Former NHL center Pascal Rheaume takes over as head coach of the Toronto Sceptres, bringing a decade of professional experience to the Professional Women's Hockey League. The 52-year-old Quebec native played 318 NHL games across six teams, winning the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 2003. He spent the last 14 years coaching, most recently as an assistant with Bridgeport in the AHL.

Rheaume replaces Troy Ryan, who departed for San Jose's expansion team after Toronto's disappointing fifth-place finish last season. The Sceptres missed playoffs for the first time in their three-year history, losing top scorers Daryl Watts and Jesse Compher to the Detroit expansion club. His sister Manon Rheaume serves as Detroit's general manager, making this a family affair in the league's expansion phase.

The new coach joins Ken Klee as the only former NHL players currently leading PWHL teams. Rheaume's playing resume includes stops with the Rangers, Blackhawks, and Thrashers, plus an AHL Calder Cup in 1995. GM Gina Kingsbury praised his leadership and player development approach.

With the Sceptres rebuilding during the four-team expansion, Rheaume inherits a roster in transition. The team's core needs rebuilding after losing significant offensive talent, making this coaching change essential for returning to contention next season.