Pascal Vincent (born September 22, 1971) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who most recently served as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Vincent was previously the head coach of the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL) from 2016 to 2021 and an assistant coach for the Winnipeg Jets from 2011 to 2016. Vincent was the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's (QMJHL) Coach of the Year for the 2007–08 season,[1] General Manager of the Year for the 2006–07 season, and the AHL's most outstanding coach award in 2017–18. In 2023, Vincent was named head coach of the Blue Jackets, following two seasons as an assistant coach and the resignation of Mike Babcock before the 2023–24 season. Vincent 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. Vincent played three more seasons in the QMJHL between St. Jean, Laval Titan, and Verdun Collège Français before completing his junior career in 1992.
Coaching and executive career
Vincent began his coaching career as an assistant coach of the Saint-Jean Lynx of the QMJHL, and then as the head coach of the Laval-Laurentides-Lanaudiere (LLL) Regents of the Quebec AAA Midget Hockey League. Vincent joined the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles as an assistant coach for the 1999–2000 QMJHL season before becoming the head coach in October. Vincent became the team's general manager two years later.
On May 18, 2007, Vincent signed a two-year contract extension with the Screaming Eagles to continue as head coach and general manager. He was the recipient of the 2007 Maurice Filion Trophy for the QMJHL's top general manager, and the 2008 Ron Lapointe Trophy for the QMJHL's top coach. After the 2007–08 QMJHL season, Vincent was praised by many around the league with the Screaming Eagles finishing fourth in their division and winning their first-round playoff series despite having more than 10 rookies in their regular lineup and having a 16-year-old starting goaltender. On January 1, 2008, Vincent earned his 300th career win in the QMJHL.
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 AHL team, the Manitoba Moose in 2016.[2] After the 2017–18 AHL season, he won the most outstanding coach award.[3] Vincent stepped down from his position with the Moose to join the Columbus Blue Jackets coaching staff on June 24, 2021.[4]
On September 17, 2023, Vincent was named head coach of the Blue Jackets, following the pre-season resignation of Mike Babcock.[5] After only one season as head coach, Vincent was fired on June 17, 2024.[6]
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 | Knoxville Cherokees | ECHL | 57 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| QMJHL totals | 252 | 16 | 42 | 58 | 105 | 32 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 22 | ||||
| ECHL totals | 57 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
Head coaching record
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- ^ "Manitoba Moose coach Pascal Vincent credits Cape Breton for helping him reach professional hockey | SaltWire".
- ^ "Vincent to take over Moose | Winnipeg Sun".
- ^ "MOOSE'S VINCENT EARNS TOP COACH HONORS FOR 2017-18". American Hockey League. April 9, 2018.
- ^ "Pascal Vincent leaving Winnipeg to become Blue Jackets associate coach under Brad Larsen: report". The Athletic. June 24, 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Vincent fired as Blue Jackets coach, no replacement named". NHL.com. June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Pascal Vincent at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
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