Manon Rhéaume

Manon Rhéaume is a pioneering Canadian goaltender who became the first woman to play in a major North American professional sports league game and later won an Olympic silver medal.

Manon Rhéaume was born on 24 February 1972 in Lac-Beauport, Quebec, Canada, the middle child of Pierre and Nicole Rhéaume, and began playing goalie with her father's team at just five years old, since local rinks at the time generally did not welcome girls; her father built an ice rink at home so she could practise. Rhéaume became the first woman to play major junior hockey in Canada, signing with the Trois-Rivières Draveurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the 1991-92 season, having already become the first girl to play in the famed Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournament. Rhéaume made history on 23 September 1992, becoming the first woman ever to play in a game for one of the four major North American professional sports leagues, tending goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning in a preseason game against the St. Louis Blues, making seven saves on nine shots across one period. Rhéaume went on to win gold medals with Canada's national team at the 1992 and 1994 World Championships and silver at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, and has continued to inspire generations of female goaltenders, later establishing an athletic scholarship fund for girls and watching her son, Dylan, follow her into the position.

Rhéaume was known for her quick reflexes and competitive spirit between the pipes. She demonstrated excellent positioning and mental toughness, essential qualities for succeeding as a goaltender at the highest levels of hockey.

Rhéaume broke significant gender barriers in professional hockey and inspired countless young female players to pursue the sport at elite levels.

• Olympic silver medalist (1998)
• IIHF Women's World Championship gold (1992, 1994)
• first woman to play in an NHL exhibition game (1992)
• first woman to play in a major junior (QMJHL) game (1991-92)