A historic appointment
Manon Rhéaume, a pioneer in women’s hockey, has been named general manager of Detroit’s newly announced Professional Women’s Hockey League franchise. The announcement, made public on May 15, 2026, marks the first time a woman will steer an expansion team in the league’s history.
Rhéaume’s appointment follows a distinguished playing career that includes making history as the first female to appear in an NHL preseason game with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992. She later earned gold medals with Canada at the 1992 and 1994 IIHF Women’s World Championships and a silver medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, the inaugural year women’s hockey featured at the Winter Games.
Beyond her playing achievements, Rhéaume has spent recent years shaping hockey operations in executive roles. For four seasons she served in the front office of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, and she has been a longtime contributor to the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club, where she helped develop girls’ programs for over a decade.
The Detroit franchise will call Little Caesars Arena home, sharing the venue with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. Competition is slated to begin in the 2026‑27 season, a timeline that aligns with the league’s five‑phase expansion rollout, which starts with a three‑player protection process and culminates in a leaguewide free‑agent signing period set to open on June 19.
Early indicators suggest strong fan enthusiasm: the Detroit team already boasts more than 4,000 season‑ticket deposits, underscoring the city’s commitment to supporting women’s professional hockey. The expansion process, while unconventional in that it bypasses a traditional draft, reflects the league’s strategic approach to building competitive rosters while maintaining financial stability.
Rhéaume’s appointment is not only a personal milestone but also a symbolic step forward for gender equity in sports leadership. Her extensive experience, from Olympic competition to front‑office management, positions her to mentor players, influence policy, and inspire the next generation of female athletes and executives.