Rhéaume was named the first general manager of PWHL Detroit (later PWHL Michigan), a new milestone in women's hockey leadership.
On September 18, 2023, Manon Rhéaume was announced as the first general manager of PWHL Detroit (later rebranded as PWHL Michigan), one of the founding franchises of the Professional Women's Hockey League, the first major, unified professional women's ice hockey league in North America.
This appointment marked a new chapter in Rhéaume's decades-long history of breaking barriers in hockey—transitioning from her playing career, defined by pioneering appearances in men's professional leagues, to a front-office leadership role shaping the future of women's professional hockey itself.
As general manager, Rhéaume was responsible for critical roster construction and organizational decisions during the league's inaugural season, a period of enormous significance for the sport as it sought to establish sustainable, well-resourced professional opportunities for elite female players for the first time in North American history.
Her selection for this role reflected her deep hockey knowledge, competitive experience at the highest levels of both men's and women's hockey, and her stature as a respected figure within the sport. It represented a full-circle moment: the woman who once broke into a men's league as a player was now helping build the infrastructure for a new era of women's professional hockey from an executive position.
This achievement extended her legacy beyond playing accomplishments into the realm of sports administration and leadership, inspiring future generations of women to pursue front-office careers in professional sports.