Manon Rheaume made some history, then made the roster of the Tampa Bay Lightning's top farm team.
The 20-year-old French Canadian became the first woman to compete in one of the four major pro sports leagues Wednesday night when she was the starting goaltender in the expansion team's exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues.She shrugged off the historical significance of the occasion, rejected seven of nine shots she faced in 20 minutes and said she plans to continue pursuit of her dream in the Lightning's minor league system.
"It's not important to me to be the first woman to play in the NHL. I didn't come here to do that. I came because I love hockey," Rheaume said. "If I didn't try, I wouldn't know what I could do."
Tampa Bay general manager Phil Esposito rated her performance "a 71/2" and said the club wants to give Rheaume a chance to develop as a player with the team's Atlanta minor league affiliate.
"I can't wait to see her in training camp next year. The question is how much can she progress," Esposito said. "I think she can play. I really do."
Rheaume led the Lightning onto the ice to a standing ovation from the crowd of 8,223 in Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall, which seats just over 10,000.
She made her first save 40 seconds into the game. Jeff Brown scored from just inside the blue line at 2:21 and Brendan Shanahan knocked the puck in from in front of the net 14 minutes later.
In between goals, Rheaume was steady and made one save that brought the crowd to its feet - stopping Nelson Emerson from point-blank range on a power play by dropping to the ice and blocking the puck with her left leg.
She left after the first period with the score 2-2 and was replaced by Wendell Young, who finished the game won by St. Louis 6-4.
"I was very nervous. I didn't think about being the first woman. I thought about doing my best and concentrating on the puck," Rheaume said, adding that she plans to accept the offer to play in the minors.
"I've never practiced every day. My junior team practiced two days a week. I don't know what I can do if I practice every day . . .
"I love hockey. That's why I'm here. When you have this passion, you want to go higher and see what you can do in the big game."
Esposito said the decision to sign Rheaume was made before Wednesday night's game. If she continues to improve, she could have a shot at making an NHL roster one day, he said.
"There are not many 20-year-olds - men or women - who can play goal in the NHL, especially those who haven't had the experience. . . . She has God-given talent. You don't just stand in (goal) like that. You have to have talent to do that."
Rheaume, whose father is a hockey coach in Canada, began playing the sport with her brothers as a 5-year-old. She made history last year when she appeared in one game in the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League.
Esposito admits that publicity was a major factor in the decision to invite Rheaume to training camp. Still, he thinks the 5-foot-6, 130-pound goalie was deserving of the opportunity to pit her skills against those of NHL players.
"I thought she did very well under the circumstances," the Hall of Famer said. I was more nervous for her than she was for herself. She handled it beautifully."