Not many hockey fans in Winnipeg know this, but Claude Noel once played against the Jets, the Johnstown Jets that is, in his former days as a player for the Buffalo Norsemen. It was in the 5th playoff game that the wheels fell off for the Norsemen.
A huge part of the Jets success so far is Claude Noel, Noel is a card, an astute coach and raconteur of the highest caliber. I mean watch this video, Noel should be on Johnny Carson, or maybe Jay Leno, Noel is easily the NHL Raconteur of the Year!
Noel recounts the "Slapshot" game!
There are rumours circulating that Noel might have been part of the Hansen family, there were four Hanson brothers, Claude the oldest, then Jack, Steve and the baby Jeff. The Hanson family were on hard times, the gold mine was closing in Kirkland Lake, Ontario and the Hanson family were having a hard time feeding four growing boys and thus Claude was taken in by the Noel family and the rest is history, just look at the photo and see the comparison. I've been to Kirkland Lake, all there is are moose, rock, swamp, black flies, and pine trees, hard to feed a big family, so you know times were tough!
Claude Noel is also a honoured member of Hockey Heritage North, so as 2011 closes out, we salute the 2011 Raconteur of the Year - CLAUDE NOEL!
Claude Noel is also a honoured member of Hockey Heritage North, so as 2011 closes out, we salute the 2011 Raconteur of the Year - CLAUDE NOEL!
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