Lindsay Ellis has transformed ASU's women's hockey program into a powerhouse since founding the team in 2016. (Photo by Billy Wueneberger)
TEMPE – After Arizona State University won its first-ever Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League (WWCHL) Conference Championship, Sun Devils coach Lindsay Ellis jokingly threatened her players, saying, “If you splash water on me dressed like this, I'm taking you all off the team.”
The hilarious moment symbolizes the fun, inspiring culture Ellis has created at Arizona State since founding the women's hockey team in 2016. She hopes to do the same with her new team after being named head coach of the U.S. Women's College National Team.
The decision was made last week by the American Collegiate Hockey Association, which selected Ellis to lead the U.S. team that will compete in the 2025 FISU Winter World University Games, to be held Jan. 11-23 at Turin Pala Tazzoli in Turin, Italy. The Turin Winter Games is the largest international multi-sport event for athletes, featuring more than 2,500 players from over 50 countries.
The tournament features eight teams in four divisions, each competing in a round-robin format three times, with the top two teams from each division advancing to the semifinals. The U.S. team has participated in the tournament six times, winning bronze medals in 2012 and 2017.
“I feel incredibly honored to have been selected for this opportunity,” said Ellis, a Peoria native and graduate of Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale.
Prior to beginning his coaching career at Arizona State, Ellis left the Valley to play four seasons of Division I hockey in the ACHA at Miami University (Ohio), serving as an assistant captain during his final two years with the team and leading the Redhawks to two CCWHA Conference Championships and the 2014 ACHA Division I National Championship before graduating in 2015.
Following her playing career, Ellis returned to her home state of Arizona to establish the Division I women's hockey program at ASU. The program has improved significantly since its inception with a 2-15-0 record, only having three losing seasons in program history and becoming one of the top teams in the ACHA.
Lindsay Ellis coaches players during practice at Arizona State University. Under her guidance, the team achieved an impressive record of 92 wins, 67 losses and 5 ties in eight seasons. (Photo by Billy Uneberger)
“This all seems so short, but at the same time it seems so long ago. It's amazing how quickly it's happened,” Ellis said.
Ellis is in her ninth season as coach of the Sun Devils, during which she has compiled an impressive record of 92 wins, 67 losses and 5 ties. Under her direction, the Sun Devils have won two WWCHL championships and appeared in two ACHA Div. I national championships. Ellis has also led the team to multiple top 10 finishes in the ACHA and has been named WWCHL Coach of the Year for the past three seasons.
“It's really incredible to be able to build the Arizona State women's hockey program from the ground up, and I don't think anyone in her position could have had as much success with this program as she has,” Arizona State forward Samantha Murphy said.
During the 2023-24 season, Ellis coached ASU to a historic undefeated season with a perfect 18-0-0 record in WWCHL conference play, the first time such a feat had been achieved by the team. The Sun Devils finished the season with an impressive 22-4-1 record and 1 draw, but were unfortunately eliminated in the ACHA Division I National Championship after losing 3-2 in overtime to the top-ranked Liberty Flames.
As the team continues to improve each season and seeks tougher competition, Ellis and the Sun Devils have decided to leave the WWCHL. As a result, the Arizona State University women's hockey team will compete as an independent program in the ACHA when the 2024-25 season begins in September.
“Coach Ellis is a fiercely competitive and hard-working coach. She has a hunger to win and knows how to get her players to perform at their best. She hires a great staff and creates an environment her players want to be in,” said former Arizona State captain Andy Main.
Coach Ellis has been committed to continually improving his program each season. The Sun Devils further strengthened their roster with the addition of 11 rookies who have committed to join the team in 2024-25. Sydney Paulson's recent selection as WWCHL Offensive Player of the Year is a testament to Coach Ellis' leadership.
“My coaching experience at Arizona State has given me many years of experience to get to this moment,” Ellis said. “Most teams in the ACHA are well funded now, so working from the ground up to make something happen and seeing the success come to fruition has been very rewarding.”
Ellis has coached the maroon and gold since her debut at Arizona State in 2016, but now, for the first time in her coaching career, she will represent the red, white and blue colors of Team USA. Ellis is honored to have the opportunity to coach the U.S. women's team at the World University Games.
“There are many talented coaches in the ACHA and this selection is a testament to the work I've put in over the past decade at ASU,” Ellis said. “I'm excited to represent the ACHA and ASU at the international level.”
