Who became the first woman to play in an NHL game?

Manon Rhéaume became the first woman to play in an NHL game.

Rhéaume appeared in goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 1992 preseason game against the St. Louis Blues. She played the first period and allowed two goals, making her the first woman to participate in an NHL game, albeit an exhibition contest.

The Lightning invited Rhéaume to training camp after she had already made history in 1992 by playing in an exhibition game for the Trois-Rivières Draveurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Her NHL appearance attracted international attention and broke a long-standing gender barrier in professional hockey.

Rhéaume never appeared in an NHL regular-season game. She later played for Canada’s national team and won a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics, where women’s ice hockey made its Olympic debut. Her NHL preseason appearance and her international career are separate achievements.