Pascal Vincent (born September 22, 1971) is a Canadian professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

coach and former player who currently serves as the head coach for the

Laval Rocket The Laval Rocket () are a professional ice hockey team based in Laval, Quebec. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) and Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL. The Rocket play ...

of the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...

(AHL). He is a two-time recipient of the

Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award The Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award is an American Hockey League (AHL) trophy awarded annually to the most outstanding coach during the season, as voted upon by members of the AHL media. The award is named for Louis Pieri, a long-time contributor ...

as outstanding AHL coach, having won the award for the 2017–18 and 2024–25 seasons. After success in the

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL; , LHJMQ), formerly the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The league includes teams in Quebec ...

(QMJHL), where he was named both general manager of the year and

coach of the year Many sports leagues, sportswriting associations, and other organizations confer "Coach of the Year" awards. In some sports — including baseball and association football — the award is called the "Manager of the Year" award. Some of the ...

while overseeing the

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles The Cape Breton Eagles are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. They are members of the Maritimes Division, and play their home games at ...

, Vincent joined the

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...

organization as an assistant coach in 2011, before taking over their AHL affiliate

Manitoba Moose The Manitoba Moose are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team plays its home games at Canada Life Centre. The fran ...

from 2016 to 2021. After two years as an assistant coach with the

Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern C ...

, he was named their head coach prior to the start of the 2023–24 season when coach

Mike Babcock Mike Babcock (born April 29, 1963) is a Canadian former ice hockey player and coach. He spent parts of eighteen seasons as a head coach in the National Hockey League (NHL), beginning when he was named head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, Mighty Duck ...

resigned, but was subsequently fired at season's end, having finished last in the

Metropolitan Division The National Hockey League's Metropolitan Division (often referred to simply as the "Metro Division") was formed in 2013 as one of the two divisions in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference as part of a league realignment. It is als ...

Playing career

Vincent made his

(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 The Laval Titan was one of the names used by a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) franchise that played in Laval, Quebec, Canada, between 1971 and 1998. History The Rosemont National began in the 1969–70 QM ...

, Verdun Collège Français, and the

Granby Bisons The Granby Bisons were a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Granby, Quebec, and played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The team was founded in 1981 after they moved from Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, where they had previously been k ...

before completing his junior career in

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

. Vincent then played a single season in the

ECHL The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a minor professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams across the United States and Canada. Competitively, it is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The ...

with the

Knoxville Cherokees The Knoxville Cherokees were an East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) team based in Knoxville, Tennessee. History The franchise was formed in 1988 along with the ECHL. The team moved to Florence, South Carolina in 1997 and was renamed the Pee Dee Pr ...

before retiring from active play following the

1992–93 ECHL season The 1992–93 ECHL season was the fifth season of the ECHL. In 1992, the league saw numerous changes in team membership. The Winston-Salem Thunderbirds move to Wheeling, WV, becoming the first franchise to make a major relocation, the Roanok ...

Coaching and executive career

Vincent began his coaching career as an assistant coach of the

Saint-Jean Lynx The Saint-Jean Lynx were a junior ice hockey team which played from 1989 to 1995 in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. They played at the Colisée Isabelle-Brasseur. In 1982, they moved from Sherbrooke where they were formerly the Sherbrooke C ...

of the

(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

as an assistant coach for the

1999–2000 QMJHL season The 1999–2000 QMJHL season was the 31st season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league grants the Montreal Rocket an expansion franchise, returning a team to the most populous city in Quebec. The QMJHL splits into ...

before becoming head coach shortly thereafter. He then assumed the role as the team's general manager in 2001. Vincent was the recipient of the 2007

Maurice Filion Trophy The Maurice Filion Trophy is awarded annually to the general manager A general manager (GM) is an executive who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company's income statement, known as profit & loss (P ...

as the QMJHL's top general manager, and the 2008 Ron Lapointe Trophy as the league's top coach. Following the

2007–08 QMJHL season The 2007–08 QMJHL season was the 39th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. At the season-opening press conference, the QMJHL announced in partnership with Telus that all 630 regular season games would be available by ...

, he joined the recently relocated

Montreal Junior Hockey Club The Montreal Junior Hockey Club ('' French: Le Club de Hockey Junior de Montréal'') was a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The team was based out of the Verdun Auditorium, in Verdun, Quebec, Canada. The St ...

as head coach and general manager. On July 22, 2011, Vincent was named an assistant coach of the

of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

(NHL). After five years in that role, the Jets promoted him to head coach of their

(AHL) affiliate, the

in 2016. At the conclusion of the

2017–18 AHL season The 2017–18 AHL season was the 82nd season of the American Hockey League. The regular season ran from October 6, 2017, to April 15, 2018. The 2018 Calder Cup playoffs followed the conclusion of the regular season. The Toronto Marlies won thei ...

, he won the

as Most Outstanding Coach. Vincent stepped down from his position with the Moose to join the coaching staff of the

on June 24, 2021. On September 17, 2023, Vincent was named head coach of the Blue Jackets, following the preseason resignation of

. After only one season as head coach, he was fired on June 17, 2024. On July 16, 2024, Vincent was named head coach of his hometown

, the AHL affiliate of the

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

. His impact on the team was instantaneous, with the Rocket posting a franchise record seven consecutive wins to begin the 2024–25 season. He was inducted into the Laval Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2024. The Rocket would have the best season in franchise history to date, winning the

Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy The Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy is presented annually to the AHL team that finishes the regular season with the most points or highest points percentage. The award is named after late former AHL board member Macgregor Kilpatrick. The award was f ...

as AHL regular season champions for the first time. In recognition of his work, Vincent received his second Pieri Award as AHL coach of the year.

Career statistics

Head coaching record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vincent, Pascal 1971 births Living people Canadian ice hockey centres Canadian ice hockey coaches Cape Breton Screaming Eagles coaches Columbus Blue Jackets coaches Ice hockey people from Laval, Quebec Manitoba Moose coaches Laval Rocket coaches Montreal Junior Hockey Club coaches Winnipeg Jets coaches