Black Women in Hockey
“If you can see it, you can be it.”
These athletes are Hockey Hall of Famers, Olympic Gold Medalists & Record Holders, World Champions, PWHL Walter Cup Champions, NCAA National Champions & League MVPs
PWHL PLAYERS
Sophie Jaques (Defense, Minnesota Frost)
Jaques is a recent addition to Black Girl Hockey Club’s Board and is committed to working with communities and community partners to remove barriers to the game, bring about positive change and build inclusive spaces. As a black (biracial) athlete in a predominantly white sport, she works to inspire and mentor young athletes, motivating them to envision themselves in her position.
2x Walter Cup champion (Minnesota Frost- 2024 & 2025)
2025 PWHL Defender of the Year finalist
2025 Women’s World Championship silver medalist (Canada)
Played her first IIHF Women’s World Championship game with Canada on April 11, 2025, in a 4-0 victory over Switzerland
Selected by PWHL Boston 10th overall (2nd round) in the inaugural PWHL Draft (2023)
2023 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Winner (NCAA’s top women’s hockey player): The first Black winner of the Award
2022 NCAA National Champion (Ohio State University)
Named both the 2022 WCHA Defender of the Year and Outstanding Student Athlete
In 2022, Jaques was named Ohio State’s first Arthur Ashe Jr. Sport Scholar of the Year for excellence in academics, athletics and service
Learn more about Sophie Jaques
Sarah Nurse (Forward, Toronto Sceptres)
From setting records at the Olympics to becoming the first female player ever on the cover of EA Sports’ NHL video game to helping build a sustainable women’s league, Nurse is well on her way to becoming as influential outside the world of sports as she is on game day.
On the Olympic stage with Team Canada, Nurse has won a gold medal (2022) and a silver medal (2018)
At the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, she was named Best Forward and set the record for most points (18) and assists (13) in a single tournament.
Over five appearances at the World Championship representing Canada, Nurse has three gold medals (2021, 2022, 2024), two silvers (2023, 2025) and a bronze (2019).
Played for the Wisconsin University Badgers (NCAA) from 2013-2017, recording 137 points in 150 career games, helping the team reach the Frozen Four in all four seasons
Learn more about Sarah Nurse
Mikyla Grant-Mentis (Forward, Montréal Victoire)
Mikyla Grant-Mentis is a forward for the Montreal Victoire of the Professional Women's Hockey League, once signed the richest contract in Premier Hockey League (PHF) history, won a PHF league MVP, and is the all-time leading scorer of the Merrimack Warriors women's ice hockey team.
In June 2024, PWHL Montreal re-signed forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis to a one-year contract
Began her PWHL career with Ottawa after joining the team as a training camp invite and went on to record three assists in six games. Was released by Ottawa and signed by Montreal, scoring two goals in seven games and adding an assist in three playoff games
On May 9, 2022, Grant-Mentis signed a 1 year, $80,000 contract with the Buffalo Beauts. This deal made her to highest-paid player in PHF history.
In 2020-21 with the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey League (PHF), Mentis was awarded league MVP, Newcomer of the Year, Foundation Award for community impact, and the Fans’ Three Stars Award
Played NCAA hockey with Merrimack College from 2016-20, and is the team’s all-time leading scorer with 117 career points (56 goals, 61 assists) in 137 games
Learn more about Mikyla Grant-Mentis
The Next Wave
National team players yet to reach the professional ranks
Laila Edwards (Forward/Defense, USA)
Forbes 2025 North America 30 Athletes under 30 Selection
Played for the U.S. at two IIHF Women's World Championships (gold- 2025; silver- 2024) and was named Tournament MVP in 2024 after scoring 6 goals and 2 assists in 7 games.
Two-time NCAA National Champion with the University of Wisconsin Badgers (2023 & 2025)
In November 2023, Edwards became the first Black player to skate for the U.S. women’s national team when she suited up for the American team during their Rivalry Series vs. Hockey Canada
Top-3 finalist for the 2025 Patty Kazmaier Award (NCAA’s top female collegiate player)
Represented Team USA at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship (Silver) as alternate captain and was named Tournament MVP and IIHF Best Forward
Learn more about Laila Edwards
Chyna Taylor (Defense, USA - Under 18 Team)
Attends Lovell Academy in Louisville, Kentucky
Represented Team USA at the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship (Silver)
Participated in the 2024 Under-18 Series vs. Canada with Team USA
Learn more about Chyna Taylor
Noa Diop (Defense, France - Under 18 Team)
Plays for the Windy City Storm 19U AAA team in Chicago, Illinois
Represented Team France at the IIHF Division 1A Under-18 Women's World Championships in 2024 (3rd place) and 2025 (5th place)
Learn more about Noa Diop
The Trailblazers
These Black women in hockey paved the way for today’s stars.
