Vincent credits team for success

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This article was published 20/12/2017 (2908 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He’s at the helm of the hottest team in professional hockey, one that hasn’t lost in regulation in more than a month. That incredible 13-0-1 run — and 17-1-1 stretching back to the start of November — has put the Manitoba Moose on top of the American Hockey League and earned him all-star game coaching honours later this season.

So it’s only natural to wonder if Pascal Vincent isn’t doing the same thing as many of his players these days, and wondering how all this success might impact his future. After all, the goal of pretty much everyone at this level is to take the next step and find full-time work in the National Hockey League.

Vincent didn’t shy away from the question Wednesday, answering it with the kind of clarity and honesty that has earned him a reputation as a strong communicator with his players.

“Well, of course I do. But I don’t really think about it. I remember a conversation I had with a midget coach four or five years ago. He had a few opportunities to go coach at the major-junior level. And I said, ‘Listen, if you can find an organization where you fit and you can be yourself, and working for the right people, and good people, you’re going to be in a very good place.’ And that’s where I am today. I’m working for a great organization, for amazing people,” Vincent said.

“So, yeah, do I want to go back to the NHL as a head coach? Absolutely. But if it doesn’t happen, I’d be happy to be here for the next 15 years of my life.”

Of course, history suggests that if Vincent and his crew continue their winning ways, he likely won’t have to wait long for opportunity to come knocking. The NHL coaching carousel is built on a “What have you done for me lately?” mentality that typically sees several jobs open up every year. And Vincent is certainly building an impressive resumé this season.

Just don’t expect him to go around bragging about it.

“It means our team has been playing well,” he said when asked what the all-star coaching honour means to him.

“When you get an individual reward, it’s never because of you individually. It’s because of the way we’ve been drafting, it’s because of the way the players have been playing, it’s because of how the assistant coaches are coaching. I’m really excited to go there to represent the organization. But at the end of the day, the players are playing extremely well, we’ve won some games and that’s why I’m there.”

Vincent checks off many of the important qualities general managers are seeking. The 46-year-old former junior player is experienced with young talent, having spent 12 years coaching and managing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Cape Breton and Montreal. He was named the league’s best GM in 2007, and the top coach in 2008.

Vincent, a native of Laval, Que., also has five years of NHL experience with the Jets, beginning with their inaugural season after the relocation from Atlanta under then-head coach Claude Noel, and later with current head man Paul Maurice.

He was appointed Moose bench boss before the start of last season. The team was coming off a disastrous return to Winnipeg from St. John’s (where they were the IceCaps) under then-coach Keith McCambridge, ending the season with a 26-41-9 record.

“It’s been huge. To be there, to experience the NHL. It’s a different world, it’s a different animal,” Vincent said.

He signalled out current and former coaches and assistants, along with players such as Chris Thorburn, Andrew Ladd, Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little for helping him in his journey.

It wasn’t the debut he was hoping for last year, as the Moose made only slight improvements and finished the year at 29-37-10 — once again well out of the playoff picture. But in hindsight, it appears many of the seeds were planted for future success, as the organization brought in an extremely young roster for Vincent to work with.

Vincent admits he did plenty of pondering over the summer about what kind of changes he could make to improve his squad. But one of the biggest, he said, was doing something that you learn early in your coaching career: sometimes the best move is, simply, being patient. In this case, that meant allowing many of the young Jets prospects to bloom.

“I think a coach is like a GPS in your car. We know where they want to go, and we’re there to help them achieve their goals,” he said. “One thing I’ve learned over the years, there’s always a better way. There’s always a way to improve. When things are not going well as a team or you’re not winning games, especially at this level, you have to keep things in perspective.”

Vincent said one of the biggest challenges he faced with such a young group last season was keeping a positive mindset, something he doesn’t have to concern himself with this season.

“I’ve said it, and I’m going to repeat myself until I die, but you’re never as good as you think you are, and you’re never as bad as you think you are,” he said. “Now we’re in a good place, and we’re playing extremely well. One part of it is our team chemistry. Because it’s so strong, the players are taking a lot of responsibilities on how they prepare for a game, how they prepare for a practice. It makes my job a little bit different. But I don’t think I coach differently.”

More than anything, the way so many first- and second-year players are thriving under his guidance shows the future appears to be in very good hands.

“One thing that was interesting that I found out in junior is that learning how to win is a different animal. Having that experience is helping today. But I can’t say I had a group that is that tight and is playing and staying humble the way they are right now,” he said.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg