The Icebreaker: How Manon Rheaume became the first women to play in the NHL

When it comes to trailblazers in competitive sport, it’s hard to look past Manon Rheaume. In 1992, she became the first woman to play in the NHL when her Tampa Bay Lightning faced the St. Louis Blues.

It was an iconic moment, not just for fans of ice hockey, but for young women and girls across the world who were inspired by Rheaume’s determination to carve out her place in a typically male-dominated field. 

Her journey to the NHL was not an easy one, but it was an important one that paved the way for future female hockey players. Let’s take a look at how it all came together.

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Rheaume began playing hockey at a young age in her home country of Canada. She quickly showed promise and began playing with boys' teams. She eventually joined a girls' team, but faced discrimination from other players and coaches who did not believe that girls should be playing hockey.

Despite the challenges she faced, Rheaume persevered and continued to hone her skills. She played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for three seasons and was named the league's best goaltender in 1991.

Her success in the QMJHL caught the attention of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who invited her to try out for their team. Rheaume impressed the Lightning's coaching staff and was offered a contract to play in the exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues on September 23, 1992.

The announcement of Rheaume's signing made headlines around the world, and she became an instant celebrity. She appeared on talk shows and was interviewed by countless media outlets. Despite the attention, Rheaume remained focused on the game and the opportunity to prove herself on the ice.

Talking to ESPN in 2015 about her preparedness for the top level, she revealed that she actually showed up to the Lightning facilities with the same chest protector her father had modified for her when she was playing peewee hockey years earlier. 

Lightning coach Phil Esposito saw her battered old gear and bought her bigger, newer gear, but Rheaume wouldn’t wear it, thinking she wouldn’t be able to move quickly enough to block shots.

But NHL-level shots are a different beast and she soon found herself battered and bruised after just a couple of days of training. In the end, she simply attached extra padding to her old gear. “A lot of people said that was just a publicity thing,” Rheaume told ESPN. "But I had to wake up and face those shots every single day."

In an interview with Sports Illustrated in 2022, Rheaume talked about the pressure she felt leading up to the game. "I knew I had to perform well. I wanted to prove to everyone that I could play at this level," she said.

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Rheaume's performance in the game was impressive. She played for one period and faced nine shots, allowing two goals. Although the Lightning lost the game, Rheaume's performance was a big moment for women's sports.

Despite the interest in her, Rheaume's career was short-lived. She did not play in another NHL game, but continued to play hockey professionally in other leagues. She also represented Canada in international competitions and won two Olympic silver medals.

Today, Rheaume is retired from hockey but remains involved in the sport. She works as a coach and mentor to young hockey players and continues to inspire future generations of female hockey players.

In an interview with NHL.com in 2019, Rheaume said she was struck by the impact she's made on current players. "Now, looking back, I realize how big of a deal it was,"

"When I was young and got invited, it happened so fast and I didn't realize really the impact I would have on people, on history, on everything when I went there. I just went because it was amazing to play at the highest level. Now, looking back 26 years, no other female has done that, and not only in hockey, but the four major sports," she said.

"Through the years, having so many people come up to me, telling me that I inspired their daughter or son, or someone saying, 'I had your poster on my wall,' that makes me realize my story impacted a lot of people in a positive way," Rheaume told NHL.com

In March 2023 she told the Tampa Bay Times she doesn't expect to see women playing in the NHL again, but is more excited about the growing women's division. "to see like the opportunity that women have now," she said, "I think that most of the women [playing today], they want to be the best that they can be on the women’s side." 

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