Manon Rhéaume

It was August 22, 1992, a typical Tampa, FL day with temperatures hovering around 90 degrees and the National Hurricane Center had just upgraded Tropical Storm Andrew to hurricane status as it targeted South Florida. I was standing at the top of the stands looking down at an empty arena with rows of seats draped with paper seat numbers that marked the start of season ticket sales for the new NHL hockey expansion team, the Tampa Bay Lightning. This was the Expo Hall arena at the Florida State Fairgrounds to the east of downtown Tampa and the event was Hockeyfest II.

Hand out from the Hockeyfest II at the Expo Hall. Photo: Jon Hayt
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The day’s agenda included an open house for fans to choose season ticket seats, watch a hockey skills demonstration and have a chance to mingle with a select group of players signing autographs. The Expo Hall had just been converted from a livestock arena to a hockey venue seating approximately 10,425 and the team was getting ready to turn Tampa into a hockey town. This was their temporary inaugural season home and locals were wondering what this was all about. Northern transplants and snow birds were overjoyed with the arrival of a beloved sport and a chance to either become a fan or cheer for their former home teams. The on ice events for the day were emcee’d by General Manager and Team President Phil Esposito of Boston Bruins fame with NHL players Shawn Chambers, Mikael Andersson, Anatoli Semenov, Rob Ramage, John Tucker, Martin Duguay, Marc Bergevin and Joe Reekie in attendance. In goal was a groundbreaking player and a first for a North American professional men’s sports league, a woman goaltender named Manon Rhéaume.

The following images give a glimpse of her introduction to men’s professional hockey during the realignment of NHL teams in the early 90’s.

Click on an image for an enlarged scroll view:

The Expo Hall in 1992 at the Florida State Fairgrounds east of downtown Tampa, FL. It served as the inaugural season home of the Tampa Bay Lightning. — Photo: Jon Hayt

A view of the interior of the Expo Hall Arena on August 22, 1992 during Hockeyfest II. — Photo: Jon Hayt

Manon Rheaume puts on her pads before taking the ice at Hockeyfest II in Tampa on August 2, 1992. — Photo: Jon Hayt

Anatoli Semenov takes at shot on goal at goalie Manon Rheaume during Hockeyfest II on August 22, 1992 — Photo: Jon Hayt

Manon Rheaume chats with Phil Esposito on the ice at Hockeyfest II in Tampa on August 2, 1992. — Photo: Jon Hayt

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Manon Rheaume signs autographs at Hockeyfest II on August 22, 1992 at the Expo Hall in Tampa, Florida — Photo: Jon Hayt

An Olympic silver medalist, she become the first woman to play in an exhibition game in any of the major North American Pro-Sports Leagues. In 1992, Manon Rhéaume signed a contract with the newly formed NHL expansion team the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa, Florida. She appeared in preseason exhibition games in 1992 and 1993 as well as attending the Lightning’s training camps in Lakeland, FL. She played in a preseason game against the St. Louis Blues in 1992 for one period, allowing two goals on nine shots. She returned to training camp in 1993 and played in another preseason game against the Boston Bruins. (Wikipedia)

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Photo: Jon Hayt1 / 17