Trailblazing goalie Manon Rheaume hired to become first GM of PWHL's Detroit expansion team

TL;DR

Manon Rheaume has been appointed as the first general manager of the PWHL's expansion team in Detroit, marking a significant milestone in women's hockey. Rheaume, a former Olympian and trailblazer, will lead the team into its inaugural season.

Key points

Manon Rheaume hired as GM of PWHL's Detroit expansion team
Rheaume has a history with Detroit's youth hockey program
PWHL aims to grow to a 12-team league next season

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PWHL expansion

FILE - Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Manon Rheaume listens to the national anthem prior to her professional debut against the St. Louis Blues on Sept. 23, 1992 at the Tampa Fairgrounds in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File) (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Manon Rheaume is carrying over her trailblazing women’s hockey career into a front office role in being hired as the general manager of the PWHL’s expansion team in Detroit, the league announced on Friday. The Canadian Olympian goaltender, and first woman to appear in an exhibition game of any of North America’s four major sports, has spent the past four years working in the NHL's Los Angeles Kings hockey operations department. And Rheaume’s hiring represents a homecoming for the 54-year-old, who spent 11 years in a developmental role for the Detroit-based Little Caesars youth hockey girls’ program. “She brings an unmatched resume, a championship mindset and a lifelong commitment to growing the women’s game,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL executive vice president of hockey operations, who oversees the hiring process. “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,” Hefford added. Rheaume’s hiring comes a little more than a week after the league announced Detroit as an expansion team. The PWHL has since added two more franchises in Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario, and is planning make one more addition in growing to a 12-team league for next season. Of the PWHL’s nine GMs now in place, seven are women. “I’m incredibly honored to join the PWHL and help build something special in Detroit,” Rheaume said. “The city has such a deep hockey tradition, and the passion for hockey here is truly special.” Among her first duties is preparing for an expansion free-agent signing process tentatively scheduled to begin on May 28, followed by the league’s draft, which will be held in Detroit on June 17. Rheaume is from Beauport, Quebec, and began making her international mark in the early 1990s by signing with Trois-Rivieres of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In 1992, she tried out for the NHL's , and allowed two goals on nine shots in one period of a preseason game against . A year later, she made a second preseason game appearance against . Rheaume went on to win a silver medal representing Canada at the 1998 Nagano Games, the first to feature a women’s tournament. She also won gold medals at the 1992 and ’94 world championships. \\_ AP women’s hockey:

Q&A

Who is Manon Rheaume and what is her significance in hockey?

Manon Rheaume is a Canadian Olympian and the first woman to play in an exhibition game of North America's major sports, making her a significant figure in the history of hockey.

What are Rheaume's responsibilities as the GM of the PWHL Detroit team?

As the GM, Rheaume will oversee the team's operations, including preparing for the expansion free-agent signing process and the league's draft scheduled for June 17.

When is the PWHL Detroit team's inaugural season starting?

The PWHL Detroit team is preparing for its inaugural season, with key events like the expansion free-agent signing process beginning on May 28.