Vincent relishes role developing future NHLers

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This article was published 15/09/2016 (3305 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pascal Vincent sounds mighty content with the current state of his career in pro hockey.

He’s got a new gig as a head coach, he’s unabashedly devoted to his employer and he’s confident he can play a big role in developing the future stars of the Winnipeg Jets organization.

Pascal, who was handed the reins of the Jets’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, in late May after five seasons as an assistant coach with Winnipeg, said his work life is pretty terrific.

“I’m very excited, extremely excited, to continue working for this organization, just in a different role. It’s an amazing opportunity for me and my family,” Vincent said Thursday afternoon, following a 90-minute skate by the Jets prospects as they prepare for the annual Young Stars Classic tournament this weekend in Penticton, B.C.

“I’m back to what I know the most, which is being a head coach.”

Vincent was one of former Jets head coach Claude Noel’s guys, yet he and fellow assistant Charlie Huddy wound up outlasting their boss. Vincent stayed on and worked under Paul Maurice, but was selected to take over the Moose after the team missed the playoffs and coach Keith McCambridge was let go in late April.

Vincent, who will be backed by assistant coaches Mark Morrison and Eric Dubois and goaltending coach Rick St. Croix, said working at the development level is a much better fit for him.

“Being able to work with the prospects, work with the American League guys, and help the Winnipeg Jets in ways to maybe win some hockey games and provide players, develop those guys and be patient with them, that’s an amazing opportunity I have,” said Vincent, who will be behind the bench in Penticton.

“Everybody’s got a clean slate. We’re starting from scratch. I want to make my own opinion and put them in a position to succeed and help them to be in that position. Yes, there’s some research that’s been done. But to me, it’s Day 1.”

Vincent, a week shy of his 45th birthday, has already had a long coaching career.

He began in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League as an assistant with the St. Jean Lynx and Cape Breton Screaming Eagles during the late 1990s. He earned his first head coaching gig in 2000 with the Screaming Eagles and stayed on for eight seasons before taking over as head coach of the Montreal Juniors from 2008-11. He was hired by the Jets prior to the inaugural season in 2011 and was named Moose bench boss at the end of May.

“We have great young players coming in and there’s going to be quite a few battles for different spots on both teams. We’re going to take it day by and day, and it’s going to be an exciting year, for sure,” he said.

The Jets, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers will all ice squads at the Young Stars Classic.

‘I’m back to what I know the most, which is being a head coach’– Manitoba Moose and Winnipeg Jets Young Stars head coach Pascal Vincent 

Winnipeg opens against Calgary this afternoon and then hooks up with the Canucks prospects Sunday and the Oilers hopefuls Monday.

The squad includes 19-year-old forward Kyle Connor, a 2015 first-round draft pick, and 18-year-old defenceman Logan Stanley, a 2016 first-rounder, along with Moose forwards Chase De Leo, 20, and Jimmy Lodge, 21, and Brandon native Jordy Stollard, an 18-year-old centre who played the last two seasons with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League.

Few participants at the Classic, if any, will boast Stanley’s physical attributes.

“Right now 6-7, 230 pounds.,” said the Waterloo, Ont., product, who played for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League last season. “Definitely, my strength I have to use to be at my best. When I do use my reach and my stick well, I think I’m more effective. It makes it easier on me to play.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell