Blake Bolden to play for Buffalo Beauts

Bolden is back in the NWHL

Blake Bolden is returning to the NWHL with the Buffalo Beauts! After spending a year playing pro hockey in Switzerland with HC Lugano, the two-time NWHL All-Star is bringing her talents back to the States.

Bolden, 27, is no stranger to professional hockey. Before playing in Switzerland, the Boston College alumna spent two seasons with the Boston Pride in the NWHL and one season in the CWHL with the Boston Blades. She’s won both a Clarkson Cup and an Isobel Cup and is coming off of a 27-point season in 20 games with HC Lugano. Clearly, the Beauts are getting a talented and experienced defender in Bolden.

Bolden is the seventh defender to sign with the Beauts for the upcoming 2018-19 season. She joins a blue line that also features Sarah Casorso, Lisa Chesson, Sarah Edney, Jacquie Greco, Jordyn Burns, and rookie Savannah Harmon. We should expect Bolden to play a big role in Buffalo’s offense, particularly on the power play. She had 16 goals for HC Lugano in 20 games last season.

Bolden is also the 20th player to agree to terms with the team, which means that Buffalo has just five roster spots remaining. So, there’s still enough room for the Beauts to add a few more big names. One player that every Buffalo fan has their fingers crossed for is former Beauts captain Emily Pfalzer, who is still a free agent after winning gold with Team USA at Pyeongchang. But even if Pfalzer doesn’t return to her hometown Beauts, Buffalo’s blue line already looks deep and dangerous.