'There was definitely a little bit of nerves': Rhyah Stewart becomes first female to ever wear Cape Breton Eagles jersey in 24

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SYDNEY, N.S. – Fans stand behind the Cape Breton Eagles net during warm up with their eyes locked on the goaltender wearing the team’s black jersey and with the No. 20 in white letters on the back.

Every shot on goal from the players is watched closely to see whether or not the puck will go in the net – a typical action during a hockey game – but on Friday night there was more to their reaction.

Standing five-foot-eight with all-white equipment and braided hair hanging out from the back of the helmet, Rhyah Stewart was mentally focused on each shot and a night she dreamed of for as long as she could remember.

‘An incredible experience’: Rhyah Stewart honoured to be part of Cape Breton Eagles history as first female to ever attend team’s training camp

CAPE BRETON EAGLES TRAINING CAMP: Rhyah Stewart expected to join main camp Tuesday night

As the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League pre-season game between Cape Breton and the Moncton Wildcats began at Centre 200 in Sydney, Stewart would etch her name into Eagles history.

The 16-year-old Stewart became the first female to ever wear the Eagles jersey and play in a game. She’s also the first female from Atlantic Canada to have the opportunity to compete in game action at the major junior level.

Stewart, who started the game for Cape Breton, didn’t disappoint the more than 2,000 people in attendance, stopping all 24 shots she faced in 30 minutes of action, each save greeted with cheers from the fans.

When her time between the pipes was over, the Antigonish product skated off the ice to a standing ovation, a testament to her performance and ground-breaking accomplishment. She was named the first star of the game.

Rhyah Stewart finishes her half of the game, stopping all 24 shots she faced and leaves to a well-deserved standing ovation from the Cape Breton fans. @CBEHockey @cbepbp @CBWestIslanders @HockeyNS @QMJHL pic.twitter.com/9aRNNzcuZS

In a post-game media scrum, Stewart was overwhelmed by the support she received from the Cape Breton faithful.

“It was a pretty incredible feeling knowing that they were supporting me the whole game,” said Stewart. “To be honest, I didn’t really notice it (the standing ovation) until I looked back and saw it on the jumbotron.”

Stewart, who’s committed to the University of Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey program for the 2024-25 season, said there were some nerves going into the game.

“There was definitely a little bit of nerves, but once I got to feel the puck a little bit, they went away,” she said. “I kept the day as normal as I could and kept doing the same routine as I normally would do, so I felt confident going into the game.”

Eagles goaltending and video coach Blade Man-Dixon, who worked with Stewart closely last season with the Cape Breton West Islanders of the Nova Scotia Under-18 Major Hockey League, wasn’t surprised by her play.

“It’s no shock to me and it’s no shock to her. I knew she was going to come out and play well, so I’m happy to see it,” said Man-Dixon, noting the team didn’t prepare any differently because she was in the net.

“She’s a calm goaltender. I told her to stay nice and calm in there and that’s what she did.”

Mann-Dixon, who watched the game from the press box, said there were lots of emotions for him during the contest.

“I’ve been working with her for quite a few years now so to see her climb up and go to Hockey Canada and now making history here, it was nice to see,” he said.

“It’s a big step for anyone coming from under-18 major, she was one of the best goaltenders in that league last year and that’s what happens.”

Stewart left the game with Cape Breton leading 2-0 in the second period and was replaced by 17-year-old Brandon Lavoie of Halifax, who stopped 12 of 16 shots. The Eagles would lose the game 5-3, dropping their pre-season record to 2-1-0-0.

Cape Breton is expected to trim its roster this weekend and Stewart’s future with the team is unknown right now with veteran Nicolas Ruccia and European Jakub Milota expected to be the club’s starting tandem in goal.

Despite the uncertainty, Stewart is focusing more on the experience she received.

“I think this experience is going to help me on and off the ice,” said Stewart, noting her family has been an important part of her hockey career.

“I’ve had the chance to experience such a high-level pace and talk to media as well, it’s pushed me out of my comfort zone a little bit, but it will help me in the future.”

In the more than 50-year history of the QMJHL, only three female goaltenders have ever played regular-season games.

Manon Rhéaume broke the league gender barrier, becoming the first woman to ever play a game in the league during the 1991-92 season with the Trois-Rivières Draveurs.

Meanwhile, Charline Labonté suited up for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan for 28 games over two seasons from 1999 to 2001, and Ève Gascon was the most recent, appearing in two games with the Gatineau Olympiques during the 2021-22 season.

With the excitement surrounding Stewart’s much anticipated appearance for the Eagles, one fan who couldn’t wait to see her perform was Gemma Marsh.

The 11-year-old from Glace Bay began her career as a goaltender last season with the Cape Breton Blizzards Female Hockey Association and suited up for the program’s under-11 ‘A’ team.

“It’s really special for me to watch her play,” said Marsh. “I would say she’s a role model for me and it’s nice to see her out there. It’s exciting for everyone, especially female goaltenders.”

Meanwhile Marsh’s friend Jacob Ellsworth, a goaltender with the Glace Bay Minor Hockey Association, was also thrilled to have the chance to see Stewart in goal.

“I saw clips of her and she’s really good,” said the 11-year-old Ellsworth. “I never thought I’d see a girl have a chance to play to play nets for the Eagles, I think it’s great.”

@monctonwildcats players congratulate Rhyah Stewart seconds before she was named tonight’s first star. Class move. @CBEHockey @QMJHL #Saltwire pic.twitter.com/Rev2eLjleJ

Jim Ellsworth, Jacob’s father, was proud to show his support for the young star.

