Rheaume was the first woman to try out for an NHL team
How the PWHL unveiled Detroit’s team amid much fanfare
Chris Ilitch, Mary Sheffield, Jayna Hefford and Amy Scheer talk about the PWHL Detroit team on May 6, 2026.
The Detroit PWHL team has star power in its first general manager: None other than Manon Rheaume, who in 1992 made history when she appeared in an NHL exhibition game.
The appointment by the league on Friday, May 15 comes a little more than a week after a news conference at Little Caesars Arena heralding the arrival of the PWHL’s ninth franchise.
“Manon is a pioneer whose impact on the game extends far beyond the ice,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, in a press release. “She brings an unmatched hockey resume, a championship mindset, and a lifelong commitment to growing the women’s game. Her experience at every level of hockey, combined with her leadership and vision, makes her the perfect person to lead PWHL Detroit into its inaugural season.”
Rheaume, 54, joins the team following four seasons with the Los Angeles Kings in Hockey Operations and an 11-year tenure with the Little Caesars AAA (LCAAA) Hockey Club.
“I’m incredibly honored and excited to join the PWHL and help build something special in Detroit,” Rhéaume said in the release. “This city has such a deep hockey tradition, and the passion for hockey here is truly special. The growth of women’s hockey has been incredible to watch, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the future of the sport alongside the PWHL. I can’t wait to get started and build a team that Detroit fans will be proud of.”
Rhéaume’s duties first and foremost are to build a support staff ahead of the June 17 expansion draft on June 17 at Detroit’s Fox Theatre.
Rheaume, a silver medalist at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, gained fame in the early 1990s when she became the first woman to try out for an NHL team. She appeared in one period for the Tampa Bay Lightnining in an exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues in 1992 and appeared in another exhibition game in 1993.
Rheaume has deep ties to the state: Her first son, Dylan St. Cyr, played college hockey at Michigan State in 2022-23. Her second son, Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen, plays for the Michigan Wolverines. Both were born in Northville.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
