The GM, who was hired by Vancouver after a long stint as the head coach at Princeton University, expressed satisfaction with the team’s early core, highlighting the blend of established leaders like Nurse and Maschmeyer with young, hungry players eager to make their mark.
Bell, the team’s first-ever draft pick, echoed this sentiment, saying on her Instagram, “I’m excited to have been selected by @pwhl__vancouver in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft! I look forward to building something special with our new team and bringing PWHL hockey out West. The growth of women’s hockey, fueled by our fans, sponsors, and communities, is truly remarkable, and we’re only just getting started. Thanks for your support. I’m excited to see all of you next season!”
With enthusiasm like this in a town that has long loved its women’s hockey, Vancouver’s expansion draft haul combined with its exclusive signings give the club a promising mix of skill, character and potential. Gardner-Morey’s confidence in her selections and her clear vision for the team’s identity have set an optimistic tone as the city readies for its first taste of PWHL action.
As the expansion draft closes the first chapter of roster building, the next will begin quickly, with the PWHL Draft and another signing window just around the corner.
Gardner Morey was clear about the next objective for her club. “Next step will be a couple more top-6 forwards,” she said. “We’ll see who wants to be part of this amazing team.”
Assuming Gardner-Morey handles the next stages with the same decisiveness she showed in selecting Bell first overall, the rest of the league should be on notice: Vancouver is coming fast.
