URL: http://www.thestar.com/thestar/editorial/sports/970326SPB1c_SP-MANON26.html March 26, 1997 Rhéaume cut from national team [photo] PETER POWER / TORONTO STAR TOUGH DAY: Manon Rhéaume, Canada's best known women's hockey player, leaves hotel in Barrie yesterday after being cut from national team. By Alan Adams - Toronto Star Sports Reporter BARRIE - Manon Rhéaume, who popularized women's hockey by becoming the first female to play for an NHL team, was cut by Canada's national team yesterday. But she promises to make a triumphant return. The move came less than a week before the world championships, which also serves as the Olympic qualifying tournament. Rhéaume fought back tears as she talked about the disappointment of not being able to compete for a third world title. But the 25-year-old veteran looked and sounded determined as she set her sights on Olympic gold. ``I want to be ready in September (for the Olympic selection camp) and give them no choice but to have me on the team,'' Rhéaume said before she left for Sacramento to begin training for the roller hockey season. ``I will make sure I am ready and they will have no choice but to pick me.'' Rhéaume was given the news by head coach Shannon Miller. ``It was a very difficult situation. She has done well for us,'' Miller said. ``It is a big disappointment,'' said Rhéaume, who played on the 1992 and 1994 world championship teams. Miller said Rhéaume couldn't adjust to the slower women's game quickly enough. ``It is not the same calibre of play when I come back here,'' said Rhéaume, who has played professional hockey with men for the last four years, most recently with Reno of the West Coast league. ``It always takes me a couple of days to readjust my speed.'' The evaluation process started in October at the Three Nations Cup, continued at a January training camp and resumed last Friday with final preparations for the world championships in Kitchener, March 31 to April 6. Danielle Dubé and Lesley Reddon showed more consistency in goal. ``When you are looking at three people who can play for you, you have to look at consistency,'' Miller said. ``The other two goalies are playing more consistently. ``Technically, Manon is very strong.'' Rhéaume, who played in an NHL exhibition game with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992, said she is aware of the difficulty of Miller's decision and acknowledged that some women will resent the fact she decided to play against men rather than women. ``I heard a lot of rumors that it was time to let Manon go because she plays professional, but I do not think it matters where you play,'' she said. ________________________ Contents copyright © 1996, 1997, The Toronto Star. User interface, selection and arrangement copyright © 1996, 1997 Torstar Electronic Publishing Ltd.