Manon Rhéaume, Little Caesars AAA Hockey girls program director, believes that playing youth hockey can instill amazing life lessons and give girls the chance to dream of playing professional hockey. 

“It’s so important for young girls to participate in team sports. A lot of successful women played sports when they were younger because you learn so much, like leadership and confidence,” Rhéaume said in an interview when she was named a “Game Changer” by the Detroit Red Wings.

Rhéaume, “The First Woman of Hockey,” knows firsthand the impact that hockey can have on one’s life. In 1992 at the age of 20, Rhéaume made history when she played goalie in an exhibition game for the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the first woman to ever play in the NHL and the first woman to compete in any major North American professional sports league. Today, her story continues to inspire girls to not only play the sport but see a future for themselves in it.

Recently, players from the Little Caesars AAA Hockey girls 19U team gathered at their practice facility, the state-of-the-art BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena, for a ceremony to mark their individual commitment to play college hockey at the school of their choice. Hear from the players themselves about what playing hockey has taught them both on and off the ice. 

Through hard work, skill and tenacity, the Little Caesars AAA Hockey girls teams succeeded on the ice as well. Just last week, the 12U, 14U, and 19U girls teams took home state championship titles. The 14U and 19U teams are both headed to play in the USA Hockey National Championship Tournament March 31 – April 4 in Pittsburgh, PA.

More information on Little Caesars Hockey can be found here.