Pascal Vincent

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. 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. 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.

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. He then assumed the role as the team's general manager in 2001.

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. Following the 2007–08 QMJHL season, he joined the recently relocated Montreal Junior Hockey Club as head coach and general manager.

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. At the conclusion of the 2017–18 AHL season, he won the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award as Most Outstanding Coach. Vincent stepped down from his position with the Moose to join the coaching staff of the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 24, 2021.

On September 17, 2023, Vincent was named head coach of the Blue Jackets, following the preseason resignation of Mike Babcock. 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 Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens.