PWHL Detroit names Manon Rheaume first general manager

Manon Rheaume, a trailblazer in women’s ice hockey, has been named general manager of Detroit’s new Professional Women’s Hockey League team. Rheaume spent the last four seasons with the Los Angeles Kings in hockey operations and previously worked 11 years with the Little Caesars AAA (LCAAA) Hockey Club. PWHL Detroit, formally introduced on May 6 at Little Caesars Arena , announced Rheaume’s hiring Friday.

“Manon is a pioneer whose impact on the game extends far beyond the ice,” Jayna Hefford, PWHL executive vice president of hockey operations. “She brings an unmatched hockey resume, a championship mindset, and a lifelong commitment to growing the women’s game. Her experience at every level of hockey, combined with her leadership and vision, makes her the perfect person to lead PWHL Detroit into its inaugural season.

” Rheaume is the first woman to sign a professional hockey contract and to play in an NHL game when she played for Tampa Bay as goalie in a preseason exhibition games against the St. Louis Blues in 1992. She represented Canada on two gold-medal-winning teams in IIHF Women’s World Championship and a silver medal at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.

“I’m incredibly honored and excited to join the PWHL and help build something special in Detroit,” Rheaume, who will direct the team’s building starting with the upcoming PWHL Draft on June 17 at the Fox Theatre, said in the release. “This city has such a deep hockey tradition, and the passion for hockey here is truly special. The growth of women’s hockey has been incredible to watch, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the future of the sport alongside the PWHL.