Vancouver takes Charge defender Bell 1st overall in PWHL expansion draft

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Vancouver’s new Professional Women’s Hockey League team has selected defender Ashton Bell first overall in the league’s first expansion draft.

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).

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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.