Reaume was the first woman to try out for an NHL team
Chris Ilitch, Mary Sheffield, Jenna Hayford and Amy Scheer talk about the PWHL Detroit team on May 6, 2026.
The Detroit PWHL team’s first general manager has star power: none other than Manon Rheaume, who made history by appearing in an NHL exhibition game in 1992.
The appointment by the league on Friday, May 15 comes a little more than a week after a press conference announcing the arrival of the PWHL’s ninth franchise to Little Caesars Arena.
“Mannon is a pioneer whose impact on the game extends far beyond the ice,” Jenna Hefford, PWHL executive vice president of hockey operations, said in a press release. “She brings an unmatched hockey resume, championship mentality and a lifelong commitment to growing the women’s game. Her experience at every level of hockey, combined with her leadership and vision, make her the ideal person to lead PWHL Detroit in its inaugural season.”
Reaume, 54, joins the team after four seasons in hockey operations with the Los Angeles Kings and an 11-year stint with the Little Caesars AAA (LCAA) hockey club.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to join the PWHL and help build something special in Detroit,” Reaume said in the release. “This city has such a deep hockey tradition, and the passion for hockey here is truly special. It’s incredible to watch the growth of women’s hockey, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the future of the game with the PWHL. I can’t wait to get started and build a team that Detroit fans will be proud of.”
Rhyme’s duty first and foremost is to build a supporting staff ahead of the June 17 expansion draft at the Fox Theater in Detroit.
Riaume, a silver medalist at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, rose to 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 Lightning in an exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues in 1992 and appeared in another exhibition game in 1993.
Reaume has deep ties to the state: his first son, Dylan St. Cyr, played college hockey at Michigan State in 2022–23. His other son, Dakota Reaume-Mullen, plays for the Michigan Wolverines. Both were born in Northville.
Contact Helen St. James hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on detroit red wings And sign up for us Red Wings Newsletter.
<a href=