Google Patrick Coulombe and the first choice you may find is an offical Nov. 17 QMJHL game summary of a 6-4 win by the Chicoutimi Sagueeans over the Rimouski Oceanic. Then with the Oceanic and a future Sageean, Patrick Coulombe had a goal and an assist. A 16 year old rookie, Sidney Crosby contributed to both of Columbe's points.

His hometown of St. Fabien is on the south shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to the east of Rimouski. From here he would go on to play for Jonquiere in the elite Quebec AAA Midget League.

His name would be called in the 5th round, 67th overall by the Rimouski Oceanic in the 2001 QMJHL draft. As a 16 year old rookie in 2001-02, Coulombe got 8 assist in 34 games plus three more assists in 7 playoff games.

The following season, 02-03, he led Oceanic defensemen in all offensive categoires (72 games, 6 goals, 25 assists for 31 points.) It was a season where his squad only won 11 games, finishing last. This enabled the Oceanic to then select Sidney Crosby in the 2003 QMJHL draft.

Hockey Canada had taken notice of the boy from St Fabien and chose him to join the 2003 Canadian U-18 team. With teamates Mike Green, Jeff Carter, and Ryan Getzlaf, he helped win the gold medal for Canada.

With Sidney Crosby, the Oceanic began to turn things around. A 34 win season in 2003-04 set up things for a remarkable run in 2004-05. Finishing second as the top scoring defender on the Rimouski sqaud, Coulombe had 45 points in 59 games for 03-04. Nine playoff games that spring would see him help with three assists.

Excitment on the Gaspe Peninsula was provided by the 45 win season in 2004-05.The future Salmon Kings 60 assists (plus 8 goals) would be the 6th highest assist total that season in his league.Playoff success followed as his 19 points (17 assists) in 13 games were a signifcant element as the Oceanic won the QMJHL title.

In Canadian major junior hockey, the reward for winning your leagues championship is a berth in the annual Memorial Cup tournament. In a semifinal that many "expert commentators" expected that the Quebec entry would be derailed, Patrick Coulombe scored twice and assisted on another goal to help the Oceanic to a 7-4 victory. In the final they ran into that years team of destiny, the London Knights, who won the final game.

Returning for an overage (20) year, partway into the 05-06 campaign, Patrick Coulombe was dealt to the Chicoutimi Sagueeans. In Rimouski he had 28 points (23 assists) in 29 games. The Oceanic would finish last in the league. Near the shores of Lac St Jean, sporting the colours of the Chicoutimi Sagueeans, he would help lead his team to first in its division and second overall. For the Sagueeans, his contribution was both veteran leadership and 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists) in 33 games plus 12 points (10 assists) in nine playoff games.

Signing a pro contract with the AHL Manitoba Moose lead to an oppurtnity to attend the Vancouver Canucks training camp. He impressed the Canucks enough who signed him to a free agent contract on Oct. 31, 2006. That season he wore the colours of all three teams in the Canucks system. As a Manitoba Moose, Columbe got nine points (six assists) in 44 games. Called up for a tour of NHL duty, he dressed for seven games, getting an assist. His NHL debut was Nov. 6, 2006 with the Anaheim Ducks as the opposition.

He completed the 06-07 season with ECHL's lone Canadian entry, the Victoria Salmon King, where he helped with 3 assists in 6 games, plus two more helpers in 6 playoff games.

The following 07-08 would see a brief callup to the Moose. With the Salmon Kings he became a fan favourite as the personable St. Fabien native provided 30 points (18 goals, 22 assists) plus five more assits in eleven playoff games. The 08-09 regular season was unkind to Coulombe whose season's total was 22 points (6 goals, 16 assists). Then in the playoffs his heart, skills and toughness came together in an MVP fashion. He contributed 5 playoff points (4 assists) in 9 games. His play without the puck was remarkable.

A "Wikepeida" article states that Patrick Coulombe is "a small quick defender, has above average passing and skating skills, is especially effective on the power play, and he continues to work on his strength in dealing with larger forwards."

Utilizing a Google translation, Jean-Real Couture, writing for L'Avantage, commented on Patrick Coulombe as he attended an Oceanic game prior to attending this season's Salmon King training camp. Couture described him "as a young man with a very realistic situation, strongly attached to his region. You should have seen his admirers from 7 to 77 ask him to jump on the ice and help the Oceanic."

As of Dec 17, so far this season (09-10), he has 8 points (4 assists in 25 games).

In 1950 Lester Patrick reached into the province of Quebec to find a defenseman to be his playing coach. Roger Leger would lead the PCHL Victoria Cougars to a title in 50-51, and a close loss the 52 final. Leger would be voted MVP for 50-51. Now in 2009-10 another defender from Quebec is skating in the British Columbia capital. Patrick Coulombe is contributing to the latest chapter of the history of minor pro hockey in Victoria.