Defender Ashton Bell has been appointed as the captain of the Vancouver Goldeneyes team in the PWHL, marking her as the first player to don the captain’s C on her jersey. The announcement of the team’s leadership group was made just before the start of the Goldeneyes’ inaugural season, with assistance from NSL champion and Vancouver Rise FC captain Shannon Woeller.
Hailing from Deloraine, Manitoba, the 25-year-old Bell played a significant role in the Ottawa Charge’s journey to the Walter Cup final last season alongside veteran defender Jocelyne Larocque. With an Olympic gold medal and three-time world champion titles under her belt, Bell was the top pick for Vancouver in the expansion draft and has signed on for two seasons with the Goldeneyes.
Vancouver GM Cara Gardner Morey highlighted Bell’s strong leadership qualities as a key factor in her selection as the team’s top pick. Bell will be supported by alternate captains Claire Thompson and Sarah Nurse, both of whom were also signed during the expansion draft period. Thompson, a 27-year-old from Toronto, returned to professional hockey after a break for medical school and was a key player in the Minnesota Frost’s Walter Cup victory in her debut PWHL season.
Nurse, a 30-year-old from Hamilton, previously played for the Toronto Sceptres and holds the fifth spot in career points per game in the PWHL. She was instrumental in the league’s formation and played a crucial role in negotiating the collective bargaining agreement with the owners.
The Goldeneyes’ first game against the Seattle Torrent is set for Friday night, with a sold-out crowd expected to witness the historic event at the team’s home rink. The leadership trio of Bell, Thompson, and Nurse symbolizes the essence of Goldeneyes hockey, with Gardner Morey expressing excitement about their role in leading the team in its inaugural season.
