By TOM WILLIAMS

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Of all the characters skating through the Central Hockey League, it would be harder to find one who loves his job and roaming hockey's minor leagues more than Paul Vincent.
This winter, Vincent will be a center for the Youngstown SteelHounds, the expansion team that will play its home games in the Youngstown Convocation Center.
"I'm like a kid -- I love the game of hockey," said the 30-year-old Vincent who is about to begin his 11th full season as a professional. "I love to watch the game of hockey.
"You watch how little kids celebrate a goal and it's the same way that I'll celebrate scoring a goal," Vincent said. "There's nothing better than being on the ice and getting paid to impress people. What more could you ask for?
"I'm doing something I've loved my whole life," Vincent said. "I know of millionaires who would gladly trades spots to do what we do."
Has been around
From the Seattle Thunderbirds in the Pacific Northwest to the Odessa Jackalopes of the Western Professional Hockey League to the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League to the Quebec RadioX of the Quebec Senior Major Hockey League, Vincent has been around.
And now he'll travel some more, playing in Ohio in a league based in the Desert Southwest. The SteelHounds are the only team in this season's 15-member CHL that's in the Eastern time zone.
Since turning professional 10 years ago with the St. John's Maple Leafs of the American Hockey League, Vincent has played for 26 teams.
The reason he's never out of work? He scores goals.
During his final Junior season (1994-95) with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos, he scored 59 goals in 62 games.
In 45 games with the Peoria Rivermen of the East Coast Hockey league in 1996-97, Vincent netted 31 goals.
In 57 games with the Odessa Jackalopes from 1998-2000, he scored 60 goals.
LaForest wanted him
That's why SteelHounds coach Jean LaForest contacted Vincent with an offer to play here.
"I've known Coach from played against him when I was in Odessa and he was in Shreveport," Vincent said during a break this week at SteelHounds training camp.
"He's going to get the best out of everybody and that's one thing I am personally looking forward to," Vincent said.
Vincent admitted that sometimes he has taken his hockey skills for granted.
"I'm an offensive player who never really had to work, I just relied on my talent," said Vincent, adding that he hopes playing for LaForest will make him work harder than ever.
"I remember playing against his teams and it was awful going into his rink because you knew you had to show up and play," Vincent said. "Jean knows what he's getting [in me] as an offensive player and as a character guy who has been around the league. I think it's a very good mix for both of us."
No longer in his 20s, Vincent said he's pushing himself this year.
Objective
"I was looking to get back into a situation where I could rebuild myself. I really want to go and make an impact," Vincent said.
"People say I got a lot of talent, but [they say] it's wasted talent, so I really wanted to go to a coach who could bring the best out of me," Vincent said. "And I really feel that knowing the type of coach Jean is would bring the best out of both of us. He's a winner, he's a proven winner and that's want I want to do number one -- win.
"Last year, I was in Quebec City. It was great for me -- I won my first championship," said Vincent of finishing up with Quebec RadioX.
Vincent played 16 games for Quebec and 12 with the Verdun Dragons of the same league.
"Other than hearing my name called at the NHL Draft, the best feeling I had as a professional hockey player was winning," he said.
Vincent saw a lot of minor league players lose job opportunities because locked-out National Hockey League players needed places to play.
"It was more of a trickle down effect where guys who were locked out ended up taking jobs from players and it really affected the game of hockey," Vincent said. "I think it didn't help but that's in the past.
"I think if you're going to lock out, lock out, don't play -- don't go and take money from a young kid who needs a job," Vincent said. "I was one of the players affected by it -- I lost my job to a guy who came down. That's part of the game, I just hope it doesn't happen again."
Big step up
He says that so far training with the SteelHounds has been a big step up.
"I love coming into new situations. This new team is a dream because of how we're being treated," Vincent said. "This is different because it's professional, that's for sure. When you have an owner who's an athlete, they understand what it's like to be an athlete."
The SteelHounds are owned by Herb Washington, the former track star who was the designated runner for the Oakland Athletics' 1974 World Series champions.
"We're getting treated phenomenally," Vincent said. "That's one thing I haven't noticed for a long time. The only [other] time I [felt] that was going to Toronto's training camp for the NHL [in 1995].
"This rink here is phenomenal and the way that the office staff treats us is professional," Vincent said. "For a guy who has played as long as I have, what really bothers me is when they ask for your heart and soul but give you nothing [in return]. Here is a situation where they are giving everything to us right away so we have no other choice but to give back.
"There's nothing better than going into a situation where people want to come and watch you play."
One of four veterans
Vincent is one of the four veteran players the SteelHounds are permitted to carry on the 17-man roster. Player-coach Jeff Christian, left winger Shawn Mamane and center Chris Richards are the others.
"The day I was adopted [as a young child], I was on skates. It's been in my blood for all this time," Vincent said. "Now that I'm one of the oldest guys, I kind of look forward to giving back to the young guys. We're a pretty young team so I look forward to it."
While the SteelHounds may not have an establish nucleus like most of the other CHL teams, Vincent said, "We're going to be in very, very good shape as Coach really installs that. That means you're going to get consistent hockey from the time the puck is dropped until the last horn.
"We're going to work. We're going to have everybody competing, blocking shots, doing what it takes to get to the next level," Vincent said. "There's nothing better than going into a situation where people want to come and watch you play."
williams@vindy.com