The fifth head coach of the 麻豆传媒映画Giants is a former AHL and NHL forward who coached the Winnipeg Jets for three seasons and is known for his sometimes harsh, other times hilarious press conference candour. Claude Noel, 59, was named the Giants coach Nov. 30.
Troy Ward was fired Nov. 26. Since he started his 麻豆传媒映画tenure this summer, Ward had a 10-18 record, and the Giants were at the bottom of the B.C. Division with 20 points, 27 behind the first-place Kelowna Rockets. Ward had also coached in the NHL as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
鈥淥bviously with where we are in the standings, it just wasn鈥檛 working with Troy,鈥� said Giants GM Scott Bonner in a statement released last week.
On Sunday night the club made another announcement.聽
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to have Claude join our organization,鈥� said Bonner. 鈥淗e has worked extensively with Ken Hitchcock, who is one of the best coaches in WHL history, and with Claude coming from the NHL, we know he鈥檚 one of the top coaches in the world.
鈥淲e鈥檙e confident that he can get us back on track.鈥�
With the Jets from 2011-2014, Noel compiled a record of 80-79-18. He also stepped in as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets part way through the 2009-10 season. The club went 10-8-6.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to be joining the Giants organization,鈥� said Noel in a release on Sunday. 鈥淚鈥檓 familiar with the youth and the young players and the league, and I view it as a really good situation and a good opportunity. I watched the game last night against Calgary. I thought our team played really well, and I was really happy that we won. I鈥檓 excited to get to work this week.鈥�
With the Jets, Noel showed he could be articulate and thoughtful. He cracked jokes, was highly quotable, talked back to reporters and occasionally worked through his thoughts aloud, which made for forthright answers.
While in a rut, he memorably said to a scrum of reporters: 鈥淒on鈥檛 ask me the same dumb question again 鈥� are you concerned with the one goals. Do I like the one goal we get every game? No. Do I coach that way? No.鈥�
And in another scoring slump, he said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e given up seven goals in two games and haven鈥檛 scored one. They鈥檙e playing chess, we鈥檙e playing checkers.鈥�
A native of Kirkland Lake, Ont., Noel has coached professional hockey for more than 25 years and in 2004 won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL coach of the year after the Milwaukee Admirals won the Calder Cup. He also coached the Canucks AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, in the 2010-11 season.
He played professionally in the AHL and NHL, where he dressed in seven games with the Washington Capitals in 1979-80.
Noel will coach his first game with the Giants at home on Friday against the Portland Winterhawks. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
Joyeux Noel
The 麻豆传媒映画Giants host two seasonal games at Pacific Coliseum this month.
The Teddy Bear Toss is Dec. 6 and Ugly Christmas Sweater Night is Dec. 13.
In the Teddy Bear Toss, spectators can bring toys for donation and also purchase stuffed bears at the game. Proceeds go the CKNW Orphans Fund and The Province Empty Stocking Fund. A week later, wear your tackiest holiday threads to watch the G-Men play in special (read: ugly) jerseys.
