There are a lot of college hockey programs wishing they had believed in Matt Boldy.
Back when Boldy was at Dexter School, several college coaches passed up on offering the Millis, Mass., native an opportunity. There were questions regarding his feet and if his game could translate to the next level.
Fast forward a couple of years and every college coach in the country would do anything to have Boldy joining his program next September. However, there’s only one program lucky enough to have Boldy set to join its roster: Boston College.
“It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to a lot,” said Boldy of becoming an Eagle next September. “It’s always been my dream to go there. Growing up in the area I always went to their games. It was an easy decision when I had the chance to commit there.”
What changed from the 2016-17 season at Dexter to now? Boldy has added muscle and has improved his skating, but his hockey sense has shined through on one of the biggest stages for an amateur hockey player.
Now in his second season with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, Boldy has proven time and time again that he has the ability to produce offensively. Boldy scored 29 goals and added 47 assists in 61 games last year during his U-17 season.
This season is off to a bang. Boldy was named MVP of September’s USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game after finishing with two goals and an assist. He potted the game-tying goal with 1:07 left and assisted on the game-winning goal with 36 seconds to go.
“The All-American Prospects Game was something special. It’s an honor to play in it and it’s something I’ll remember for a while,” said Boldy of the game that was played at the Minnesota Wild’s XCel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
“I don’t really know what to say about it. I had great linemates and they definitely helped me. I happened to get some good luck there,” Boldy said humbly.
That game, as well as the NTDP’s two games in Cranberry Township, Pa., at the USHL Fall Classic, were heavily attended by NHL scouts. With a record number of Americans slated to go in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, playing in front of the watchful eyes of NHL scouts is something Boldy will have to get used to this season.
“It’s something in the back of my head, but I try not to think too much about. I try to focus on the team more than the personal aspect,” said Boldy of the added pressure that comes with being a top NHL draft prospect.
Boldy is now being projected to be a top-10 pick at next June’s draft in Vancouver, British Columbia. The 6-foot-2 left wing is likely to be the second American selected, behind only Jack Hughes, who is expected to go No. 1 overall.
Boldy’s hockey sense is off the charts, but he now has the explosiveness to create time and space and protect pucks.
“I’d describe myself as a skilled, strong forward. I try to make plays and put pucks in the back of the net,” said Boldy when asked to explain his style of play.
Having good hockey sense comes from players studying the game and spending plenty of time around the rink, among other things. Being able to slow the game down and making smart decisions with and without the puck are aspects of having a strong hockey IQ. Always looking to heap praise on his teammates and to deflect attention from himself, Boldy tries to explain what makes his brain work on the ice.
“Playing with good players helps a lot, and having other guys think like how you do. I try to know what I’m going to do with the puck before I get it. It’s something I think about and it helps me,” Boldy said.
A question Boldy will have to answer a lot from scouts and player personnel staff this year is which NHL player he’d compare himself to. While Boldy wasn’t ready to give a firm answer yet, he didn’t hesitate to mention who his favorite player is.
“I look up to and admire Sidney Crosby. He’s the best at everything he does. He’s dominant all over the ice,” Boldy said.
Once a longshot to make the NTDP and play for a major program such as Boston College, Boldy has thrived with the program in Plymouth, Mich. The experience has allowed him to become an even better player than he could have been playing elsewhere.
“It helps you improve as a player,” Boldy explained. “I wouldn’t be the player I am today without all my teammates challenging me. You’re going up against the best guys and get to see what they can do. You get to learn from them. Their skill has improved mine.”
While Boldy and more than a handful of his teammates likely will hear their names called in the first round of the 2019 draft, there are still team goals for the NTDP U-18 players. The team already has knocked off Notre Dame and Michigan in exhibition games and will look to have another successful year in the USHL before competing in the U-18 World Championship in April.
“The USHL won’t be easy for us,” Boldy said. “We have a great team, but we have to put it together and play our best every game.”
