Rhyah Stewart Set To Become First Woman To Play Junior A Hockey In Maritime League

Rhyah Stewart has been highly regarded as one of the top women's hockey prospects in Canada's crease for years. She's about to write herself into the history books after the 17-year-old signed with the West Kent Steamers of the Maritime Junior Hockey League.

“We are really excited to add Rhyah to our team. Rhyah had a great showing at Cape Breton Eagles camp and we are confident that she will give our group a chance to win every time she’s in the net. She’s a gamer, she wants to win and she is ready for the grind of Junior hockey," said Olivier Filion, Head Coach and General Manager for the Steamers.

"Getting to play junior hockey might be challenging at times, but I think it will help push me to become better," Stewart told CBC .

Stewart is committed to play NCAA hockey for Wisconsin in beginning next season. She went 3-0-0 for Canada posting a 0.67 GAA and .950 save percentage at the U-18 World Championships. She also represented Team Atlantic at the U-18 national championships last season.

Playing boys' 'AAA" hockey for the Cape Breton West Islanders last season, Stewart was named a league Second Team All-Star posting a 2.88 GAA and .913 save percentage in 18 regular season games, and improving those numbers to 2.79 and .930 in 10 playoff contests.

Stewart is set to join a historic group of Canadian women's hockey netminders to play men's junior hockey including Manon Rheaume, Shannon Szabados, and Charline Labonte.

Last season Stewart appeared in an exhibition game for the QMJHL's Cape Breton Screaming Eagles earning First Star after stopping all 24 shots she faced.

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