The Trois-Rivières Lions are entering a new era as Marc-André Bergeron has stepped down from all his duties while Pascal Rheaume will act as general manager and head coach.
The Trois Rivières organization, which missed out on the playoffs in its second year of existence after qualifying in 2022, is hoping Rheaume will offer it a little more stability. The last few months have been marked by the resignation of pilot Éric Bélanger and a dispute with the city administration over the lease of the Colisée Vidéotron. Now the new GM and head coach, who has been an assistant since 2021, will build on his strengths to bring positives back to the Lions.
“We believe that his experience as a player and coach, as well as his connection to the city of Trois-Rivières, will contribute significantly to the success of our team. We are confident that Pascal can lead the Lions to excellence,” Dean MacDonald, president of Deacon Sports and Entertainment, said in a statement.
Rheaume has a long career as a professional player, playing 318 games in the National League from 1996 to 2006. The 50-year-old and brother of former goalkeeper Manon Rheaume is characterized by “his in-depth knowledge of the sport coupled with his strategic focus, thinking ability and excellent work ethic,” according to the organization.
For a return to Bergeron in April, he gave no guarantee of a return next season.
“I love my role as Vice President and General Manager. I enjoyed the coaching more than I expected. I need to rest and think about next season to really see what shoes I want to wear. As we speak, I want to take the time to think about it carefully and to talk about it with my family. I want to keep all options open to make sure I make the right decision,” he admitted to TVA Sports JiC.