Manon Rheaume Named First GM of PWHL’s Detroit Expansion Team

Manon Rheaume is taking her groundbreaking women’s hockey career to new heights as she has been appointed the general manager of the PWHL’s expansion team in Detroit, a move announced by the league on Friday. The Canadian Olympian goaltender, who made history as the first woman to play in an exhibition game across any of North America’s four major sports, brings a wealth of experience to her new role.

For the past four years, Rheaume has been involved with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings in their hockey operations department. Now, at 54 years old, her hiring is not just a professional milestone but also a personal homecoming. Rheaume previously spent 11 years in a developmental position with the Detroit-based Little Caesars youth hockey girls’ program, making her connection to the city profound.

“She brings an unmatched resume, a championship mindset and a lifelong commitment to growing the women’s game,” said Jayna Hefford, the PWHL executive vice president of hockey operations, who oversaw the hiring process. Hefford added that Rheaume’s extensive experience at all levels of hockey, paired with her leadership and vision, uniquely positions her to lead the PWHL Detroit into its inaugural season.

Rheaume’s appointment comes just over a week after the league announced Detroit as an expansion team. The PWHL has also welcomed two additional franchises in Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario, with plans to expand to a total of 12 teams for the upcoming season. Notably, of the nine GMs currently appointed in the PWHL, seven are women, highlighting a significant shift in the leadership landscape of women’s hockey.

“I’m incredibly honored to join the PWHL and help build something special in Detroit,” Rheaume expressed. “The city has such a deep hockey tradition, and the passion for hockey here is truly special.”

One of Rheaume’s immediate responsibilities will be preparing for the expansion free-agent signing process, which is tentatively set to begin on May 28. This will be followed by the league’s draft, scheduled to take place in Detroit on June 17.

Originally from Beauport, Quebec, Rheaume began to make her mark on the international stage in the early 1990s when she signed with Trois-Rivieres of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. She made headlines in 1992 when she tried out for the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, allowing two goals on nine shots during a period in a preseason game against St. Louis. A year later, she made a second preseason appearance against Boston.

Rheaume’s illustrious career includes a silver medal from the 1998 Nagano Games—the first Olympics to feature a women’s hockey tournament—as well as gold medals from the 1992 and 1994 world championships, solidifying her legacy in the sport.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.