A milestone for women’s hockey
Manon Rheaume made history as the first and only woman to appear in an NHL pre‑season game, a breakthrough that has now propelled her into the role of general manager for the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s expansion Detroit franchise.
From player to architect
Rheaume’s playing résumé includes two gold medals at the women’s world championship (1992, 1994) and a silver medal from the 1998 Olympic Games. After retiring from competition she spent four seasons in hockey operations with the Los Angeles Kings, gaining experience that she will now bring to bear on constructing a competitive roster for Detroit.
Building the foundation
In her new position Rheaume will assemble a dedicated hockey operations staff and design a roster‑building process ahead of the 2026 PWHL Draft, scheduled for June 17. The formal announcement of the Detroit team was made on May 6, marking a decisive step toward the franchise’s inaugural 2026‑27 season.
Looking ahead to 2026‑27
The upcoming season promises to showcase the growing momentum of women’s professional hockey, with Rheaume at the helm of a team that aims to blend competitive spirit with the league’s broader vision of expanding talent pipelines and fan engagement.