Canucks hire Emilie Castonguay as assistant general manager

The Vancouver Canucks hired former player agent Emilie Castonguay as assistant general manager on Monday.

The ex-agent for former No. 1 draft pick Alexis Lafreniere, Castonguay becomes the first female assistant general manager in team history.

Castonguay became the first NHLPA certified agent in 2016 after she joined Momentum Hockey.

“Émilie has extensive experience, is driven to succeed, and has a strong reputation in hockey for her intelligence and work ethic,” said Canucks president and interim general manager Jim Rutherford. “She will play a lead role in player contracts and negotiation, managing the collective bargaining agreement, and her voice will be heard in all aspects of hockey operations. She will be a key member of our leadership team and we are pleased to welcome her to Vancouver.”

“It is an honour to join the Vancouver Canucks and I am grateful to Jim and the Aquilini family for the opportunity,” said Castonguay. “The Canucks have a passionate fanbase and an exciting young team with a bright future. I can’t wait to help build a winning organization that continues to grow and challenges for championship.”

Castonguay, who was named one of the 25 most powerful women in hockey by Sportsnet in 2020, played four years of NCAA Division 1 hockey at Niagara University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2009 and won a National Scholar Athlete award for her success both on the ice and in the classroom.

Following her studies at Niagara, she earned a law degree from the University of Montreal in 2012 and is a member of the Quebec Bar Association.