Blake Bolden

Blake Bolden
Born	(1991-03-10) March 10, 1991 Euclid, OH, USA
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight	155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Right
Hockey East CWHL NWHL team	Boston College Eagles Boston Blades Boston Pride
National team	United States
Playing career	2008–present
Medal record Women's ice hockey Representing  United States IIHF World Women's U18 Championships 2008 Canada Team

Blake Bolden (born March 10, 1991 in Euclid, Ohio) is an American-born women's ice hockey player. On October 11, she became the first African-American player to compete in the NWHL. In 2015, she was a member of the Boston Blades roster that captured the 2015 Clarkson Cup.

Playing career

She was a teammate of future NCAA player Kelley Steadman at Northwood High School.

NCAA

In 2009-10, Bolden led all Hockey East freshmen defenders in scoring with four goals and nine assists for 13 points. In a 3-3 tie versus Vermont on November 20, 2009, she had a goal and an assist. Her first collegiate point was a goal in a 1-1 tie versus Clarkson on October 3, 2009. Her first assist was also earned in a tie. This time, it was a 1-1 draw with the Quinnipiac Bobcats on October 16, 2009.

On October 24, 2010, in a 5-2 victory over Brown, Bolden was one of three BC players who scored their first goals of the season. In addition to the goal, Blake Bolden tallied two assists in the win against Brown.[2] It was a career high for most points in one game in her BC career. On December 9, 2010, she was invited to try out for the United States National Women's ice hockey team.

In her first three seasons at BC, Bolden has appeared in 102 contests. Her 21 points during the 2011-12 campaign ranked second among defenders during Hockey East conference play. Statistically, she has amassed 20 goals and 33 assists. She was part of the USA Hockey Evaluation Camp for the 2012 IIHF World Championship, and was a 2012 nominee for the Patty Kazmaier Award. On August 21, 2012, Blake Bolden was appointed team captain for the 2012–13 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season.

CWHL

Selected in the first round, fifth overall by the Boston Blades in the 2013 CWHL Draft, Bolden would become the first African-American player taken in the first round in the CWHL Draft's history. Bolden competed in the 1st Canadian Women's Hockey League All-Star Game, held on December 13, 2014 at Toronto's Air Canada Centre. Of note, she would be the first player of African-American heritage to compete in the CWHL's All-Star Game. In March 2015, Bolden would help the Boston Blades win the Clarkson Cup.

NWHL

On October 11, 2015, Bolden competed with the Boston Pride becoming the first African-American player to compete in the NWHL. On December 31, 2015, Bolden and the Boston Pride participated in an outdoor women’s ice hockey game against the CWHL’s Canadiennes de Montreal. Known as the 2016 Outdoor Women's Classic it was the first-ever professional women’s ice hockey outdoor game.^[1] Bolden would score Boston's first and only goal of the game. ^[2]

Awards and honors

• 2011 Hockey East All-Tournament team^[3]
• 2015 CWHL All-Star Game

References