retired player played for --> | sex = f | ntl_team = CAN | career_start = 2017 | career_end = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's ice hockey}} {{MedalCountry|{{CAN}}}} {{MedalOlympic}} {{MedalGold|2022 Beijing|Team}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalGold|2021 Canada|}} {{MedalGold|2022 Denmark|}} {{MedalGold|2024 United States|}} {{MedalCompetition|World U18 Championships}} {{MedalSilver|2016 Canada|}} {{MedalSilver|2017 Czech Republic|}} }} '''Ashton Julia Bell'''<ref>https://umdbulldogs.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster/ashton-bell/6383</ref> (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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brandonsun.com/sports/local/bell-tolls-and-campbell-rolls-for-team-manitoba-293128541.html |title=Bell tolls and Campbell rolls for Team Manitoba |publisher=Brandon Sun |date=2015-02-21 |accessdate=2021-02-02 |archive-date=2021-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111112833/https://www.brandonsun.com/sports/local/bell-tolls-and-campbell-rolls-for-team-manitoba-293128541.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Jaster |first=Chris |url=https://www.brandonsun.com/opinion/columnists/shews-views/krzyzaniak-bell-making-marks-with-national-womens-teams-409429485.html |title=Krzyzaniak, Bell making marks with national women's teams |publisher=Brandon Sun |date=2017-01-03 |accessdate=2021-02-02 |archive-date=2021-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111120319/https://www.brandonsun.com/opinion/columnists/shews-views/krzyzaniak-bell-making-marks-with-national-womens-teams-409429485.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Playing career== ===College=== In 2017, she began attending the University of Minnesota Duluth, playing for the university's women's ice hockey programme.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jaster |first=Chris |url=https://www.brandonsun.com/sports/local/bell-chooses-minnesota-duluth-after-und-dropped-program-421245873.html |title=Bell chooses Minnesota-Duluth after UND dropped program |publisher=Brandon Sun |date=2017-05-04 |accessdate=2021-02-02 |archive-date=2021-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111172001/https://www.brandonsun.com/sports/local/bell-chooses-minnesota-duluth-after-und-dropped-program-421245873.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She had originally committed to the University of North Dakota but was forced to change plans after UND eliminated its women's hockey programme.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bell |first=Jason |url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/amateur/four-manitobans-on-unds-axed-womens-hockey-program-417505973.html |title=Four 'Tobans on axed UND hockey team |publisher=Winnipeg Free Press |date=2017-03-29 |accessdate=2021-02-02 |archive-date=2021-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111112440/https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/amateur/four-manitobans-on-unds-axed-womens-hockey-program-417505973.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twinportssportshub.com/2019/10/11/athlete-of-the-week-ashton-bell/ |title=Athlete of the Week: Ashton Bell |publisher=Twin Ports Sports Hub |date=2019-10-11 |accessdate=2021-02-02 |archive-date=2021-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112080004/https://twinportssportshub.com/2019/10/11/athlete-of-the-week-ashton-bell/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wdio.com/sports/womens-college-hockey-ashton-bell-wins-weekly-wcha-award/5519129/|title=UMD's Ashton Bell Named WCHA Defenseman of the Week|date=October 8, 2019|website=WDIO|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111120048/https://www.wdio.com/sports/womens-college-hockey-ashton-bell-wins-weekly-wcha-award/5519129/|url-status=dead}}</ref> She was then named team captain for the 2020–21 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cbs3duluth.com/2020/05/08/ashton-bell-excited-to-captain-umd-womens-hockey-team/|title=Ashton Bell excited to captain UMD women's hockey team|first=Kelly|last=Hinseth|date=May 9, 2020|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111151836/https://cbs3duluth.com/2020/05/08/ashton-bell-excited-to-captain-umd-womens-hockey-team/|url-status=dead}}</ref> She was named Western Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Month in November 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcha.com/women/articles/2020/12/minnesotas-zumwinkle-and-bench-and-minnesota-duluths-bell-and-van-wieren-earn-wcha-players-of-the-month-honors.php|title=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|website=www.wcha.com|access-date=2021-01-09|archive-date=2021-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921210236/http://www.wcha.com/women/articles/2020/12/minnesotas-zumwinkle-and-bench-and-minnesota-duluths-bell-and-van-wieren-earn-wcha-players-of-the-month-honors.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Professional=== On September 18, 2023, Bell was drafted in the second round, eighth overall, by PWHL Ottawa in the 2023 PWHL Draft.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/ashton-bell-picked-8th-overall-by-ottawa |title=Ashton Bell Picked 8th Overall by Ottawa |publisher=The Hockey News |first=Ian |last=Kennedy |date=September 18, 2023 |access-date=September 18, 2023}}</ref>
