Born in Zrenjanin, Yugoslavia (now Serbia), Boldirev\'s family emigrated to Canada when he was two. Growing up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, he was known as a shy child. Boldirev felt that his shyness "probably goes back to when I first came over to Canada and didn\'t speak any English. My-first grade teacher sent a note home telling my parents that we should speak English at home, but they didn\'t speak it so they couldn\'t even read the note!".\n', '

Boldirev started playing junior hockey as kid, initially joining his hometown Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League before moving to the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey Association in 1967-68.\n', '

He was the first choice (11th overall) of the Boston Bruins in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft after two stellar seasons with the Generals.\n', '

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