Vincent Riendeau Vincent Riendeau ( born April 20 , 1966 in Saint - Hyacinthe , Quebec , Canada ) is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender . During his time in the National Hockey League , Riendeau played for the Montreal Canadiens , St . Louis Blues , Detroit Red Wings , and the Boston Bruins . Riendeau serves the distinction of being the first Canadian and former NHL player to sign with a professional hockey team in the Russian Superleague . Playing career . Junior / College career . Riendeau began his playing career in the juniors with the Verdun Juniors in the QMJHL during the 1983 – 84 season , posting a 22 - 13 - 2 record with 2 shutout s and a 4 . 14 goals against average . He also played 15 games for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL during the same season . The following season , Riendeau left the junior leagues to play Canadian college hockey for Sherbrooke College ( CEGEP ) . Riendeau returned to the juniors for the 1985 – 86 season , suiting up for the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL . With a record of 33 - 20 - 3 , Riendeau was able to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Montreal Canadiens before his season ended in the juniors . Career with Montreal . Riendeau would spend the 1986 – 87 and 1987 – 88 seasons playing for Montreal ' s minor league affiliate , the Sherbrooke Canadiens of the AHL . In his first professional season , Riendeau was awarded the Harry " Hap " Holmes Trophy for allowing the fewest goals - against in the AHL . Despite posting winning records in the minors , Riendeau suffered in his only appearance for Montreal during the 1987 – 88 season , in which he allowed 5 goals in 36 minutes . With Montreal already having excellent goaltending from Patrick Roy and Brian Hayward , Riendeau was traded to St . Louis on 9 August 1988 with Sergio Momesso for Jocelyn Lemieux , Darrell May and St . Louis ' s 2nd choice ( which became Patrice Brisebois ) in The 1989 NHL Entry Draft . Career with St . Louis . Riendeau was excited for his debut with St . Louis during the 1988 – 89 season . His first game was set to be on the road in Hartford . His parents traveled from his native Quebec to watch their son ' s opening night , only to have teammate Dave Lowry hit Riendeau ' s shoulder with a hard shot during the pre - game warm - up , putting him out of action for the night . Riendeau was able to establish himself as a solid member of the Blues , backing up Greg Millen for that season . Riendeau did not see any time in the playoffs . Riendeau would establish himself as the starting goaltender for the 1989 – 90 season , in which he would be supported by Millen and Curtis Joseph . He was able to make his first playoff appearance with the Blues that season as well . While Joseph was the goaltender who lead St . Louis in the opening round of the playoffs , Riendeau took over during the second round , in which they were eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks . Riendeau ' s most successful season in the NHL was the 1990 – 91 season , in which he posted a 29 - 9 - 6 record in 44 games , with Joseph serving as his backup . Riendeau would one again lead St . Louis into the playoffs . While they eliminated Detroit in the opening round , they lost to the Minnesota North Stars in the next round . In the playoffs , Bob Probert punched Riendeau after Riendeau pointed Probert ' s actions out to a referee in an unsuccessful attempt to draw a penalty . Career with Detroit . For the start of the 1991 – 92 season , St . Louis opted to go with Joseph as their starting goaltender and prospects Guy Hebert and Pat Jablonski in the backup role . On 18 October 1991 , Riendeau was traded to Detroit for Rick Zombo . Riendeau would make his first appearance for Detroit on 23 October 1991 , in which he would suffer a knee injury 27 minutes into the game and sideline him for most of the season . When Riendeau recovered , he went on to backup Tim Cheveldae for the remainder of the season and into the playoffs , where they were eliminated by Chicago in the second round . Riendeau continued to support Cheveldae during the 1992 – 93 season , appearing in 22 regular season games . Riendeau did not appear in any playoff games that season , where Detroit was eliminated in the opening round by the Toronto Maple Leafs . Career with Boston . By the time the 1993 – 94 season came around , Detroit gave the starting goaltender position to Chris Osgood and designated Cheveldae as his back up . Riendeau had now become Detroit ' s third goaltender . After appearing in 8 games for Detroit and 10 games for their minor league affiliate , the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL , Riendeau was traded to Boston on 17 January 1994 for a conditional 5th round draft choice in 1995 Entry Draft , which became Chad Wilchynski . Boston was able to send John Blue to the minors so that Riendeau could support Jon Casey . The duo lead Boston into the playoffs , where they lost in the second round to the New Jersey Devils . Riendeau continued his role as a backup during the 1994 – 95 season , supporting Blaine Lacher . Riendeau did not fare well during the regular season , posting a 3 - 6 - 1 record , leaving Boston to rely on Lacher in the playoffs , where Boston was eliminated in the opening round by New Jersey , who were the eventual Stanley Cup Champions . Riendeau did participate in one playoff game for the minor league affiliate Providence Bruins of the AHL that season . On 21 August 1995 , Riendeau was released by Boston . Career after the NHL . Riendeau spent the 1995 – 96 season with SC Riessersee Garmisch - Partenkirchen in Germany , where he appeared in 47 games . Riendeau would return to North America for the 1996 – 97 season , where he would play for the Manitoba Moose of the IHL . Despite having a prolific previous season , Riendeau would post a 10 - 18 - 5 record at a minor league level . Riendeau began to believe that his playing career was over when he received an offer from the German club ECR Revier Lowen Ratingen during the summer prior to the 1997 – 98 season . After appearing in 14 games , the club began to suffer financial difficulties , causing Riendeau to sign on with HC Lugano of the Swiss Nationalliga A , where he would appear in one game . Riendeau found himself with the Ayr Scottish Eagles of the British Ice Hockey Superleague for the start of the 1998 - 99 . Riendeau would play both regular season games and in tournaments , where he would come to play against members of the Russian Superleague . Riendeau admired the Russians work ethic and sought to join the Russian Superleague . After playing in 32 games and tournament appearances , a clause in Riendeau ' s contract came into effect in January 1999 that the club had to renegotiate his contract . Riendeau was able to negotiate a deal to be released by Ayr and join HC Lada Togliatti of the Russian Superleague . Riendeau would go on to appear in 5 regular season contests and 7 playoff contests . Riendeau would continue to play for Lada Togliatti for the 1999 – 2000 season , appearing in 16 regular season games and one playoff game . Riendeau would return to North America for the 2000 – 01 season and play his final professional season with the Anchorage Aces of the WCHL . Riendeau posted an 8 - 10 - 2 record backing up Dan McIntyre . Retirement . Following his retirement , Riendeau would become a goaltending consultant for the Toronto Maple Leafs , a move that allowed him to work with Joseph again . Riendeau would then spend the 2004 – 05 season as the goaltender coach for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL . Riendeau is now coaching in Germany .