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Manon Rheaume
Manon Rheaume is the only female NHL player who rocked her tryouts for the Tampa Bay Lightning, posing herself as the best among everyone during the 1992 preseason camp. The Olympic Silver medalist had the 3rd best goals-against-average among all the Lightning goalies during that time.
She became the inspiration to many female hockey players, giving them the courage to aim for the NHL stage. After receiving an invitation to join the Lightning, she said, “It was the most nerve-racking moment of my life”. “I knew my performance was so important.”
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Manon Rheaume’s journey to NHL
The date September 23, 1992, is a historic date for Manon Rheaume as she skated on the NHL ice for the first time, becoming the first woman ever to do so. It was an exhibition match held between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the St. Louis Blues where Rheaume saved 7 goals on 9 shots.
The 20-year girl didn’t know what an impact she stirred by her participation in one of the major professional North American sports leagues. She’s been a hockey trailblazer even before she made her move to NHL.
At the age of 13, she played for the prestigious Quebec International Pee Wee Hockey Tournament and later signed with the Trois-Rivières Draveurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the 1991-1992 season. It was the tournament that gave her the turning point she wanted.
During the QMJHL a scout spotted her and sent her video to Hall of Famer and then general manager Phil Esposito who liked what he saw. He was impressed by her skill level and amused as she withhold all the shots charged at her with her small stature.
At 10 years old, Lyndsey Fry declared how she wanted to be the first NHL player but soon found out that the spot’s been taken. Now being a former ice hockey player, she stated laughingly, “I very vividly remember my 10-year-old brain saying, ‘Well, she didn’t count because she was a goalie and I’m a forward. So it’s different.'”
She further continued, “But even for it to spark that fire in my heart was significant. And as much as it made me mad, to know that it was possible and know there was no limit to what we could do, that was really significant for me as a kid.”
Once a reporter asked what her take was on girls playing at a higher level. She replied boldly, “One day, a woman will make the National Hockey League if no one prevents her.” And she herself became the example for generations of women in hockey.
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Kaushani Chatterjee
(2140 Articles Published)