Raised in Deering, New Hampshire, Rheault attended Providence College from 2004 to 2008 and was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 5th round (145th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Coming out of college, he played his first games as a professional hockey player with AHL's Manchester Monarchs. He also spent time with the Ontario Reign of the East Coast Hockey League and on June 16, 2010, he was signed as a free agent by the Abbotsford Heat. After two successful seasons with the Heat in the AHL, Rheault was signed to a one-year NHL contract with the Florida Panthers of the NHL on July 2, 2012.