Manon Rheaume will be 1st general manager of Detroit PWHL team
Manon Rheaume is a former goaltender and Olympic silver medalist who was the first woman to try out for an NHL team.
The Detroit PWHL team has star power in its first general manager: None other than Manon Rheaume, who in 1992 made history when she appeared in an NHL exhibition game. The appointment by the league on Friday, May 15 comes a little more than a week after a news conference at Little Caesars Arena heralding the arrival of the PWHL's ninth franchise. “Manon is a pioneer whose impact on the game extends far beyond the ice,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, in a press release.
“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. ” RELATED Why Professional Women's Hockey League picked Detroit for expansion Rheaume, 54, joins the team following four seasons with the Los Angeles Kings in Hockey Operations and an 11-year tenure with the Little Caesars AAA (LCAAA) Hockey Club.
“I’m incredibly honored and excited to join the PWHL and help build something special in Detroit,” Rhéaume 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.
I can’t wait to get started and build a team that Detroit fans will be proud of. ” Rhéaume's duties first and foremost are to build a support staff ahead of the June 17 expansion draft on June 17 at Detroit's Fox Theatre. Rheaume, a silver medalist at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, gained fame in the early 1990s when she became the first woman to try out for an NHL team.