NHL | Place for women

Émilie Castonguay knew she would not remain an anomaly for long.

The former players’ agent made history in January when she became the Vancouver Canucks’ first-ever female assistant general manager – and one of the few women working in an NHL executive office.

“Sometimes just one domino has to fall into place and I think the glass ceiling has been shattered,” Castonguay said. And I knew after that the floodgates would open. »

She was right.

During the NHL draft, Thursday and Friday, there were several women on the floor, including five women assistants to the general manager.

Cammi Granato, who joined Canucks management in February, sat next to Vancouver general manager Patrik Allvin, discussing the players and, at one point, looking at a photo of the morning sky sent in by Allvin’s children from their home in Sweden. Castonguay sat next to Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, carefully studying the team roster.

Sitting at the Toronto Maple Leafs table was Hayley Wickenheiser, who was promoted Tuesday to assistant general manager of player development. Also on the court were Meghan Hunter of the Chicago Blackhawks and Kate Madigan of the New Jersey Devils after being promoted to assistant general manager earlier this month.

“There were times when I didn’t think it was an option for women. Growing up, there was no performance, so I didn’t think it would happen in my lifetime,” Granato admitted.

Granato has a long history of breaking down barriers for women in hockey.

She was captain of the US team that beat Canada to gold at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and is the all-time leading scorer for the US women’s team. Granato and Canadian Angela James became the first women to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010. She then became the NHL’s first female scout when signed by the Seattle Kraken.

“I think the mentality is changing and what we understand is that the women are qualified,” Granato said. We used to say, “Women can’t do this job, they’re not qualified, they don’t know hockey”, but that’s not true. »

Pretty much everywhere

Executive offices aren’t the only place women are entering the NHL.

The Montreal Canadiens recently hired three-time Olympic gold medalist Marie-Philip Poulin as a player development consultant and the Los Angeles Kings added pioneer Manon Rhéaume as a hockey operations advisor. In the American Hockey League, the Coachella Valley Firebirds will have Jessica Campbell behind the bench as an assistant coach at the start of their inaugural season.

According to Meghan Hunter, the wave of women taking up positions in the league started a long time ago.

“You could almost smell it. The timing was so perfect and it’s so awesome, she said. I could see that happening, that we were starting to break down some barriers. Women bring diverse opinions to different organizations and it’s really great that we finally have these opportunities. »

Upon graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Hunter had considered working in hockey operations. Instead, she worked behind the bench, even coaching Castonguay at Niagara University.

“I naturally went into teaching women’s hockey and started down that path,” said Ms.^me Hunter. My journey has not been linear. I didn’t really know where I was going after my playing career.

“I just did what I loved and worked really hard, and I’m grateful that these opportunities come when they come. »

Last week, the NHL broke another barrier when the San Jose Sharks hired Mike Grier as the league’s first black general manager.

It’s “fabulous” to have more diversity in the main offices, said Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland, a longtime NHL executive.

“To bring minorities and women into our sport, you think of all the female hockey players on the Canadian team, the American team and other countries too, but they have been playing hockey since they were little girls , just like little boys.

“So I think that’s a good thing for our league, and I expect that to continue more and more. »

People who advance to these NHL positions deserve them not because they tick a box, but because they’re talented, Castonguay said.

“I’ve said this from the start, for me it’s just about hiring the right people and the most capable people, whether it’s a man or a woman. And I feel like that’s what we’re doing. As long as the trend continues and we’re doing it for the right reasons, I’m all for it. »