Our Alumni | Vincent Marcoux looks back on his career with no regrets
The story of Vincent Marcoux is the story of a guy who never quits. Many times, he could have thrown his arms in the air and just given up.
But that’s not in the former Victoriaville Tigres’ DNA.
In life, as in sports, he thrives when he finds a good challenge in front of him. Despite never being drafted in the QMJHL, he always believed in his dream.
While still playing at the Midget AA level back in 2009, Marcoux received an invitation to attend the Victoriaville Tigres’ training camp.
“The Tigres really had a strong team that year, with guys like Keven Poulin, Samuel Groulx, Yanni Gourde and Philippe Maillet. When I arrived, I was unknown to everyone, but I almost made the team”, recalls the now 29-year-old.
He spent that winter with the Trois-Rivières Estacades, at the U18 AAA level, and made a name for himself.
“I showed up to camp in great shape the next season and ready to earn my spot on the roster”, he recalls.
And that is exactly what happened.
Following a rookie season in which he played 67 games for Victoriaville, Vincent decided to leave the team before the next season’s transaction period.
“A few guys left at the same time because they were also in a difficult position. We had such a strong team that players like me didn’t have any ice time on the power play or on the penalty killing unit”, explains the ex-centerman.
“I totally understood the situation, but it was still difficult for a guy like me to play on the third or fourth line and not have a very important role.”
Despite the sudden halt to his QMJHL career, he has no regrets.
“I would say those were still great years in which I had the chance to meet extraordinary people. I had come a long way and I was happy to have lived those experiences”, he states.
Marcoux spent his last junior season with the Princeville Titans, with whom he won the Napa Cup that’s awarded to the champions of the Quebec Junior AAA League.
After that win, Vincent Marcoux thought this was the end of the road for him in hockey.
“I didn’t have the passion to play anymore and I came close to giving it all up”, he says.
But the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Patriotes head coach, former QMJHL bench boss Gilles Bouchard, convinced him not to hang up his skates and try university hockey instead. It turned out to be one of the best decisions the young man has ever made.
“Those were the best years of my hockey career”, admits Marcoux. “We went to the Queen’s Cup finals twice and we played in the Canadian University Championship two years in a row. It was awesome!”
He earned his diploma in Human Resources Management, all while continuing to play hockey for his school.
“I opted for Human Resources because I love team spirit, communication and getting the best out of people”, explains Marcoux.
To this day, he is convinced that his junior career gave him some great tools to succeed in the business world.
“I learned to manage high pressure situations, just like when I’m meeting an important client or an employee. In the QMJHL, you learn quickly to become an adult”, mentions Vincent Marcoux.
“Being part of a team that’s made up of so many different tempers and personalities helps you develop the skills to work well in a group setting. In hockey, when a teammate is down, you try to help him get through that difficult period”, he remarks. “That’s how we do things in our company. I can go see an employee who’s going through some tough times and give him or her a pat in the back.”
After his first job as a production supervisor in a cardboard factory, he became a foreman for one of Julien Beaudoin Furniture’s three factories located in Daveluyville, Quebec.
His father Stéphane (who played for the Shawinigan Cataractes in the 80’s) and his partner Christian Allard own a company that manages other businesses, including AlphaVic inc.
Vincent Marcoux was hired in 2018 by this company that specializes in upholstered furniture and quickly showed what he could do before being named the factory’s Director.
Last September, the company merged with Dimora Sofa Inc, which is located in Laval, Quebec. The two entities have since been united under the name Mobilier Manora, of which Vincent Marcoux is one of four co-owners.
The ex-Tigres player is loving this new adventure.
“It allowed me to get closer to my dad. We now have the same challenges and we are working together. We have the same goals. He has confidence in my abilities and I really appreciate that”, he admits.
With all his success in the business world, Marcoux still admits that the QMJHL scholarship program helped him a great deal in his journey.
“It was a big help when I was studying at UQTR. That program allowed me to focus on the academic part while I lived my passion of playing hockey.”
That passion is still very much alive today, as Marcoux has been playing with the La Tuque Loups in the Mauricie Senior AAA Hockey League for the past five seasons.
But family life is becoming more important every day for Marcoux, especially since the arrival of his young daughter Olivia less than a year ago, and alongside his soulmate Justine.
Who knows, maybe little Olivia will have the chance to see number 24 play someday?
