Women discuss breaking barriers in professional sports

YOUNGSTOWN — When you are a female, you always have to prove yourself – prove that you can do a job or task equal to or better than men.

Denise DeBartolo York and Manon Rhéaume did just that and broke boundaries while doing so.

Tonight at the Covelli Centre, York and Rhéaume spoke to high-school students, aspiring entrepreneurs and business people about how they made their presence known in the male-dominated sports industry for the Youngstown Business Incubator’s first Women’s In Entrepreneurship Program – “The Breaking Boundaries” fundraiser.

“If I can inspire someone to go for their dreams, I want to be a part of it,” Rhéaume said.

Aafke Loney, co-owner of the Youngstown Phantoms hockey team, was the event moderator and facilitator who helped put everything together and bring in the two risk-taking guest speakers.

“You have to take risks and you have to believe in yourself,” Loney said. “There’s a lot of push back in the sports world. [You] have to have the confidence to keep moving forward.”

Rhéaume, also known as the “first woman of hockey,” went from being the sister whose brothers used her as a target for hockey pucks to a professional goaltender.

Youngstown-native York, co-chairwoman of the San Francisco 49ers, has been an important part to the football team since her father, Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., purchased it in 1977, and gave it to his son, Eddie Jr.

She was previously president of the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL team when the Penguins became a champion in the early 1990s. She is one of 12 women to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com