Doxie McCoy (Goaltender)
Doxie McCoy was a founding member of Boston College’s women’s hockey team in 1973 and is widely believed to be the college’s first Black female athlete. McCoy, who had never played hockey before and was recruited from Boston College’s field hockey team, became a goalie for a women’s club ice hockey team that was formed by students a year after Title IX.
Learn more about Doxie McCoy
Angela James (Forward/Defense)
Angela James is the first and only Black woman to captain Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team. Described as “the first superstar of modern women’s hockey,” she is the former co-owner and general manager of the Premier Hockey League's Toronto Six (2022-23 Isobel Cup Champions), a recipient of the Order of Canada, and proud mother of three children.
One of the first two women inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (2010, with Cammi Granato)
Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2008
4x World Champion (1990, 1992, 1994, 1997)
2x World Championship All-Star Team (1990, 1992)
2x Central Ontario Women’s Hockey League scoring champ (1993-94, 1995-96)
NWHL goal-scoring leader, 36 goals (1998-99)
Learn more about Angela James
Blake Bolden (Forward)
Blake currently resides in Southern California. In 2020, she joined the Los Angeles Kings as their Growth and Inclusion Specialist and Pro Scout, and became the second woman to ever scout in the NHL behind Cammi Granato. Blake is also a broadcaster for ESPN and Amazon Prime Video's NHL coverage. She has taken her passion for diversifying the game of hockey using her platform to shed light, share stories, and inspire the next generation.
NWHL Defensive Player of the Year (2019)
Inaugural Isobel Cup Champion (Boston Pride (NWHL), 2015-16)
Clarkson Cup Champion (Boston Blades (CWHL), 2014-15)
Became the first Black woman to play professional hockey (Boston Blades (CWHL), 2013-14 season)
Selected 5th overall (1st round) by the Boston Blades in the 2013 Canadian Women’s Hockey League Draft
2x Under-18 Women’s World Champion with USA Hockey (2007-08, 2008-09)
3x NWHL All-Star Hardest Slapshot (87mph)
Learn more about Blake Bolden
Saroya Tinker (Defense)
Saroya Tinker is one of the faces of diversity and inclusion in hockey - she is continuously pushing the boundaries of the sport and improving it for the next generation of players.
Saroya is the co-founder and executive director of Black Girl Hockey Club Canada and runs Saroya Strong, a mentorship program for young Black women in sports. In December 2023, Saroya was hired as the Professional Women's Hockey League’s Manager of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Community Initiatives. Saroya is also the host, writer, and executive producer of Breaking Down Barriers, a docuseries showcasing stories of diversity in hockey, which premiered on The Sports Network (TSN) in Canada in fall 2023.
2022-23 Isobel Cup champion (Toronto Six)
2022-23 PHF All-Star (Toronto Six)
Drafted 4th overall (1st round) by the Metropolitan Riveters (PHF) in 2020 before joining the Toronto Six in 2021
Tinker was a Yale University Women’s Hockey Team member (2016-20) before graduating with a degree in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health
Under-18 World Championship silver medalist with Hockey Canada (2016)
Learn more about Saroya Tinker
Kelsey Koelzer (Defense)
Kelsey Koelzer became the first Black woman to be named head coach of an NCAA hockey program when she accepted the offer to build an NCAA Division III women's hockey program from scratch at Arcadia University on Sept. 9, 2019. Koelzer guided the Arcadia to the 2024 Middle Atlantic Conference championship in the program's 3rd season. She also serves on the NHL/NHLPA Female Hockey Advisory Committee, a group formed to accelerate the growth of female hockey in North America and ensure that girls experience all the opportunities and benefits that the sport provides.
2017-18 Isobel Cup champion (Metropolitan Riveters)
2017-18 NHWL All-Star Game Co-MVP
Chosen 1st overall by the Metropolitan Riveters in the 2016 NWHL Draft
Captain of the Princeton University Women’s Hockey Team for the 2016-17 season
2x Finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award for NCAA’s top female collegiate hockey player (2015-16 & 2016-17)
2015-16 Ivy League Player of the Year (Princeton University)
2015-16 NCAA First Team All-American (Princeton University)
'Rising star' Koelzer excelling as 1st Black woman coach of NCAA team (NHL.com - Feb. 10, 2025)
Skating her own path: Koelzer building her program from scratch (NCAA - Sept. 14, 2022)
NHL, NHLPA establish Female Hockey Advisory Committee (NHL - Mar. 8, 2019)
Two Black Women Embrace Their Chance to Be Hockey Role Models (The New York Times - Nov. 25, 2016)