The Winnipeg NHLers have named Claude Noel as their head coach for the upcoming season.
Noel spent last season as the head coach of the Manitoba Moose, compiling a record of 43-30-7.
The previous season, Noel was 10-8-6 while serving as the interim head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Noel also has head coaching experience with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League.
Noel takes over from Craig Ramsay, who served as the head coach of the Atlanta Thrashers last season. Ramsay posted a record of 34-36-12.
Ramsay and former Edmonton Oiler head coach Craig MacTavish were among the final coaches interviewed by Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff before the decision to hire Noel was made.
The Winnipeg hockey franchise begins its season on October 9th went they host the Montreal Canadiens at the MTS Centre.
Tomorrow during the National Hockey League’s entry draft, Winnipeg will have the seventh overall draft selection.
If you’re hoping that the seventh pick at Friday’s NHL Entry Draft will provide a hint as to what “that Winnipeg team” is going to be called, you are probably going to be disappointed…but I’m here to tell you that the end is near, folks!
While it looks like True North is going to bypass that opportunity to unveil a new team name and logo, reports say the news could come as soon as this weekend. The debate has been raging “officially” for a few weeks and “unofficially” for months, but there is no question about what name Winnipeg fans want to see on the front of that jersey now that they’ve finally got their team back.
But what if it’s not the Jets?
Let’s say, for the sake of argument, the ownership group decides to go in a different direction with this new franchise – what else could the team be called?
I’ve thought up a few alternate names that I think would be acceptable if the “Jets” isn’t an option for whatever reason…(After the jump: Winnipeg options, plus a look at how much they drank at the Bruins Stanley Cup party!) (more…)
Is Jim Balsillie’s dream of owning an NHL team back on track?
With reports of several teams staring down mounting piles of debt and at least one troubled club already heading back to a hockey-mad Canadian market, you have to think his number will come up eventually. Well, a Forbes magazine blog is dropping some hints that make it sound like it may come sooner rather than later!
Sports Money’s Mike Ozanian reported this week that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has told the Research In Motion co-CEO that if he “behaves himself and doesn’t create any more spectacles or bad publicity for the league, he will eventually get a team.” The NHL has denied that such a conversation took place, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it didn’t happen, of course.
Balsillie has tried three times to become the owner of an NHL team, but on each occasion he did something to make the league brass angry. The most high profile of those “spectacles” saw Balsillie try to circumvent league rules and buy the Phoenix Coyotes through a bankruptcy court, which of course ended in the NHL buying the team themselves. It’s now almost two years later and they still haven’t managed to sell the Coyotes… (more…)
After a week off, the boys from “15 Minutes of Fame” are back at it – this week, we’re previewing the Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks, the latest on the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg situation, and a look at the NBA Final.
In this week’s GABBYs: Dirk Nowitzki, missing pucks, the best and worst of MLB pitchers and pitch invaders and lots more! Oh, and Jim sounds like a robot and has shorter hair. One more thing: Make sure you stick around until the very end for a special segment!
It’s been an interesting week on the Atlanta Thrashers front, to say the least, with more rumors, more denials and a few other curveballs being thrown about.
Reports are still popping up that a deal is almost done to send the Thrashers to Winnipeg for $170-million, which includes a relocation fee of $60-million. At the same time though, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman came out this week and told us all to “take a deep breath and pause,” when it comes to our presumptions about the potential deal.
Bettman took a strange tone with a Florida radio station, obviously upset that people won’t stop speculating about the situation…(AFTER THE JUMP: More Thrashers, A reason to cheer for the Mavs & the Heat, plus the coolest race EVER!) (more…)
Whether it happens today, tomorrow or the next day, it seems like it’s just a matter of time until the city of Atlanta loses its NHL club for the second time.
Reports have been flying back and fourth since late last week that a deal was in place between True North Sports & Entertainment and the group that owns the Atlanta Thrashers, but as of right this second, nothing has been confirmed. That’s not to say they’re not working on something – there’s just nothing confirmed at the moment.
I wouldn’t put a deposit down on those Thrashers season tickets though, especially not after what Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed had to say earlier this week!
Reed ramped up the speculation with some comments to a local NBC affiliate on Tuesday where he talked about losing the team and the difficulties they had in finding a local buyer. (After the jump: Comment from the mayor, Bettman blames the fans) (more…)
One of the country’s top sports writers caused quite a stir in the hockey world on Thursday night!
While most of us were watching the first period of the Boston/Tampa game, the Globe and Mail’s Stephen Brunt was busy putting the finishing touches on an article that would set off a huge chain reaction of denials from everyone involved. According to that report, NHL hockey is heading back to Manitoba, thanks to True North Sports & Entertainment’s acquisition of the Atlanta Thrashers!
The city of Winnipeg was whipped into a frenzy, with a crowd gathering at Portage and Main to celebrate upon reading the news, and Brunt says an official announcement will come as early as Tuesday. (After the jump: More on this report, plus – a faceplant and two massive punches!) (more…)
If you think hockey fans in Tampa, Boston, Vancouver and San Jose are stressed out at the moment, try living in Atlanta or Winnipeg!
While fans in four of those cities pray for a shot at the Stanley Cup, those in the remaining two are left to wonder whether or not there will be any NHL hockey in their city come next season. With the ownership situation in Atlanta coming to a head this spring, it looks like it’ll come down to one of these two scenarios: either a local buyer saves the Thrashers in the next few weeks, or the team moves to Winnipeg.
Proponents of a seventh Canadian NHL club are jumping all over the news this week that True North has reportedly begun formal negotiations with the Atlanta Spirit and that the NHL is drafting a “backup” schedule incase the team does move. Some pundits are even going as far as saying that it’s now only a matter of time before the team is calling the MTS Centre home…but what about Thrashers fans? (more…)
While the dust settles in Glendale, Arizona, the work is far from over for the National Hockey League ahead of the 2011-12 season.
A day after Glendale city council was able to “thrash” out a deal with the NHL to keep the Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena for at least another year, the league’s focus now shifts to the other side of the country and another situation where relocation could end up being the only answer.
Despite what has to be seen as an ‘encouraging’ on-ice product, the group that owns the Atlanta Thrashers remains desperate to sell the club, even if it means a change of scenery for Byfuglien and the boys. It’s been fairly quiet on this front in recent weeks, but with the Coyotes now staying put, it seems reasonable that we should be expecting some movement one way or another right away here.
Wondering how the Atlanta situation differs from the one in Glendale? (more…)
Name That Team!
Is Jim Balsillie’s dream of owning an NHL team back on track?
Latest on the ATL
Whether it happens today, tomorrow or the next day, it seems like it’s just a matter of time until the city of Atlanta loses its NHL club for the second time.
While the dust settles in Glendale, Arizona, the work is far from over for the National Hockey League ahead of the 2011-12 season.
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