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Pascal Vincent
Pascal Vincent
Born	September 22, 1971 (age 53); Laval, Quebec, Canada
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Right
Played for	Knoxville Cherokees
Coached for	Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1988–1993
Coaching career	1994–present

Pascal Vincent (born September 22, 1971) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who currently serves as the head coach for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL). Vincent was previously head coach of the AHL's Manitoba Moose from 2016 to 2021 and an assistant coach for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2011 to 2016. He was named General Manager of the Year in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the 2006–07 season, Coach of the Year for the 2007–08 season, and likewise won the most outstanding coach award for the 2017–18 AHL season. In 2023, Vincent was named head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, following two seasons as an assistant coach and the resignation of Mike Babcock prior to the 2023–24 NHL season. He was subsequently fired after his lone season with Columbus, having finished last in the Metropolitan Division.

Playing career

Vincent made his Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) debut as a centre in the 1988–89 season with the St. Jean Castors. He played three additional seasons in the QMJHL between St. Jean, the Laval Titan, Verdun Collège Français, and the Granby Bisons before completing his junior career in 1992. Vincent then played a single season in the ECHL with the Knoxville Cherokees before retiring from active play following the 1992–93 ECHL season.^[1]^[2]

Coaching and executive career

Vincent began his coaching career as an assistant coach of the Saint-Jean Lynx of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and then as the head coach of the Laval-Laurentides-Lanaudiere (LLL) Regents of the Quebec AAA Midget Hockey League (QMAAA). Vincent originally joined the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles as an assistant coach for the 1999–2000 QMJHL season before becoming head coach shortly thereafter.^[3] He then assumed the role as the team's general manager in 2001.^[4]

Vincent was the recipient of the 2007 Maurice Filion Trophy as the QMJHL's top general manager, and the 2008 Ron Lapointe Trophy as the league's top coach.^[5] Following the 2007–08 QMJHL season, he joined the recently relocated Montreal Junior Hockey Club as head coach and general manager.^[6]

On July 22, 2011, Vincent was named an assistant coach of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). After five years in that role, the Jets promoted him to head coach of their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose in 2016.^[7] At the conclusion of the 2017–18 AHL season, he won the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award as Most Outstanding Coach.^[8] Vincent stepped down from his position with the Moose to join the coaching staff of the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 24, 2021.^[9]

On September 17, 2023, Vincent was named head coach of the Blue Jackets, following the preseason resignation of Mike Babcock.^[10] After only one season as head coach, he was fired on June 17, 2024.^[11]

On July 16, 2024, Vincent was named head coach of his hometown Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens.^[12] His impact on the team was instantaneous, with the Rocket posting a franchise record seven consecutive wins to begin the 2024–25 season.^[13]

In November 2024, Vincent would be recognized for his illustrious career as a tactician, accepting induction into the Laval Hockey Hall of Fame.^[14]

Career statistics

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1988–89	St. Jean Castors	QMJHL	48	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	St. Jean Lynx	QMJHL	70	4	7	11	45	—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Laval Titan	QMJHL	64	4	8	12	12	13	1	0	1	8
1991–92	Laval Titan	QMJHL	53	3	20	23	36	—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Verdun College-Francais	QMJHL	17	5	7	12	12	19	1	6	7	14
1992–93	Granby Bisons	QMJHL	2	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Knoxville Cherokees	ECHL	57	4	7	11	33	—	—	—	—	—
QMJHL totals			254	16	42	58	105	32	2	6	8	22
ECHL totals			57	4	7	11	33	—	—	—	—	—

Head coaching record

Team	Year	Regular season						Postseason
Team	Year	G	W	L	OTL	Pts	Finish	W	L	Win %	Result
CBJ	2023–24	82	27	43	12	66	8th in Metropolitan	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
Total		82	27	43	12			—	—	—

References

^ "Pascal Vincent (b. 1971)". HockeyDB. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
^ Portzline, Aaron (October 11, 2023). "It's not 'Dr. Pascal Vincent,' but it's the opportunity of a lifetime for Blue Jackets' new boss". The Athletic. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
^ "Screaming Eagles coach let go". CBC News. October 12, 1999. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
^ Paul, Jeremy (September 20, 2023). "The Pascal Vincent Era Begins". Inside The Rink. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
^ Fraser, Jeremy (December 19, 2019). "Manitoba Moose coach Pascal Vincent credits Cape Breton for helping him reach professional hockey". SaltWire.
^ "Vincent heads to Montreal". CHL.ca. May 1, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
^ Wiebe, Ken (May 26, 2016). "Vincent to take over Moose". Winnipeg Sun.
^ "MOOSE'S VINCENT EARNS TOP COACH HONORS FOR 2017-18". TheAHL.com. April 9, 2018.
^ Portzline, Aaron (June 24, 2021). "Pascal Vincent leaving Winnipeg to become Blue Jackets associate coach under Brad Larsen: report". The Athletic.
^ "Mike Babcock resigns as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets; Club names Pascal Vincent head coach". Columbus Blue Jackets. September 17, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023 – via NHL.com.
^ "Vincent fired as Blue Jackets coach, no replacement named". NHL.com. June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
^ McGoey, Steven (July 16, 2024). "Laval Rocket Hire Pascal Vincent as Head Coach". The Hockey News. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
^ @RocketLaval (November 2, 2024). "🚀🚀" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ Vézina, Justin (November 28, 2024). "Pascal Vincent inducted into the Laval Hockey Hall of Fame". Laval Rocket. Retrieved November 29, 2024.

External links

Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Ted Nolan	Maurice Filion Trophy 2006–07	Succeeded by Jacques Beaulieu
Sporting positions
Preceded by Keith McCambridge	Head coach of the Manitoba Moose 2016–2021	Succeeded by Mark Morrison
Preceded by Mike Babcock	Head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets 2023–2024	Succeeded by Dean Evason