Welcome back to At Even Strength!
In this episode, host Erica Ayala sits down with trailblazer Blake Bolden for a deep dive into Olympic hockey—covering both the men’s and women’s tournaments, roster breakdowns, and the evolving storylines ahead of Milano Cortina.
They celebrate bold milestones in the sport, including Laila Edwards becoming the first Black woman to represent USA Hockey at the Olympics, and explore how representation is shifting on and off the ice.
Beyond the international stage, Blake Bolden shares insights from her own journey: from her powerful slap shot and time in the pro game to her work as a broadcaster and mentor. The conversation touches on growing up in Cleveland, leadership in women's hockey, and the importance of building community. Wild Olympic predictions, broadcast stories, and even a few content ideas for the PWHL—all on tap in this empowering, candid episode.
If you love hockey, care about breaking barriers, or just want to hear stories that inspire, you won’t want to miss this interview. Let’s get to it!
00:00 Blake Bolden Interview Highlights
05:33 Quinn Hughes: Exciting Transition Highlights
06:30 Hellebuyck, Confidence, and Team Dynamics
10:27 How I Got Into Hockey
13:57 Hockey Connections and Insights
17:38 Olympics Impact on College Teams
21:53 Laila Edwards Makes Hockey History
25:36 Giving Back Through Sports
26:47 Blake Bolden's Inspiring Impact
30:58 Layla's Complete Hockey Package
34:59 Resilience Over Regret in Hockey
39:22 US Women's Team Favored
42:17 Broadcasting, PWHL, and Personal Growth
43:53 Evolving Communication and Analysis Skills
49:12 Scouting: Intangibles and Consistency
52:48 Obsessive Curiosity Explained
56:23 Black Women's Hockey Conversations
57:20 Hockey Chatter and Memories
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Erica L Ayala
🦋https://bsky.app/profile/elindsay08.bsky.social
#podcast #womenshockey #pwhl
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