Speaking with LA Kings’ Trailblazing Scout Blake Bolden: Part 1

(Photo credit: Keith Bedford/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

“We should all know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.” -Maya Angelou

In recent years, diversity and inclusion have become an increasingly integral part of the workplace lexicon and philosophy and the National Hockey League has been no exception to this.

This past March, the Los Angeles Kings hired Blake Bolden as the NHL’s first Black female pro scout, nearly five years after the Euclid, OH, native became the first Black player to play in the National Women’s Hockey League.

At a critical juncture in the team’s rebuild, Bolden joins a Kings organization on the precipice of rediscovering their Stanley Cup pedigree. We may not see the silver-and-black competing for hockey’s Holiest prize just yet but with an exceptional scouting staff in tow, you can bet that the Kings have more bright days ahead of them. Adding Bolden to the mix only emphasizes this further.

For this two-part series, I had the privilege of speaking with Ms. Bolden who shared how she first fell in love with hockey, the challenges early on and what influenced her to play collegiately at Boston College.

“My first interaction was watching the [International Hockey League’s] Cleveland Lumberjacks and I loved the game right from the start,” Bolden reflected. “When I began to commit to becoming more skilled in the sport, I was extremely nervous to try out and play for a boys AAA team.”

Even as a girl in the mid- to late-90’s, Bolden’s options were limited when it came to who she could play hockey with. So, the youngster played alongside boys.

“I had no choice,” Bolden continued. Her finite amount of options, though, did not deter the youngster, who had the loving support of her parents. Bolden’s mother, however, did need some time to adjust.

“My mother was shocked the day I came home with a bag full of hockey equipment,” remembered Bolden. “It was a large commitment and through time, she began to see how dedicated I was and became my biggest supporter as mothers tend to be. My dad, who got me into the sport, was so elated and excited.

“My folks around were quite confused because it came out of the blue. They, too, saw how dedicated and different me playing the game was and encouraged me further, traveling far and wide to see me play, supporting my dreams. It was a beautiful thing.”

As happy as he was to play the game she loved, though, Bolden was forced to deal with her share of abuse not only for being a girl but for being Black. Unlike her choices on where to play hockey, though, the future Boston College standout did have a choice on how to respond to said abuse.

“Words were not going to deter me,” a matter-of-fact Bolden said. “I would occasionally get bullied for being a girl or get racial slurs from opposing teams.”

While few may have blamed her if she wanted to quit, Bolden had never considered it as an option.

“I chose to play,” the former defender stressed. “I think as a female elite athlete, you receive abuse. Because of the way you look or act, maybe you’re too manly or masculine in the eyes of society. As a female hockey player especially, with many of my teammates, we got through this abuse trying to play a sport that’s a little more rough around the edges.”

Whether she was aware of it or not, Bolden’s hockey talents began to pale in comparison to her unwavering character.

“I’ve never taken these things to heart,” the 29-year-old said. “I knew these things were coming from a place of fear. At least that’s what my mother told me. When I got older, I understood it, and I left it at that.”

The obstacles she overcame early on paid dividends in the long run for Bolden.

En route to her professional career, Bolden would relocate to Chestnut Hill, MA, for her collegiate career, enrolling at Boston College.

Bolden’s interest in playing at Boston College, however, had emanated a few years prior to the start of her collegiate career for a couple of reasons. While attending USA Hockey’s Summer Select Camp, the future pro’s interest in Boston College was piqued by a product of the school’s women’s hockey program.

“As a teenager, I remember a guest speaker by the name of Katie King,” Bolden said. “One of the greatest scorers for Team USA and Nagano gold-medal winner. I was obsessed with her story. She was a huge part of the reason why I wanted to go to B.C. She had just been announced as their head coach with another Olympian and role model of mine, Courtney Kennedy. Hearing their stories and learning from them over the years truly impacted me. They were original trailblazers. I just wanted to be a part of it all.”

But, that wasn’t all that influenced the aspiring star’s decision.

“I saw B.C. play when I was 14 in Lake Placid when I was going to boarding school at Northwood,” Bolden continued. “I was hooked to them because they went to something like three or four overtimes against the powerhouse Minnesota-Duluth. They lost but that lit a spark.”

As far as the Euclid native was concerned, the end result was a moot point as Bolden had already secured her desire in becoming a future Golden Eagle.

“From that day on, I wanted to go to a program that I could help build and shape,” recalled Bolden. “That’s always been my mindset: leaving a footprint, being uncomfortable and learning from experiences.”

In her first year (2009-10), Bolden would score four goals and nine assists for 13 points, leading all Hockey East freshmen blueliners. Bolden followed that up by being named to the Hockey East All-Tournament team in her sophomore year, being nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Award (for the top female college hockey player in the United States) in her junior year and being named team captain for her senior campaign.

“While at B.C., my goal was to be the best and win B.C. a National Championship for the first time,” Bolden added. “That didn’t happen but we won Beanpots and Hockey East titles with three Frozen Four appearances.”

While she may have wanted to add a National Championship to her trophy case, Bolden was nonetheless thrilled, vindicated even, that she helped turn Boston College’s women’s hockey into one of the top programs in the United States.

“That year I left (2013), B.C. was one of the most sought after programs to attend,” a proud Bolden beamed. “And that’s what I call leaving a mark.”

Sadly, during her transition from the collegiate to professional ranks, the city Bolden had called home for four years was struck with tragedy.

“When the Boston Marathon bombing happened, it was shocking,” a somber Bolden remembered. “To me, I’d never experienced anything so news-breaking and terrible so close to me. The marathon runs right past B.C. I remember a few of my friends thinking we maybe even wanted to check out the finish line to get close to the action. I’m glad we did not.”

As horrible as the events were, though, the resilience of her city heavily resonated with Bolden. For the future NWHLer, the aftermath of the Marathon bombing served as a stark reminder that even the most difficult of times will be followed by resurgence and, ultimately, victory.

“If you’ve ever spent time in Boston, you’d know that the town is alive,” Bolden stated. “The city was united for sure. Boston Strong was everywhere and still, to this day, somewhat like 9/11 on a smaller scale in Boston. The city went through something tragic together and became closer.”

With an unwavering determination to succeed, Blake Bolden drove herself to play the game she loved no matter what obstacles stood in her way. Pushing her way through the taunts of abuse she received for being a girl or being Black, the Euclid, OH, native’s level of motivation was simply too high up to let some negativity deter her.

As impressive as her career at Boston College was, though, Bolden’s road to success was just beginning.

Stay tuned for more.

 

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