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Posted: **Thu Jun 23, 2011 6:59 pm**

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=369782

Claude Noel will be the man behind the bench when the team hits the ice of the MTS Centre to begin its inaugural season.

Assistant general manager and director of hockey operations Craig Heisinger and general manager Kevin Chevaldayoff would not confirm Noel's hiring on Thursday, but a formal announcement is expected prior to tomorrow's Draft.

Noel is the former head coach of the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose, where he spent one season compiling a 43-30-7 record and losing in the second round of the playoffs.

The team might not have a name yet but at least they now have a coach.

Noel has a bit of NHL head coaching expirence and he's been a great coach in the AHL for a long time. I really like the hire and I think he'll do well.

Posted: **Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:46 pm**

I'm a little surprised they didn't stick with Craig Ramsay. That team had no business getting as close to a playoff berth as they did last year.

Posted: **Thu Jun 23, 2011 11:32 pm**

WEFFPIM wrote:I'm a little surprised they didn't stick with Craig Ramsay. That team had no business getting as close to a playoff berth as they did last year.

Totally agree with you on Ramsay but True North made it pretty clear that they were going to bring in their own people and clean house.

Posted: **Fri Jun 24, 2011 2:08 am**

He coached in Milwaukee. Will give some great quotes to the media.

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