Pascal Rheaume Named Toronto Sceptres Coach After Team Misses Playoffs and Loses Top Scorers

Pascal Rheaume was named coach of the Toronto Sceptres on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. The 52-year-old from Quebec City replaces Troy Ryan, who left after three seasons to become coach and general manager of the PWHL's expansion team in San Jose. Rheaume played nine NHL seasons across six teams and won a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 2003.

He recorded 39 goals and 91 points in 318 regular-season games with stops in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, the New York Rangers, Phoenix, and New Jersey. He also won an AHL Calder Cup in 1995 with Albany.

Rheaume has spent the past 14 years in coaching. His most recent role was the last two seasons as an assistant with the New York Islanders' AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He previously served two seasons as head coach of Val-d'Or in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

"Pascal brings a fresh perspective, a new voice, and valuable professional experience to our organization," Sceptres general manager Gina Kingsbury said. " Rheaume becomes the second former NHL player to coach in the PWHL, joining Minnesota's Ken Klee.

His older sister, Manon Rheaume, is general manager of the league's expansion team in Detroit, making him the second member of his family to join the PWHL this spring.

The Sceptres finished fifth in the standings last season and missed the playoffs for the first time in their three-year history. The team lost two of its top three scorers when Daryl Watts and Jesse Compher signed with Detroit during the expansion process. All eight existing PWHL franchises are in transition during the league's current expansion phase, which adds four new markets.

Las Vegas is preparing to hire Kim Weiss as its first coach. Vancouver has the league's one remaining coaching vacancy after Brian Idalski was fired following one season.