Bolden gets her shot
BC alum, ex-Pride player scouting for LA Kings
Playing professional hockey already requires a lot of time.
Blake Bolden does that; she just scouts pro hockey as well.
The Boston College alum and former Boston Pride blue-liner is making history with the Kings as one of the only women with a scouting role in the NHL. She was hired in early January, has participated in Kings’ recent pro scouting meetings and has been attending games and filing reports and player evaluations as a regional scout focusing mostly on the AHL and the San Diego Gulls, in the city in which she lives.
“I had no idea I could potentially be in scouting because I’ve never seen women do it before,” said Bolden. “It was out of my radar until it was brought to me. I’m in a position where I can help, especially living in San Diego. It was a good fit.”
Bolden will eventually work into other roles including youth and grassroots efforts with the Kings as well, but has already attended 15 to 20 games since joining the Kings.
She’s also had to balance that with her responsibilities coaching girls hockey and playing in events with the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association.
“I have to be scheduling my work as a coach and playing in the PWHPA, too,” she said. “Making sure games I get to are in my schedule. I’ve mostly seen games in the AHL and the Pacific region, taking a look at prospects we’re interested in to try to find the right pieces to the puzzle for the Kings.”
Bolden spent time with the Pride and playing for the Buffalo Beauts in the NWHL before spending a season overseas, and is now in the PWHPA, so she’s seen plenty of hockey.
Scouting and evaluating the men’s game has its differences, but no one should question how well she knows the game.
“It’s 100% different than spectating as a fan,” she said. “You’re focused on one team because it’s hard to flip back and forth. It’s interesting when you’re focusing on one person. … Playing for so long I understand the game well, but it’s different with men’s because it’s more physical than what I’ve played. But there are some coaches out there who never played, too.”
The role is still so new, but so far Bolden has embraced the opportunity, and it seems like the Kings have as well.
“Starting anything new is intimidating but the Kings have been so gracious,” she said. “It’s been really easy to dive in, I’m really comfortable there. I want to be that person for others to look at and think, ‘Hey, I can do that, too.’”
Final games for Pride
The Pride have their eyes on the postseason but have two games this weekend on the road first.
Boston heads to Connecticut for a Saturday matinee before a late afternoon contest at the Riveters on Sunday. Alyssa Wohlfeiler is projected to be in the lineup, so the Pride should have their full roster.
Meanwhile, Kaleigh Fratkin is one point shy of becoming the first defender in Pride history to amass 20 points in a season, and Jillian Dempsey is riding a 10-game point streak.