Columbus Blue Jackets Name Former PHPA Executive Committee Member Claude Noel as Head Coach

By Darryl Dionne  Published on: Thursday January 21, 2010

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets have relieved Head Coach Ken Hitchcock of his duties behind the bench and named Assistant Coach Claude Noel as the club's interim head coach, club General Manager Scott Howson announced today.

Noel, 54, joined the Blue Jackets as an assistant coach on June 28, 2007 after spending four seasons as the head coach of the American Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals. During that time, he led the club to a 183-94-12-31 regular season record, three 100-point seasons and two West Division titles. He also compiled a 33-21 record in the Calder Cup Playoffs, including two appearances in the Finals (2004, 2006). During the 2003-04 season, the club compiled a 46-24-7-3 record and went 16-6 in the playoffs en route to capturing the organization's first Calder Cup championship. That year, Noel was named the AHL's Coach of the Year.

"This season has been very disappointing for the Blue Jackets organization and our fans and the responsibility for that rests with all of us from management to the coaches and players," said Howson. "Hitch worked tirelessly to build an identity for this team that was missing before he arrived and deserves a great deal of credit for those efforts. He earned and received the opportunity to turn things around this season, but unfortunately that has not happened and it has become apparent that change is in the best interest of our organization. Claude Noel is a good hockey coach with a proven track record in the American Hockey League. He knows our team and is deserving of this opportunity."

Noel began his coaching career with the ECHL's Roanoke Valley Rebels in 1990-91 and served as the head coach and director of hockey operations of the ECHL's Dayton Bombers from 1991-93. In 1993, he joined the Kalamazoo Wings (later Michigan K-Wings), the International Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, as an assistant coach. He was named head coach during the 1995-96 season and served in that capacity through the 1997-98 campaign. From 1998-02, he was an assistant coach with the Admirals and in 2002-03 was named ECHL Coach of the Year with the Toledo Storm before returning to Milwaukee as head coach prior to the 2003-04 season.

Noel appeared in seven games as a forward with the NHL's Washington Capitals during the 1979-80 season and spent most of his playing career in the AHL and IHL, being named the latter’s Most Valuable Player in 1982-83 after leading the Toledo Goaldiggers to the Turner Cup championship.

Noel spent 4 seasons as a PHPA Player Representative and was a member of the PHPA Executive Committee for 3 of those years. His involvement with the PHPA did not necessarily transcend him into his coaching career. However, in the early stages of his coaching career in the ECHL, the PHPA began an aggressive initiative to unionize the League. Noel’s team owner kept him abreast on the issues, which enabled Noel to see the business side of the sport from management’s perspective.

His experiences with the PHPA have helped him throughout his coaching career from dealing with team management to various player/coach issues. While attending the PHPA Annual Meeting of Player Representatives, he learned how to sit and listen to the issues that were being presented, manage issues accordingly, and took a lot out of the experience, gaining valuable negotiation experience.

“I had some great times meeting management and fellow players while with the PHPA,” said Noel. “Sitting on the Executive Committee and dealing with ownership was a real eye opener. To witness the heated arguments, build relationships, and help guys have a structured future was a very fun and enjoyable experience with some fond memories.”

Throughout his experiences with the PHPA, Noel recalls enjoying the camaraderie with fellow representatives. “The people I met were great, the Annual Meetings were always very well run and executed, and the topics discussed by (former PHPA Executive Director) Curt Leichner and (Insurance Agent) Arlo Goodwin were quite interesting, especially the Insurance Program which really helped the players.” It was encouraging to see the participation from the other Player Reps and hear their input and knowledge of the real issues. I was surprised that the players were so interested and active with matters.”

Noel wrapped up his playing career with Milwaukee in 1987-88. Noel was born on Oct. 31, 1955 in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. He and his wife, Linda, are the parents of sons, Christopher and Sheldon.