Manon Rhéaume will be back on a rink in the “gaming capital of the world” for the NHL All-Star Game skills competition on Friday night, nearly 25 years after playing there for the local team.
Posted at 2:19 p.m.
Upon arriving in Las Vegas earlier this week, Rhéaume saw how much the city had changed since her last stint as a hockey player – she wore the uniform of the late Las Vegas Thunder, a team from the International Hockey League, during the 1994-1995 season. Then something else pleasantly surprised her: the growing popularity of women’s hockey.
“It has changed so much. I’ve been back here a few times since then, but this will be my first as a player. It’s fun to see how it’s changed, it’s grown. Yesterday I attended a special clinic for young girls who play hockey. They did a little competition, and I was surprised to see how many young girls were on the rink. When I came here (in 1994-95), minor hockey wasn’t like that,” Rheaume said in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press.
Things have changed a lot, then, but for the better. And while Rhéaume admitted to being surprised to be invited to participate in the weekend of the All-Star Game, she said she was very grateful to the league for giving her such an opportunity.
“The league called me a few weeks ago and they explained to me that for a few years the NHL has been trying to include a female presence in the all-star game – in 2020 there was the game between Canada and the United States, and in 2019 the American Kendall Coyne Schofield participated in the competition for the fastest skater. So the league tries to do different things every year to support the development of women’s hockey.
“It is therefore an honor to have been chosen along with Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson to represent women’s hockey this time around,” she added, specifying that she will discuss with the American a little more. late in the day.
Lamoureux-Davidson will take part in an all-new precision shooting competition from the fountains of the Bellagio Hotel, which also includes the only representative of the Montreal Canadiens in the All-Star Game, Nick Suzuki.
For her part, the goalkeeper from Lac-Beauport will participate in the breakaway contest against Kirill Kaprizov, Trevor Zegras, Jack Hughes, Alex DeBrincat and Alex Pietrangelo. She will therefore be in the front row to witness the breathtaking feints of these gifted people.
“The reason the league brought back the breakaway competition is to allow players to test new feints that have never been attempted before. I’m sure there will be some tonight, and I might see them pretty close since I’ll be in front of the net,” laughed Rhéaume.
The one who will celebrate her 50and birthday on February 24, however, assured that she was going to enjoy the moment, without worrying too much about the final result.
“It’s been years since I’ve put on my goalie gear, so I’ve had to skate three or four times in the last two weeks to find my bearings on the ice. And when you’re up against NHL players – they’re all so good, and they can do so much – all you can do is be patient and hope the puck hits you. “, explained the Quebec goalkeeper.
Rhéaume, however, assured that she will not put on her old Tampa Bay Lightning equipment in 1992. In this sense, she recently posted a photo on her social networks where we saw her with brand new white equipment.
“I’ve only worn it twice so far. I’m comfortable with it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop pucks. There are puck marks on it, so that means I’ve already stopped a few,” she laughs.
Still, it’s night and day compared to the gear she wore back in the Lightning days.
“I found my old stock not too long ago, and it was so heavy. The new gear is amazing how light it is, and it’s well made. Just attach three straps of velcro now, rather than the good old metal blinders of the time… I can’t believe that didn’t exist in my time, it would have been so much better,” he said. she admitted with a laugh.
As for whether she would have appreciated being able to participate in the all-star game scheduled for Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, Rhéaume says she will be much better off in the stands to savor the moment.
“It’s fun to do the breakaway competition with the guys, but the all-star game, with three-on-three teams and the best goaltenders in the world, I think it will be better to let their talent go. express fully on the ice. I will be very happy to be able to be a simple spectator for the three-against-three tomorrow, ”she concluded.