Detroit’s Professional Women’s Hockey League announced a landmark appointment this week, naming former NHL pioneer Manon Rhéaume as the general manager of its newest franchise.
Rhéaume, who grew up in Michigan and spent eleven years with the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club, most recently served in hockey operations with the Los Angeles Kings.
The league revealed that Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario will join Detroit as expansion markets for the 2026‑27 season, with the draft scheduled for June 17 at the historic Fox Theatre in Detroit.
Local officials and fans alike have expressed optimism that the franchise will revive Detroit’s rich hockey heritage while providing a platform for the next generation of female athletes.
Rhéaume’s Trailblazing Career
Rhéaume made history as the first woman to sign a professional contract and step onto an NHL rink, a feat that paved the way for countless young players.
She brings two Olympic gold medals and a silver from the 1998 Games, along with a deep commitment to growing the women’s game, to a role she describes as both an honor and a responsibility.