424: Manon Rhéaume
Retired Professional Ice Hockey Goalie
Born: 24 February 1972, Quebec, Canada
Manon is the first and so far, only woman to play in an NHL Exhibition Game. She was signed to the Tampa Bay Lightning. That same year, she was also chosen to play on Canada’s National Women’s Ice Hockey Team. She won gold and was chosen for the All-Star Team, which happened again in 1994.
Manon was also the first woman to play for a boys’ team in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournament. She was also the first woman to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Manon was even the first woman to play in the IHL and therefore became the first woman to ever get actual game time in a men’s professional league.
Today, Manon is a mother to two sons and the founder of the Manon Rheaume Foundation.
A biopic called Between the Pipes has been in pre-production since at least 2017, but hopefully we’ll see it in theatres someday!
Badges Earned:
Located In My Personal Library:
The Book of Awesome Women: Boundary Breakers, Freedom Fighters, Sheroes, and Female Firsts by Becca Anderson
Sources:
https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/manon-rheaume-shatters-the-gender-barrier/c-642096