The Laval Rocket has found its new head coach; it is Pascal Vincent.
The team, which had been looking for its trusted person since the departure of Jean-François Houle in mid-June, announced the news Tuesday morning in a press release. Vincent thus becomes the fourth head coach in the club’s history.
The 52-year-old from Laval was head coach of the Manitoba Moose for five seasons, from 2016 to 2021. He also won the Coach of the Year award at the end of the 2017-2018 season. He then became an assistant coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, before being promoted to head coach in 2023-2024 when Mike Babcock was fired.
Vincent was fired last June after the team finished the season in 29e circuit level. It did not survive the arrival of a new administration.
Rocket general manager John Sedgwick praised the new head coach’s “extensive knowledge” and “undeniable passion for hockey.”
“His deep expertise has proven to be a key element in developing young talent while also showcasing his desire to win throughout his coaching career,” he continued. “His values, collaborative spirit and work ethic make him an ideal fit for our organization and the right person to work with our talented group of young players. We are thrilled to be able to add a coach of his caliber and very excited for the future.”
Let us recall that the team hired an assistant coach, Daniel Jacob, at the beginning of July.