Skip to content
Blake Bolden.

About

Blake Bolden

Hockey Trailblazer. Broadcaster. Speaker.

Today she speaks to schools, teams and companies about being first. Book Blake to speak at your event.

Portrait of Blake Bolden smiling, long braids over one shoulder

Blake Bolden has spent her career breaking barriers in hockey, and opening the door for others to follow.

A Cleveland, Ohio native, Blake started in youth hockey with the Cleveland Barons and Ohio Flames before heading to Northwood School in Lake Placid, NY. She won gold with Team USA at the first two U18 Women's World Championships in 2008 and 2009. At Boston College she captained the team in her senior year, reached three Frozen Fours, and earned Hockey East Defensive Player of the Year and All-American honors.

As a pro, Blake won the Clarkson Cup with the Boston Blades (CWHL) in 2015, then the inaugural Isobel Cup with the Boston Pride (NWHL) in 2016. She played in two NWHL All-Star Games, then posted 27 points in 20 games with HC Lugano in Switzerland. Back in the NWHL with the Buffalo Beauts, she won the Hardest Shot title at the 2019 All-Star Skills Competition and was named Defensive Player of the Year. Called the "Jackie Robinson of women's hockey," she was a first-round CWHL draft pick and a trailblazer in the NWHL.

In 2020, Blake joined the Los Angeles Kings as Growth and Inclusion Specialist and Pro Scout, becoming the second woman to scout in the NHL.

Today, Blake is one of the most recognizable voices in the game. Since 2024, she has been a lead analyst on Amazon Prime's Wednesday Night Hockey, and she is also a lead analyst for the PWHL. She is a sought-after public speaker, and her broadcast work includes NHL Network, NBC Sports, Sportsnet and others. Sports Illustrated named her among the most powerful, influential and outstanding women in sports in "The Unrelenting," alongside Serena Williams, Simone Biles and Billie Jean King.

Blake lives in Southern California and uses her platform to share stories, grow the game of hockey, and open doors for disadvantaged youth. Her message is simple: "If you can see it, you can be it."

Blake Bolden in a Boston Pride helmet and cage on the bench
Blake Bolden in a Boston Pride jersey lifting a championship cup over her head
Blake Bolden in a white LA Kings jacket waving at a rink, beside Willie O'Ree and the Kings mascot
With Willie O'Ree, the first Black player in the NHL.
Blake Bolden smiling at a rink in a Celebrating Black History Month hoodie

The career

  1. 2008

    Team USA

    Gold at the first U18 World Championship, then again in 2009.

  2. 2009

    Boston College

    Four seasons, three Frozen Fours, captain as a senior. Hockey East Defensive Player of the Year and All-American.

  3. 2013

    Boston Blades

    Fifth overall in the CWHL draft, the first Black player taken in the first round. Clarkson Cup in 2015.

  4. 2015

    Boston Pride

    First Black player in the NWHL. Won the inaugural Isobel Cup in 2016. Two All-Star games.

  5. 2017

    HC Lugano

    27 points in 20 games in Switzerland.

  6. 2018

    Buffalo Beauts

    Defensive Player of the Year and the hardest shot title at the 2019 All-Star skills.

  7. 2020

    LA Kings

    Pro scout and growth and inclusion specialist. The second woman to scout in the NHL.

  8. 2021

    ESPN

    Analyst and host of Breaking the Ice. Work for NHL Network, NBC Sports and Sportsnet.

  9. 2024

    Amazon Prime

    Lead analyst on Wednesday Night Hockey. Also a lead analyst for the PWHL.

Recognition

  • Sports Illustrated, most powerful women in sports
  • Top 40 Under 40 in hockey
  • Sportsnet, 25 most powerful women in hockey
  • Four-time All-Star
  • Two-time hardest shot champion

Bring Blake to your event

Tell us the date, the place and who will be in the room. Blake and her team read every inquiry.