20 years ago took place in the NHL preseason game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and St.Louis Blues.Particularly noteworthy was the first time the meeting ended with the score 2-2.The fact that the gate Tampa it protects women, Manon Rayom.
Virtually all of 1991 and the first half of 1992, the founder of the Tampa Bay Lightning and its first general manager, the legendary Phil Esposito was looking for players, which did not have rights for NHL ovskih teams and who would be able to effortlessly create their club.Tampa had debuted in the NHL in October 1992.
And one scout Jacques Campo sent Esposito film with a match of one of the junior teams of Quebec.Esposito, without knowing the whole motive of the match, looked at him with interest and drew attention to the goalkeeper.
«I thought that guy a little small for a hockey player," says Esposito - but he is a very good move, react to the great shots.I called Jacques and said that I want to invite the guy in training camp. "
Now imagine Esposito surprise when he learned that sent by videzapis captured the first-ever Canadian major junior league match, which was attended by a woman.And the "boy", which spotted on video Phil was not a "he" and "she".20-year-old goalie Manon Rayom.
Interest Esposito, who knew that attention means a lot, only intensified, and as a result Rayom became one of 72 players invited to the first training camp in Tampa.
Rayom for itself, which in addition to the said matches in the junior league, led Canada's women's team to the World Championship gold in 1992, provided an opportunity was not a publicity stunt.
She came to play hockey.
«I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to go through a training camp with the best hockey players in the world," recalls Rayom - I decided I did not want to look back later and upset over the fact that I have not tried.I did not care that I was the first.I would have done it if I was the second, third, fourth.I seek only to ensure that learning something new. "
arrived at training camp Rayom was at the center of the media storm.It seemed that all the sports journalists of the two countries were there.
But Manon luggage did not arrive.Airline mistakenly sent it to another location.
The night before the first team meeting worth Rayom nerves.
«I entered the room and looked around," says Manon.- These great guys just sat there and I thought, "My God, what am I doing here? '."
The next day was planned to test the physical form of athletes, but because of the incident with the luggage Rayom only clothing was one in which she arrived.Esposito sent it to his daughter Carrie, so she gave it some shape.
«And here I come to it, and see that something the size of my - the sixth, and her size - the second, and it gives me a pair of gym shorts.I barely managed to pull them over, "laughs Rayom.- She gave me a T-shirt, which they have done for the team - it was written "Real men wear black."Actually in this way - in shorts several sizes smaller and a T-shirt and I showed up for testing.I was not myself.Every time I met someone from the players, I said, "That's not me!".And journalists have all been there and photographed all this mess.The first day was really hard for. "
The next day, right after bilateral game has become much better.
The training camp has been invited six goalkeepers, and each held a bilateral match one period.Of the six, only one Rayom, who played in the second period, did not miss a single washer, reflecting all 14 shots on his goal.At a press conference after the bilateral match Esposito suggested that such a game Rayom may appear at the gate and in the official exhibition game.
«My knees were shaking," recalls Rayom.- I Do not even think that I can take part in an exhibition match NHL.I think I'll come back, work out with the NHL-sheep week, type of experience, then I would be sent back.So for me the word Esposito was a huge surprise. "
Surprise or not, September 23, 1992, about 75 reporters and curious 8000 fans gathered to watch as Rayom will go down in history, taking place in goal in the match against St. Louis.
In the team bus on the way to the Palace of Sports, the girl was nervous as not nervous either before or after.But when she walked into the locker room, the surprise of the house allowed her to relax a little.
«They sent me a huge bouquet of flowers from a radio station in Quebec with a card on which was written," You can do it.We're all with you, '"says Manon.- It gave me confidence.I had the support of my family, the support of my friends, but there comes a message from his native city, which states that they support me.This gave confidence helped relax a bit, remove the tension. "
But the respite was temporary.
«I remember coming out of the dressing room to the ice" - says Rayom.- It was the most difficult road in my life, like the ascent to Calvary.I could hardly breathe, so I was nervous. "
But as she stepped on the ice, all the excitement disappeared Rayom focused on to show that it is not in vain exercise.
«I forgot that my sweater NHL team that I participate in the game the NHL," she recalls."When I went out on the ice, I was just trying to do what I usually do when I go out on the ice - stop the puck.That was awesome.perenervnichal, to feel how great it is - to be on the ice. "
She remained "dry" 121 seconds after the starting whistle before a powerful click opened the scoring missed the puck.But in the 20 minutes spent on the court expired Rayom recorded seven of nine shots St. Louis.When the score was 2-2 after the first period of her career in the NHL over.Though when it replaced the veteran Wendell Young missed two goals, meeting the fans began chanting the name of Manon, demanding her return to the gate.
The next day Rayom signed with Tampa and was sent to the farm club in PCLs Atlanta Knights.She subsequently held 14 official matches in various professional clubs in men's junior leagues and won gold with Team Canada at the World Championships in 1994 and silver at the Nagano Olympics in 1998.
Rayom now lives in Michigan and has two sons, both of which are involved in hockey.Her eldest son, Dylan eleven, walked in the footsteps of his mother and stood at the gate.
In 2008, she founded the Foundation, whose goal is to help girls achieve results in the "unfeminine" endeavors.She also heads the Association Committee One Goal (a kind of pun - can be translated as "One goal" and as "one target), which is engaged in the development of children's hockey.
«I did not even know that my life has changed so much," explains Rayom.- To be honest, I did not understand the impact that has.Now they come to me young girls and say "You have inspired me."I had no idea that it would have such an impact on the lives of others.I did not have the slightest idea. "
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Articles Source: chelya.livejournal.com
