Aisha Visram made history on Thursday before the Los Angeles Kings even took the ice.
Visram worked behind the Kings bench for their 6-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Crypto.com Arena. She is believed to be the first woman ever to do so, according to the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society.
The Kings recognized the historic moment on social media.
Kings coach Todd McLellan had high praise for Visram’s work.
“That’s incredible. That’s great. We need more of that in our game. I can tell you that Aisha is a big part of our organization,” McLellan said. “And we don’t talk about these people. We don’t talk about the trainers or the equipment people, but she’s mentoring with [head athletic trainer] Chris Kingsley and the rest of the staff, and accepted a huge role there and does a tremendous job, so unreal reward for her. And everybody’s a big part of it, so include her in it.”
Visram is head trainer for the Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Ontario Reign, but got the call to work for the big club on Thursday after COVID protocols left the team’s support staff shorthanded.
Previously, Visram worked for the East Coast Hockey League’s Adirondack Thunder from 2017-2020, while also serving on the league’s Trainers Advisory Committee. From 2012-17 she was trainer for the Division I St. Lawrence University men’s and women’s hockey teams.
Thursday also happened to be the one-year anniversary of her hiring by the Reign.
“When I was growing up the idea of women working in professional hockey was still a little crazy and I’ve been lucky that a lot of really qualified, driven women came before me to pave the way,” Visram said in a Reign video celebrating the Hockey is for Everyone initiative. “But I’ve never felt, since I’ve come here that it was ever an issue. I think it means that the game is trying to be more inclusive.”
— NHL.com Independent Correspondent Dan Greenspan contributed to this report.