The Youngstown Phantoms are pleased to announce that Blake Bolden will be attending the USHL Cleveland Classic – Presented by Winmark - the Resale Company® – and will drop a ceremonial faceoff prior to the game.

"Blake Bolden dropping the puck at the Cleveland Classic in her hometown is something we are very excited about," said Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward. "Blake is a trailblazer for women in the sport of hockey and has been an unbelievable role model for countless young hockey players. We would like to thank Blake for being a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Bolden, a native of Cleveland, played youth hockey for both the Cleveland Barons and the Ohio Flames. She was a member of Team USA and won Gold at both the 2008 and 2009 U18 World Championships. After graduating from the Northwood School in Lake Placid, NY, she attended Boston College. During her career with the Eagles, Boston College made three Frozen Four appearances. She was the team captain her senior year, the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Year, and was named an All-American.

After her collegiate career, Bolden played professionally in the CWHL, becoming the first Black player drafted in the league. Bolden helped the Boston Blades win the Clarkson Cup in 2015 before she moved on to the NWHL (now the PHF), becoming the first Black player in that league while helping the Boston Pride win the inaugural Isobel Cup. After spending the 2018 season in Switzerland, she returned to the NWHL and was named the Defensive Player of the year in 2019. Her playing career done, Bolden moved to Southern California in 2020 and joined the Los Angeles Kings as a Pro Scout, the second-ever woman in the NHL after Cami Granato, as well as their Growth and Inclusion Specialist. Bolden is also an NHL reporter on ESPN.

"Blake Bolden has been our partner with Play It Again Sports and the 'emBolden her' mentorship program," said Sarah Broadwater, Director of Marketing at Winmark. "When we formed our new sponsorship with the Youngstown Phantoms and the Cleveland Classic, it was a great opportunity to put these partners together and showcase our ongoing commitment to providing local, sustainable resources for communities, youth development, and growing the game of hockey."

"I am so happy to return home to celebrate the growth of hockey in Northeast Ohio. Play It Again Sports has been instrumental to my development as a player, providing a resource that was affordable to my family from my very first strides to now.," said Bolden. "As I transition out of playing, our interests are still aligned in supporting the community with our 'emBolden her' Mentorship Initiative. It's always been about providing opportunity and resources, which is what makes this partnership so memorable."

To celebrate everything Bolden means to hockey in Northeastern Ohio, the Phantoms are pleased to welcome her back to Cleveland to participate in this special event. During both intermissions, the Cleveland Barons U10 girls and U8 coed teams will hold scrimmages on the ice at FirstEnergy Stadium. Bolden will also be available for a meet and greet in the Draft Room of FirstEnergy Stadium prior to the game. All game tickets provide access to the Draft Room, located just behind the seating area on the 100 level of FirstEnergy Stadium. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Phantoms box office at 330-747-7825 or by visiting YoungstownPhantoms.com and clicking on the link for the 2023 Cleveland Classic.

Source:  Youngstown Phantoms