Adam Pineault Article Talking About the Past & the Future

I found this article about Adam Pineault which was published in his hometown newspaper, The Daytona Beach News-Journal,  written by Chris Boyle. I sure hope Adam & Monique come back to Allen but based on his comments in this story it does not look good for his return. Let's hope Adam gets a shot with an AHL team as he certainly has the skill and drive to succeed at that level if he is just given a chance.

After year away from hockey, NSB's Pineault takes home title

Adam Pineault, left, holds the Ray Miron Presidents' Cup, awarded to the 2013 CHL champion Allen (Texas) Americans. He spent a year away from hockey to help his wife, Monique, right, battle acute myeloid leukemia.
Courtesy of Monique Pineault

By Chris Boyle
STAFF WRITER

Published: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at 11:48 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, July 11, 2013 at 12:52 a.m.

SOUTH DAYTONA -- The last thing Adam Pineault wanted was to be off the ice.

After spending a year away from hockey, Pineault scored 16 goals for the Allen (Texas) Americans in the Central Hockey League during the regular season.

But in the opening game of the playoffs, he suffered a concussion.

“Unfortunately, I got my bell rung pretty good when I wasn't expecting to get hit,” Pineault said. “It put me out for the whole playoff series.”

“It's playoff hockey – everybody finishes their checks.”

Needing roughly five weeks to battle through post-concussion symptoms, Pineault watched the Americans win their first championship in league history from the bench.

“You're there all year to help the guys win, and you almost feel kind of isolated from the team a little bit,” Pineault said. “That's part of hockey. Injuries come and there's not too much you can do to prevent them.”

“You don't want to rush it -- that's the No. 1 thing,” he added. “You know when you're not right, and I knew for a while that I wasn't back to myself. I'd rather take it slow, which we did, than try to speed up the process and make things worse.”

The injury did not prevent Pineault from supporting his teammates and acting as a leader in the locker room.

“He's probably as good of a teammate as you could ask for,” Americans defenseman Corbin Baldwin said. “He's always positive; he was never down. He's always a happy guy in the room, cracking jokes and just keeping everyone's spirits high.”

It also will not prevent him from continuing his career, as the 27-year-old forward from New Smyrna Beach weighs his options this offseason.

Drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Pineault played parts of three seasons with their American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse.

He made it to the NHL on April 3, 2008, playing just under nine minutes and registering a shot on goal against the Detroit Red Wings.

He played three games before returning to the minors.

In 2009, Pineault signed with Paradubice HC in the Czech Republic, where he scored 19 goals in two seasons. He signed a three-year extension to remain with the team, but shortly after, Pineault returned home.

His father and wife were diagnosed with cancer, prompting him to take a full year away from the game he loves.

“There's not a question in my mind – any husband would do the same thing,” Pineault said. “Hockey's just a game in the end. I don't think there would have been any way I could have played, anyway, knowing what my wife was going through. It was tough not being by her side for a couple hours, regardless of going to play somewhere.”

Pineault's father Roland passed away in April 2012, but his wife, Monique, made a full recovery from acute myeloid leukemia after undergoing a bone marrow transplant.

Monique says her husband sacrificed much more than hockey during the process.

“He was by my side all the time,” she said. “He slept on this little cot. Adam is 6-(foot)-2 , so he wasn't comfortable, I know, for eight months -- the time that we spent in and out of the hospital.”

“I definitely had more strength when he was by my side. He was very encouraging and positive. He was always like, ‘Hey, we're going to do this.'”

With his mind clear, Pineault signed a contract with the Americans at the end of the 2011-12 season. He ranked sixth on the team this season with 39 points while posting a plus-9 rating.

For next season, the free agent said he is speaking to several teams in different leagues, including the East Coast Hockey League's Orlando Solar Bears who play about 50 miles from Pineault's home.

He and his wife moved to New Smyrna Beach in 2009 to enjoy the warm weather and beaches. Prior to living in Florida, Pineault, born in Holyoke, Mass., spent time in Ohio and Connecticut.

No matter where he goes, the goal is clear -- to get back to the NHL.

“With the lockout, it was tough to get an opportunity anywhere. I'm just hoping I get an opportunity somewhere,” Pineault said. “I believe if I get the opportunity, I'll be able to impress. I'll do the rest.”