Born in Montreal, Quebec on January 6, 1976, Goneau joined the major junior Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Laval Titan and Granby Bisons. He won the AutoPro Plaque (top plus/minus player) in 1995-96. He was drafted by the Boston Bruins 47th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. Unable to come to terms with the club, the young forward re-entered the draft and was taken 48th overall by New York in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft after scoring 54 goals for Granby and being named to the QMJHL first all-star team in 1996.