Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent has won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award, it was announced Monday.
The award is given out annually to the AHL's most outstanding coach and was voted on by coaches and media members representing each of the 32 cities across the league.
Vincent, a product of Laval, Que., guided the Rocket to a 48-19-3-2 record this season in his first year behind the bench, good for a .701 points percentage and the best record in the AHL. The Rocket saw a 27 point improvement compared to 2023-24 and their points percentage is the second highest ever recorded by an AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens.
His second time winning the award (Vincent took it home in 2017-18), Vincent joined the Canadiens organization after spending last year as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. While he only lasted at the helm, Vincent has extensive coaching experience as an AHL and QMJHL head coach as well as an NHL assistant coach.
With Vincent being crucial in the development of many young Canadiens prospects this past season, it shouldn't be long before he potentially gets another look at an NHL head coaching job.