Pascal Rheaume is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on February 21, 1976, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Rheaume began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Trois-Rivieres Draveurs in 1992. He played for the Draveurs for three seasons before being drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.
Rheaume made his NHL debut with the Devils in the 1995-96 season and played in 14 games that year. He spent the majority of the next two seasons playing for the Albany River Rats, the Devils' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. Rheaume returned to the NHL in the 1997-98 season and played in 70 games for the Devils, scoring 10 goals and 14 assists.
After three seasons with the Devils, Rheaume was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2000. He played for the Lightning for two seasons before being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in 2002. Rheaume played for the Coyotes for one season before being traded back to the Lightning in 2003.
Rheaume's best season in the NHL came in the 2003-04 season when he played in 79 games for the Lightning and scored 11 goals and 16 assists. He helped the Lightning win the Stanley Cup that year, scoring two goals in the playoffs.
After the lockout-shortened 2004-05 season, Rheaume signed with the Atlanta Thrashers for the 2005-06 season. He played in 47 games for the Thrashers, scoring two goals and three assists. Rheaume retired from professional hockey after the 2005-06 season.
In total, Rheaume played in 416 NHL games, scoring 43 goals and 54 assists. He also played in 29 playoff games, scoring three goals and two assists. Rheaume was known for his hard work and versatility, playing both center and wing positions throughout his career.
After retiring from hockey, Rheaume became a coach and worked with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. He also worked as a scout for the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Montreal Canadiens. In 2018, Rheaume was named the head coach of the Val-d'Or Foreurs of the QMJHL.
Overall, Pascal Rheaume had a successful career in the NHL, playing for five different teams and winning a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. He was a hard-working player who was known for his versatility and ability to play multiple positions.
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