Canucks hire Castonguay as team's first woman assistant GM

Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey LeagueBienvenue à LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockeyДобро пожаловать на NHL.com, официальный сайт Национальной хоккейной лигиTervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiinVälkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sidaVítejte na NHL.com, oficiálních stránkách National Hockey LeagueVitajte na NHL.com, oficiálnych stránkach National Hockey LeagueWillkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey LeagueBienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey LeagueVANCOUVER -- Emilie Castonguay found it difficult to walk away from her job as an agent to become the first woman assistant general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.However, her history with the city made the decision easier.Castonguay got emotional twice during her introductory press conference Monday. She also represented players in the American Hockey League, junior hockey and internationally, including Marie-Philip Poulin, a three-time Olympic medalist (two gold, one silver) and current captain of the Canada women's national team.Castonguay is the second woman to be an assistant general manager in NHL history, joining Angela Gorgone, who held the position with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim during the 1996-97 season."It's a historic day, and it goes to show that women have a place in sports and in hockey," Castonguay said. She will be a key member of our leadership team."Prior to becoming an agent, Castonguay, who was named one of the 25 most powerful women in hockey by Sportsnet in 2020, played four years of NCAA Division I hockey as a forward at Niagara University, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in finance in 2009 and won a National Scholar Athlete award.Following an internship with the Montreal Canadiens, where she was mentored by then general manager Pierre Gauthier, she earned a law degree from the University of Montreal in 2012 and is a member of the Quebec Bar Association."I've always just been really well treated, whether it's conversations with NHL GMs, or assistant GMs, or scouting staffs or development people, I've always just been well accepted," Castonguay said.