Legendary Canadian goalie Manon Rhéaume has been appointed as the inaugural general manager for the PWHL’s new Detroit expansion team. Rhéaume made history in 1992 by becoming the first woman to sign a pro hockey contract and play in an NHL pre-season game with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a milestone unmatched to this day.
She represented Canada in women’s hockey at the 1998 Olympics and secured two world championship gold medals. Jayna Hefford, Rhéaume’s former teammate and the PWHL’s executive vice president of hockey operations, praised her as a trailblazer with a significant impact on the sport beyond her on-ice achievements.
Detroit is among three expansion teams joining the PWHL, with Hamilton and Las Vegas also entering the league next season, expanding the three-year-old league to 11 teams. Rhéaume brings a wealth of experience, having worked with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings for four seasons and served as the girls’ division director for the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club in Detroit.
Expressing her enthusiasm, Rhéaume stated she is honored to contribute to the growth of women’s hockey in Detroit. She looks forward to leveraging her extensive hockey background to shape the future of the sport alongside the PWHL.
The league also revealed Dominique DiDia as the first general manager for PWHL Las Vegas. DiDia, a seasoned sports executive from CAA Sports, founded the women’s hockey department at CAA Sports and held various roles with the Los Angeles Kings. Hefford commended DiDia’s multifaceted experience as a player, hockey executive, and women’s hockey advocate, highlighting her vision for building a competitive team in the vibrant Las Vegas market.