Émilie Castonguay becomes 1st female assistant GM in Canucks history

The Vancouver Canucks have hired former player agent Émilie Castonguay as assistant general manager.

The 38-year-old Quebec native is only the second woman to be named an assistant GM in NHL history, and the first in Vancouver.

"It is a big day ... an historic day," she said. "It goes to show that women have a place in sports and in hockey. I'm starting as assistant general manager and we'll see where that takes me."

Jim Rutherford, Vancouver's president of hockey operations and interim GM, said in a statement Castonguay will play a lead role in player contracts and negotiations, and managing the collective bargaining agreement.

"Émilie has extensive experience, is driven to succeed and has a strong reputation in hockey for her intelligence and work ethic," Rutherford said in a news release.

Castonguay was born in Montreal and comes to the Canucks front office from Momentum Hockey where in 2016 she became the first female NHLPA certified agent in Canada.

Canucks President, Hockey Operations and Interim General Manager Jim Rutherford announced today that Émilie Castonguay has been named Assistant General Manager.<br>Castonguay becomes the first female Assistant General Manager in team history.<br><br>DETAILS | <a href="https://t.co/92bL8fQTUv">https://t.co/92bL8fQTUv</a> <a href="https://t.co/lvwbWApcCQ">pic.twitter.com/lvwbWApcCQ</a>

She played four years of NCAA hockey at Niagara University where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in finance. After that, she interned with Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gautier, who she calls a mentor, before earning a law degree from the University of Montreal and joining the Quebec Bar Association.

Castonguay said being female never held her back as a player agent and