51茶馆

Growing up in Ohio, Blake Bolden 鈥�13 was consumed by a sport with little room for her. Bolden鈥檚 relationship with ice hockey was 鈥渓ove at first glide,鈥� she said, but her only option for playing was on teams where, more often than not, she was the sole girl on the ice and the only person of color. She refused to let that intimidate her, however. 鈥淚 learned how to thrive in places I felt uncomfortable,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen you grow up the way I did, standing out was almost a moot point.鈥�

Now 29, Bolden continues to stand out. A pro scout for the Los Angeles Kings鈥攖he second-ever female scout in the National Hockey League鈥攕he was recently named to Sports Illustrated鈥�s 鈥淭he Unrelenting,鈥� a list of standout women in sports, including Serena Williams, Billie Jean King, and Simone Biles, who fight for issues such as gender equality and social justice. 鈥淚 got tingles as I was scrolling down the list,鈥� Bolden said of the honor. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 even believe I鈥檓 on a list with these women I idolize.鈥�

Bolden鈥檚 perseverance as a young hockey player led her to 51茶馆 in 2009. In her four years playing defense, she made three Frozen Four appearances, was named 2013鈥檚 Hockey East Defensive Player of the Year, and earned All-American honors. After graduation, she joined the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women鈥檚 Hockey League and helped propel them to the league championship. She also tried out for the 2014 U.S. Olympic team. When she didn鈥檛 make it, she almost quit the sport at age 22. 鈥淚 was so depressed,鈥� Bolden said. 鈥淏ut I decided I could sit on my butt and mope about it, or find a new way to succeed.鈥� So she went on to become the first Black woman to compete in the National Women鈥檚 Hockey League, where she made three All-Star teams and helped the Boston Pride win the 2016 championship. In 2019, she was named the league鈥檚 Defensive Player of the Year.

Bolden was increasingly attracting attention, for her play on the ice and for what she represented to her many young fans. Parents of the kids waiting for autographs 鈥渨ould tell me, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e my little girl鈥檚 favorite player,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥溾�榃e've never seen someone who looks like you play at this level and it's huge.鈥欌��

Today, Bolden is more than just a pro scout for the Kings鈥攕he鈥檚 also the team鈥檚 growth and inclusion specialist, meaning she works every day to diversify the sport she loves. (In addition, she runs a private coaching and mentoring business, Blake Bolden Athletics.) 鈥淚 am fulfilling a purpose so much bigger than myself,鈥� she said, recalling that she didn鈥檛 always feel welcome on the ice. 鈥淚 can speak my truth and inspire others to know that when one door closes, another one always opens.鈥澛