Claude Noël
Canadian former player and coach; seven NHL games with Washington.
Claude Noël, a Canadian ice hockey figure born October 31, 1955, spent most of his playing career in the minors after appearing in seven NHL games for the Washington Capitals in 1979–80. He later coached for nearly three decades, most recently as head coach of the Vancouver Giants in 2014–15, and now scouts for the New Jersey Devils.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 31 October 1955
- Birthplace
- Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
- Played for
- Washington Capitals; SC Bern
Facts from the source article.
Playing career
Noël went undrafted after playing 1974–75 with the Kitchener Rangers. He began his professional career with the Buffalo Norsemen of the North American Hockey League. The following season he moved to the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears, where he remained until 1981. During the 1979–80 season he earned a call-up to the Washington Capitals for seven games. After Hershey, he played in the International Hockey League for the Toledo Goaldiggers, Kalamazoo Wings, and Milwaukee Admirals before retiring in 1988. While with Buffalo, his team was involved in a pre-game brawl with the Johnstown Jets that later inspired a scene in the film Slap Shot; Noël confirmed he was on the ice for that event.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player, Claude Noël turned to coaching. He started in the ECHL, leading the Roanoke Valley Rebels for a year and then the Dayton Bombers for two seasons. He moved to the IHL’s Kalamazoo Wings, later the Michigan K-Wings, working two years as an assistant and two as head coach. He then became an assistant with the Milwaukee Admirals, first in the IHL and later the AHL. Following three seasons there, he returned to the ECHL for a single year as head coach of the Toledo Storm. In 2003, Noël went back to Milwaukee as head coach. His first season ended with a Calder Cup win, earning him the Louis A. Pieri Memorial Award as Coach of the Year. He stayed three more years, posting winning records each time. In 2007, Ken Hitchcock brought him to the Columbus Blue Jackets as an assistant. When Hitchcock was let go on February 3, 2010, Noël took over as interim head coach. The team went 10–8–6 under him, but his contract wasn’t renewed. On June 18, 2010, he was offered the head job with the Manitoba Moose, Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, and was introduced three days later. The NHL’s return to Winnipeg forced the Moose to relocate in June 2011, and Noël was named head coach of the Winnipeg Jets on June 24. He was fired on January 12, 2014, replaced by Paul Maurice. On November 30, 2014, he became head coach of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, finishing the season before a mutual split. On August 4, 2015, he was hired as a pro scout for the New Jersey Devils.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Claude Noël born?
Claude Noël was born on 31 October 1955 in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada.
Which teams did Claude Noël play for?
Claude Noël played for Washington Capitals and SC Bern.
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