Claude Noël facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Claude Noël |
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Noël in 2006
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| Born | October 31, 1955 Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada |
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| Played for | Washington Capitals SC Bern |
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| Coached for | Vancouver Giants (WHL) Winnipeg Jets (NHL) Manitoba Moose (AHL) Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) Milwaukee Admirals (AHL/IHL) Toledo Storm (ECHL) Michigan K-Wings (IHL) Dayton Bombers (ECHL) Roanoke Valley Rebels (ECHL) |
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| Playing career | 1976–1988 | ||
Claude Noël, born on October 31, 1955, is a Canadian ice hockey player and coach. He has spent nearly 30 years working in hockey. He was most recently a scout for the New Jersey Devils in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Noël also coached the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League (WHL) during the 2014–15 season. As a player, he played seven games in the NHL for the Washington Capitals. Most of his playing career, from 1976 to 1988, was in minor hockey leagues.
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Claude Noël's Hockey Journey
His Playing Days
Claude Noël was not chosen in the NHL draft after playing for the Kitchener Rangers in 1974–75. However, he signed a professional contract with the Buffalo Norsemen. This team was part of the North American Hockey League. This was the start of his long career in minor league hockey.
The next season, he moved up to the American Hockey League (AHL). He played for the Hershey Bears until 1981. During this time, he got to play seven games with the Washington Capitals in the NHL.
After playing for the Hershey Bears, Noël joined several teams in the International Hockey League. These teams included the Toledo Goaldiggers, Kalamazoo Wings, and Milwaukee Admirals. He stopped playing hockey in 1988.
While with the Buffalo Norsemen, his team was involved in a famous pre-game event. This event and the game that followed later inspired a scene in the popular movie Slap Shot. Claude Noël confirmed he was there during a press conference in 2011.
Becoming a Coach
After his playing career ended, Claude Noël became a coach. He started coaching in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). He coached the Roanoke Valley Rebels for one season. Then, he coached the Dayton Bombers for two seasons.
Noël then moved to the International Hockey League. He worked for the Kalamazoo Wings (later called the Michigan K-Wings). He was an assistant coach for two seasons and then the head coach for two seasons. After that, he became an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Admirals. He stayed with the Admirals for three seasons. Later, he returned to the ECHL to coach the Toledo Storm for one season.
Winning the Calder Cup
In 2003, Noël went back to the Milwaukee Admirals, this time as their head coach. In his very first season, the Admirals won the Calder Cup. This is a big championship trophy in the AHL.
Because of his great coaching, Noël received the Louis A. Pieri Memorial Award. This award is given to the Coach of the Year. He coached the Admirals for three more seasons, and they had a winning record each year.
Coaching in the NHL
In 2007, Noël was hired by Ken Hitchcock to be an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL. On February 3, 2010, Noël became the interim head coach for the Blue Jackets. This happened after Ken Hitchcock left the team.
Under Noël, the team won 10 games, lost 8, and had 6 overtime losses. However, his contract was not renewed at the end of the season.
On June 18, 2010, Noël was offered the head coaching job for the Manitoba Moose. This team was the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. He was officially introduced as their new head coach a few days later.
In June 2011, the NHL returned to Winnipeg. This meant the Manitoba Moose team had to move. The owners of the new Winnipeg NHL team asked Noël to be their head coach. On June 24, Noël was named the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets.
He coached the Jets until January 12, 2014. He was then replaced by Paul Maurice. On November 30, 2014, Noël was announced as the head coach of the Vancouver Giants in the WHL. He coached them for the rest of that season. After the season, he and the team decided to part ways.
On August 4, 2015, Claude Noël was named a professional scout for the NHL's New Jersey Devils.
Life Outside the Rink
Claude Noël was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in nearby towns called McGarry and North Bay. He is married to Lynda, and they have two sons named Chris and Sheldon.
