Manon Rhéaume facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manon Rhéaume |
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Rhéaume in 2010
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| Born | February 24, 1972 Beauport, Quebec, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 130 lb (59 kg; 9 st 4 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Goaltender | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Caught | Left | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Played for | QMJHL Trois-Rivières Draveurs IHL Atlanta Knights Las Vegas Thunder Flint Generals Port Huron Icehawks WWHL Minnesota Whitecaps Austria VEU Feldkirch RHI New Jersey Rockin' Rollers Ottawa Loggers Sacramento River Rats ECHL Knoxville Cherokees Nashville Knights Tallahassee Tiger Sharks WCHL Reno Renegades NHL Tampa Bay Lightning (preseason) |
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| National team |  Canada |
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| Playing career | 1992–2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Manon Rhéaume (born February 24, 1972) is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender. She made history many times in her career. She was the first woman to play in a game for a major North American professional sports league. This was an exhibition game, which is like a practice game.
In 1992, Manon signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL. She played in preseason games in 1992 and 1993. She also played for five years in minor professional leagues. She played for seven different teams in 24 games. Manon also played for the Canada women's national ice hockey team. She won gold medals at the IIHF Women's World Championship in 1992 and 1994. She also won a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Contents
Manon Rhéaume's Hockey Journey
Early Years and Junior Hockey
Manon Rhéaume was the first woman to play in the NHL. She played for the Sherbrooke Jofa-Titan team in Quebec. In 1984, she became the first female goalie to play for a boys' team. This happened at the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.
For the 1991–92 season, Manon joined the Trois-Rivières Draveurs. This team was in the QMJHL. This is one of Canada's top junior hockey leagues. She became the first woman to play in a men's Major Junior hockey game.
Playing in the NHL Preseason
In 1992, Manon tried out for the Tampa Bay Lightning. This was the first time a woman ever tried out for an NHL team. She played one period in a preseason game against the St. Louis Blues. She let in two goals on nine shots. She also played in another preseason game in 1993 against the Boston Bruins.
International Success with Team Canada
Manon was chosen for the Canada women's national ice hockey team in 1992. She won gold medals at the IIHF Women's World Championship in 1992 and 1994. She was also named to the All-Star team in both of those years. In 1998, she won a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.
Professional Minor League Career
In 1992, Manon signed with the Atlanta Knights. This team was in the IHL. Her first game against the Salt Lake Golden Eagles was special. It was the first time a woman played in a regular season professional game.
Between 1992 and 1997, she played for seven different teams. These teams included Atlanta, the Knoxville Cherokees, and the Nashville Knights. She also played for the Las Vegas Aces, the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks, Las Vegas Thunder, and the Reno Renegades. She played in 24 games in total. While in Atlanta, Manon wrote her book, Manon: Alone in Front of the Net. She stopped playing professional hockey in 1997.
Life After Playing Hockey
Coaching and Business Ventures
For the 1999–2000 season, Manon was a goalie coach. She worked with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs women's ice hockey team. In 2000, she started working in business. She was a marketing director for Mission Hockey in Irvine, California. For three years, she helped create and promote hockey gear for girls. Later, she worked in marketing at the Powerade Iceport in Milwaukee. She also worked with the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
Return to the Ice and Other Roles
In 2008, Manon played again for the Minnesota Whitecaps. This team was in the Western Women's Hockey League. In 2009, she helped them reach the Clarkson Cup finals. This is Canada's women's ice hockey championship. On March 19, 2009, her team beat the Montreal Stars in a playoff game. The score was 4–3 in overtime.
In October 2008, the Port Huron Icehawks team announced something exciting. Manon would join their training camp. She would also play for at least one period in their first exhibition game. On April 3, 2009, Manon played one game for the Flint Generals IHL team. She had been practicing with them since January. Manon is the third woman to play for the Generals.
In 2015, Manon dropped the puck for the first game of the National Women's Hockey League. This is a special honor. In October 2021, she was hired by Bally Sports Detroit. She became an analyst and reporter for the Detroit Red Wings. She also played goalie in the 2022 NHL All-Star game's Breakaway Challenge. In July 2022, Manon was hired by the Los Angeles Kings. She works as a hockey operations and prospect advisor.
First Women's Hockey Card
Manon Rhéaume's 1992 Classic Games trading cards were very special. They were the first trading cards ever made for a woman hockey player. Since 1992, over 1400 cards of Manon have been made. This is more than any other woman hockey player.
Manon's Family Life
Manon has two sons. Her son Dylan is a goaltender, just like his mom. He played for the Michigan State Spartans. He also played for Notre Dame and Quinnipiac University. Her second son, Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen, is a defenseman. He was drafted in the 2022 OHL Priority selection. He now plays for the Michigan Wolverines in college.
In 2008, Manon started the Manon Rhéaume Foundation. This foundation gives scholarships to young women. Manon is also the older sister of Pascal Rhéaume. He is a former NHL player.
Awards and Honors
- 1992 All-Star Team, Top Goaltender
- 1994 All-Star Team, Top Goaltender
Notable Achievements
- First girl to play at the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.
- First woman to play in a major junior game (1991–92 Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)).
- First woman to play in a National Hockey League game (September 23, 1992). This also made her the first woman to play in any major professional North American sports league. She played one exhibition game for the 1992 Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL).
- First woman to win a game in professional roller hockey.
See also
- Ann Meyers, a woman who signed a contract with the Indiana Pacers in 1979