“I had a conversation with my older son just the other day about the strides that women have made in sports and it’s only a matter of time before they crack professional leagues and I couldn’t be happier,” said Ellsworth.

“I think it’s fantastic and nice to see. We’re really pulling for Rhyah and we hope she has a great career in hockey.”

Prior to the game, some questioned whether Stewart had a chance to make the team or if her appearance was a publicity stunt by the Eagles organization – those thoughts were quickly erased once the game started.

“I don’t think that at all,” said Ellsworth. “She’s had a great career so far and there’s more coming up for her and I don’t think the Eagles franchise would bring up someone unless they deserved to be there.”

When Stewart was invited in June to attend the team’s training camp, Eagles general manager Sylvain Couturier made the reason for her participation clear.

“First, let’s be clear, she is invited to camp because she deserves it," said Couturier.

“She is quick and competes on every shot. You’re not getting an offer from the University of Wisconsin for nothing, and an invite to Hockey Canada if you’re just average. She is special.”

Over the last 11 months, Stewart has quickly become a star in Nova Scotia.

From making history to become the first female player to ever play for the Cape Breton West Islanders to backstopping Nova Scotia to its first-ever silver medal at the Canada Winter Games last March and committing to NCAA hockey, it’s been a year to remember for Stewart.

Billy Wadden is the president of the Quad County Female Hockey Association, which includes players from the Strait area as well as Inverness County, Guysborough County, and Antigonish County, Stewart’s hometown.

While Stewart never played for the association, having played on the male side of the game for most of her career, Wadden said she continues to give back to the youth in the program.

“She’s definitely a huge role model for all the girls in our association,” said Wadden, noting Stewart was a guest of the association’s when it hosted the first-ever Atlantic Under-13 'AAA' Female Hockey Championship last spring in Port Hawkesbury.

“The girls look up to her and they see her in the rink all the time and they cheer her on.”

Wadden, who was in attendance for Friday’s game, said Stewart’s success helps motivate young girls to be like her one day.

“I think it’s nice because the girls can set their goals extremely high and work to achieve them,” said Wadden, noting the Quad County association had around 230 female players registered for the 2022-23 season.

“To know you can set goals and you can achieve them and if you want to play at that level, work hard, have the coaches, which Rhyah has, and go achieve those dreams, it means something to the girls to see it happening.”

Wadden expects Stewart’s continued success to draw more interest in the sport, not only in the Quad County association, but across the province.

“If you see what Hockey Nova Scotia has done in the province recently and for her the visibility, she’s really paving the way to have more recognition for females at that calibre,” said Wadden.

“Kids want to try a sport when they see a girl doing it and they can look up to that girl – they want to try it, so it’s a win-win situation. The more girls that we have playing hockey the better.”

After playing with the Antigonish Minor Hockey Association, Stewart suited up The Novas of the Nova Scotia Under-15 Major Hockey League.

In 14 games with the team, Stewart posted a 6-7-0-0 record with a 3.10 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage.

Stewart later moved on to play with the Port Hawkesbury-based Cabot Highlanders of the Nova Scotia Under-16 ‘AAA’ Hockey League for the 2021-22 season, where she posted a 6-9-0-0 record with a 3.80 goals-against-average and a .917 save percentage.

Last season, with a rebuilding Islanders program, Stewart posted a 7-11-0-0 record along with a 3.67 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage. She recorded the most saves in the league in the regular season, stopping 693 of 771 shots.

In March, Stewart backstopped Nova Scotia to its first-ever silver medal performance at the Canada Winter Games in Charlottetown.

Two months later, Stewart announced her commitment to the University of Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey program. Unlike male players, she will be able to participate in games with the Eagles without risking her NCAA eligibility.

This summer, Stewart was invited to attend Hockey Canada's national under-18 team selection camp in St. Catharines, Ont. From there, she was one of three goaltenders named to the team for a three-game series against the United States in Lake Placid, N.Y., earlier this month.

On Aug. 17, Stewart stopped 11 of 12 shots in a 6-1 Canada win over the United States at Herb Brooks Arena. Upon arrival home, she joined the Eagles main training camp, leading to her start in goal on Friday.

“It was a great experience,” said Stewart. “The team played really great together, so it’s definitely a moment that I will remember forever.”

Stewart will also be a member of Team Atlantic for the 2023 National Women's Under-18 Championship in Dawson Creek, B.C., which will take place from Nov. 5-11.

The fact Stewart is playing hockey should come as no surprise.

The Stewart family has strong roots in the game in the Antigonish area with her father Dave Stewart playing professional hockey in the ECHL and the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2006. He’s currently part of the coaching staff with the St. Francis Xavier X-Men hockey program.

Meanwhile, her brother Leyton Stewart played for the Islanders and was an eighth-round pick by the Quebec Remparts at the 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft. He played with the Pictou County Weeks Crushers of the Maritime Junior Hockey League last season.

As for Zachary Stewart, Rhyah’s older brother, he recently played with the Antigonish AA Munro Bulldogs of the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League, winning the league title and the Don Johnson Memorial Cup Atlantic junior ‘B’ championship in May.

As for Stewart herself, she admits the stardom and limelight can be overwhelming at times but is handling it the best she can.

“I think it’s becoming a little bit more normal now.” Said Stewart.

- Jeremy Fraser is the sports reporter for the Cape Breton Post. Follow him on X (Twitter) @CBPost_Jeremy.