Pascal Vincent (born September 22, 1971 in Laval, Quebec) is a retired ice hockey player and current assistant coach of the Winnipeg Jets. Vincent was the QMJHL's coach of the year for the 2007-2008 season.
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Vincent made his QMJHL debut as a centre in the 1988-1989 season with the St. Jean Castors. Vincent played three more seasons in the QMJHL between St. Jean, Laval, and Verdun before completing his junior career in 1992.
Vincent began his coaching career as an assistant coach of the St. Jean Lynx of the QMJHL, and then as the head coach of Laval of the Quebec AAA Midget Hockey League. Vincent joined the 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.
Vincent came under heavy criticism following an embarrassing second-round playoff exit by the Screaming Eagles in 2003-2004 after a very successful season. Vincent "stacked" the lineup with many NHL prospects, most of which came from the Halifax Mooseheads in a notorious "boomerang" trade. Many speculated that Vincent would be fired, but then-President Greg Lynch opted not to, claiming he was just as much to the blame for the poor performance.
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 2007-2008 season, Vincent was praised by many around the league for the Screaming Eagles finishing 4th in their division and winning their first round playoff series despite having more than ten rookies in their regular lineup and having a sixteen year-old starting goaltender. On January 1, 2008, Vincent earned his 300th career win in the QMJHL.
On July 22, 2011, now head coach of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, formerly the Montréal Junior Hockey Club, Vincent was named assistant-coach of the new Winnipeg Jets of the NHL with Claude Noel as head coach.
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Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
1988-1989 | St. Jean Beavers | QMJHL | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
1989-1990 | St. Jean Lynx | QMJHL | 70 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 45 | |
1990-1991 | Laval Titan | QMJHL | 64 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | |
1991-1992 | Laval Titan | QMJHL | 53 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 36 | |
1991-1992 | Verdun College-Francais | QMJHL | 17 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 12 | |
QMJHL Totals | 252 | 16 | 42 | 58 | 105 |