Alain Vigneault - Playing Career

Playing Career

A defenceman, Vigneault played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for four seasons, beginning in 1977–78 with the Hull Olympiques. He recorded 11 goals and 46 points over 59 games as a rookie, before improving to 13 goals and 54 points over 72 games to rank fifth in team scoring the following season. In his third QMJHL season, Vigneault was traded from Hull to the Trois Rivieres Draveurs. Between the two teams, he accumulated a junior career-high 64 points (11 goals and 53 assists) over 63 games. The following season, his fourth and final in the QMJHL, he tallied 7 goals and 62 points over 67 games, before adding 4 goals and 10 points in 19 playoff games. His efforts helped the Draveurs to the QMJHL Finals, where they were defeated four-games-to-one by the Cornwall Royals.

Following his QMJHL career, Vigneault was selected in the eighth round, 167th overall, by the St. Louis Blues in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the Blues organization the following season and appeared in 14 games for the Blues (1 goals and 2 assists), while playing the majority of his professional rookie campaign with the team's Central Hockey League (CHL) affiliate, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles. His time with the Blues increased the following season and he recorded a goal and three assists over 28 NHL games, as well as one assist in four playoff games, while still spending time with the Eagles.

Vigneault played his final year of professional hockey in 1983–84, splitting time between the Maine Mariners of the American Hockey League and the Montana Magic of the CHL.