On June 9, 2025, Bell was drafted first overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/pwhl-vancouver-takes-defender-ashton-bell-first-overall-in-expansion-draft/ |title=PWHL Vancouver takes defender Ashton Bell first overall in expansion draft |website=sportsnet.ca |date=June 9, 2025 |access-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref> On August 14, 2025, she signed a two-year contract extension with Vancouver through the 2027–28 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thepwhl.com/en/news/2025/august/13/pwhl-vancouver-signs-defender-ashton-bell-to-a-two-year-extension |title=PWHL Vancouver signs defender Ashton Bell to a two-year extension |website=thepwhl.com |date=August 14, 2025 |access-date=August 14, 2025}}</ref> Bell was named the Goldeneyes' first captain on November 21, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepwhl.com/en/teams/vancouver-goldeneyes/news/2025/november/21/vancouver-goldeneyes-announce-ashton-bell-claire-thompson-and-sarah-nurse-as-team-s-first-ever-leadership-core |title=VANCOUVER GOLDENEYES ANNOUNCE ASHTON BELL, CLAIRE THOMPSON, AND SARAH NURSE AS TEAM’S FIRST-EVER LEADERSHIP CORE |website=thepwhl.com |date=November 21, 2025 |access-date=November 21, 2025}}</ref>
== 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.<ref>{{cite web |author=Josh Crabb |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/manitobans-will-go-for-gold-at-u18-worlds/ |title=Manitobans will go for gold at U18 Worlds | CTV News |publisher=Winnipeg.ctvnews.ca |date=2016-01-15 |access-date=2021-02-02 |archive-date=2021-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111134317/https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/manitobans-will-go-for-gold-at-u18-worlds-1.2739022 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2017, she served as the Canadian team captain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dreger |first=Clayton |date=6 January 2017 |title=Ashton Bell to Captain Canada at U18 Women's Worlds |url=https://discoverwestman.com/local-sports/ashton-bell-to-captain-canada-at-u18-women-s-worlds |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111155355/https://discoverwestman.com/local-sports/ashton-bell-to-captain-canada-at-u18-women-s-worlds |archive-date=2021-01-11 |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=DiscoverWestman.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.echopress.com/sports/hockey/6503762-Revering-overcomes-injury-ups-and-downs-to-be-a-captain-at-UMD|title=Revering overcomes injury, ups and downs to be a captain at UMD|first=Eric|last=Morken|date=May 26, 2020|website=Echo Press|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111154955/https://www.echopress.com/sports/hockey/6503762-Revering-overcomes-injury-ups-and-downs-to-be-a-captain-at-UMD|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2021-22-centralization-roster-named|title=CANADA'S NATIONAL WOMEN'S TEAM UNVEILS OLYMPIC CENTRALIZATION ROSTER: 28 players to centralize in Calgary ahead of 2022 Olympic Winter Games|website=hockeycanada.ca|date=May 12, 2021|accessdate=2021-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=22 June 2020 |title=UMD's Bell, Betinol Named to Canadian National Summer Camp Rosters |url=https://www.wdio.com/sports/ashton-bell-kassy-betinol-canadian-national-womens-hockey-developement-team-summer-camps/5768322/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111140529/https://www.wdio.com/sports/ashton-bell-kassy-betinol-canadian-national-womens-hockey-developement-team-summer-camps/5768322/ |archive-date=2021-01-11 |accessdate=2021-02-02 |publisher=www.WDIO.com}}</ref>
On January 11, 2022, Bell was named to Canada's 2022 Olympic team.<ref>{{cite web|last=Awad|first=Brandi|title=Team Canada's women's hockey roster revealed for Beijing 2022|url=https://olympic.ca/2022/01/11/team-canadas-womens-hockey-roster-revealed-for-beijing-2022/|publisher=Canadian Olympic Committee|date=11 January 2022|access-date=11 January 2022|archive-date=22 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122080734/https://olympic.ca/2022/01/11/team-canadas-womens-hockey-roster-revealed-for-beijing-2022/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=11 January 2022|title=Canada's 2022 Olympic women's hockey team roster|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2022/01/11/canadas-2022-olympic-womens-hockey-team-roster.html|work=Canadian Press|location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada|access-date=11 January 2022|archive-date=12 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112023402/https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2022/01/11/canadas-2022-olympic-womens-hockey-team-roster.