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Manon Rhéaume, the trailblazing Canadian goalie, has been named the first general manager of the PWHL’s new Detroit team.
Rhéaume made history in 1992 as the first woman to sign a professional hockey contract and play in an NHL pre-season game with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a milestone unmatched to this day. She also played for the Canadian women’s national team at the 1998 Olympics, the first Games to feature women’s hockey, and won two world championship gold medals.
“Manon is a pioneer whose impact on the game extends far beyond the ice,” said Jayna Hefford, Rhéaume’s former teammate and the PWHL’s executive vice president of hockey operations. “She brings an unmatched hockey résumé, 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.”
Detroit is one of three expansion franchises announced by the PWHL so far. Teams in Hamilton and Las Vegas will also begin play next season, bringing the league’s total to 11 teams after just three years of existence.
Rhéaume has spent the last four years working in hockey operations for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. She also served for 11 years as the girls’ division director for the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club in the Detroit area.
Now, she will build a professional team in a league that did not exist when Rhéaume was seeking high-level opportunities more than three decades ago.
“I’m incredibly honoured and excited to join the PWHL and help build something special in Detroit,” Rhéaume said. “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.”
Rhéaume will be tasked with assembling PWHL Detroit’s first roster from scratch, starting immediately after the league’s playoffs conclude.
The PWHL also announced the first general manager for its Las Vegas franchise on Friday, appointing Dominique DiDia, a seasoned sports executive with CAA Sports.
DiDia launched the women’s hockey division at CAA Sports and served as co-head of that department. She previously spent nine seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, rising to the role of director of marketing and content publicity, while coaching and serving on the board for the LA Lions Girls Hockey Club.
Originally from Los Angeles, DiDia played for the Cal Selects Girls Hockey Club and captained the team at Trinity College.
“Dominique brings a unique combination of experience as a player, hockey executive, and advocate for the women’s game,” Hefford said. “She understands the evolving landscape of women’s hockey and has a strong vision for building a team and culture that reflects both the ambition of the PWHL and the energy of the Las Vegas market.”
