Since founding the team in 2016, Lindsey Ellis has transformed ASU’s women’s hockey program into a powerhouse. (Photo courtesy of Billy Wuneburger)
TEMPE – After Arizona State won its first Western Women’s Collegiate Hockey League (WWCHL) conference championship, Sun Devils coach Lindsey Ellis jokingly threatened her players, saying, “If you dump water on me in this outfit, you’re all cut from the team.”
This lighthearted moment encapsulates the fun, exciting culture Ellis has created at ASU ever since she founded the women’s hockey team in 2016. She will be looking to do the same with her new team after being selected as head coach for the United States Women’s National University Team.
The decision came last week from the American Collegiate Hockey Association, which selected Ellis to lead the U.S. squad that will compete at the 2025 FISU Winter World University Games in Torino, Italy from January 11-23 at Torino Pala Tazzoli. The Torino Winter Games will be the largest international multi-sport event for athletes, featuring more than 2,500 players from over 50 countries.
Eight teams divided into four divisions will play three round-robin matches in the tournament, with the top two teams from each bracket advancing to the semifinals. Team USA has participated in the event six times, earning a bronze medal in 2012 and 2017.
“I was extremely honored to have been chosen for this opportunity,” said Ellis, who is from Peoria and graduated from Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale.
Before beginning her coaching career at ASU, Ellis left the Valley to play four seasons of Division I hockey at Miami University (Ohio) in the ACHA. During her final two years on the team, she served as an assistant captain and helped lead the RedHawks to two CCWHA conference championships and the ACHA Div. I National Championship in 2014, prior to graduating in 2015.
Following her playing career, Ellis returned home to Arizona and founded the Div. I women’s hockey program at ASU. The program has since made significant strides from its initial 2-15-0 record. With only three losing seasons in program history, the team has now become one of the best in the ACHA.
Lindsey Ellis instructs her players during a practice session at ASU. Her coaching has led the team to an impressive 92-67-5 record over eight seasons. (Photo courtesy of Billy Wuneburger)
“It seems like such a short time, but also so long ago that all this happened. It’s crazy to see how far this has come so quickly,” Ellis said.
Ellis is set to enter her ninth season as the Sun Devils coach, during which she has compiled an impressive 92-67-5 record. Under her leadership, the Sun Devils have won two WWCHL Championships and made two appearances at the ACHA Div. I National Championships. Ellis has also guided the team to multiple top-10 rankings in the ACHA and has been named WWCHL Coach of the Year over the past three seasons.
“Being able to build the ASU women’s hockey program from the ground up is so impressive. I don’t think anybody else in her shoes would have been able to be as successful as she is with this program,” said ASU forward Samantha Murphy.
During the 2023-24 season, Ellis coached ASU to a historic undefeated season, going a perfect 18-0-0 in conference play in the WWCHL – a first for the program. The Sun Devils finished the season with an impressive 22-4-1-1-0 record, but fell just short in the ACHA Div. I National Championships, losing 3-2 in overtime to the top-ranked Liberty Flames.
With her team continuing to improve each season and seeking greater competitive challenges, Ellis and the Sun Devils decided to depart the WWCHL. As a result, the ASU women’s hockey team will now compete as an independent program in the ACHA when the 2024-25 season begins in September.
“Coach Ellis is a fierce competitor and a hard working coach. She is hungry to win and knows how to push her players to be their best. She’s recruited an amazing staff and creates an environment that players want to be in,” said Andi Main, ASU’s former captain.
Ellis has been deeply committed to continuously improving her program each season. The Sun Devils have added 11 new prospects who have committed to the team for the 2024-25 season, further bolstering their roster. The recent selection of Sydney Paulsen as the WWCHL Offensive Player of the Year has been a testament to Ellis’ coaching ability.
“Coaching at ASU has provided me with years of experience leading to this moment,” Ellis said. “Most teams in the ACHA are fully-funded now, so putting in the work to make something happen from scratch and seeing success come to fruition has been so rewarding.”
While coaching the maroon and gold since ASU’s debut in 2016, Ellis will now represent the red, white and blue colors of Team USA for the first time in her coaching career. She considers it an honor to have the opportunity to coach the U.S. women’s team at the World University games.
“The ACHA is full of talented coaches and to be picked is a testament to the decade of work I’ve put in here at ASU,” Ellis said. “I’m excited to represent the ACHA and ASU at an international level.”