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/women/olympics/2022/stats/team-rosters?teamid=362|title=2022 Olympic Winter Games (Women)|date=11 January 2022|website=www.hockeycanada.ca/|publisher=Hockey Canada|access-date=11 January 2022|archive-date=15 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115133851/https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/women/olympics/2022/stats/team-rosters?teamid=362|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Personal life == Bell studied biology at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://umdbulldogs.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster/ashton-bell/5323|title=Ashton Bell - Women's Hockey|website=UMD Athletics|access-date=2021-01-09|archive-date=2021-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111131717/https://umdbulldogs.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster/ashton-bell/5323|url-status=live}}</ref> She previously graduated from Deloraine High School in Manitoba, competing in the Manitoba High School Rodeo Association alongside her hockey play.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graves |first=Wendy |date=4 November 2015 |title=Of breakaway … and breakaways |url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2015-ashton-bell-excels-in-ring-and-rink |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230052845/https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2015-ashton-bell-excels-in-ring-and-rink |archive-date=2017-12-30 |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=www.hockeycanada.ca}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Laba |first1=Nick |title=Vancouver's PWHL players skate with youth at North Shore Winter Club |url=https://www.nsnews.com/local-sports/vancouver-pro-women-hockey-players-skate-with-youth-at-north-shore-winter-club-11079268 |website=North Shore News |access-date=August 19, 2025}}</ref>
== Career statistics ==
===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="94" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="94" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" !Season !Team !League !GP !G !A !Pts !PIM !GP !G !A !Pts !PIM |- | 2017–18 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | WCHA | 35 || 11 || 12 || 23 || 6 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018–19 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | WCHA | 35 || 5 || 12 || 17 || 25 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2019–20 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | WCHA | 36 || 11 || 21 || 32 || 10 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2020–21 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | WCHA | 19 || 4 || 10 || 14 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2022–23 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | WCHA | 39 || 12 || 21 || 33 || 10 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2023–24 || PWHL Ottawa || PWHL | 24 || 2 || 5 || 7 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2024–25 || Ottawa Charge || PWHL | 27 || 3 || 3 || 6 || 0 | 8 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2025–26 || Vancouver Goldeneyes || PWHL | 30 || 2 || 4 || 6 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" |PWHL totals ! 81 !! 7 !! 12 !! 19 !! 2 ! 8 !! 1 !! 1 !! 2 !! 0 |}
===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="104" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2016 | Canada | U18 | {{silver2}} | 5 || 3 || 3 || 6 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2017 | Canada | U18 | {{silver2}} | 5 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 |- | 2021 | Canada | WC | {{gold1}} | 7 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2022 | Canada | OG | {{gold1}} | 7 || 1 || 4 || 5 || 0 |- | 2022 | Canada | WC | {{gold1}} | 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2024 | Canada | WC | {{gold1}} | 7 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4"|Junior totals ! 10 !! 5 !! 3 !! 8 !! 0 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4"|Senior Totals ! 28 !! 2 !! 7 !! 9 !! 0 |}
==Awards and honours== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! Ref |- ! colspan="3"|PWHL |- | PWHL All-Rookie Team | 2024 |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/pwhl-hands-out-year-end-awards-spooner-named-mvp |title=PWHL Hands Out Year End Awards, Spooner Named MVP |work=The Hockey News |first=Ian |last=Kennedy |date=June 11, 2024 |access-date=June 11, 2024}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Ice hockey stats|elite=404436}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Ashton}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian women's ice hockey forwards Category:Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs women's ice hockey players Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Ice hockey players at the 2022 Winter Olympics Category:Olympic ice hockey players for Canada Category:Medalists at the 2022 Winter Olympics Category:Olympic gold medalists for Canada Category:Olympic medalists in ice hockey Category:Ottawa Charge players Category:Vancouver Goldeneyes players Category:21st-century Canadian sportswomen Category:People from Deloraine, Manitoba