“That's what I've felt and I've told a lot of people about it as I walked through the locker room hallways and looked at the pictures and felt the aura that Miami hockey has. It's something special.” It doesn't become something special overnight. ”
After five seasons replacing Chris Bergeron, who was fired last month, Noreen is looking to lead Miami to its first winning season since 2014-2015.
“People want to see Miami returned to what it should be,” Noreen said. “People believe in this place. Now it's my responsibility to sell them a little bit of the dream and say, 'It's going to happen.'
“We also have to face the facts. We have to be better. We have to be better. But at the same time, we have to be better on the ice. In some cases, it might be a new voice. In some cases, it might be a different skillset, and that's okay.”
The 41-year-old Noreen, the seventh head coach in Miami hockey history, has been the head coach of the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League since 2017, and has also served as the Storm's director of hockey operations since 2019.
Noreen had a record of 236-126-24 at Tri-City, making him the winningest coach in franchise history. He led the Tri-Cities to the playoffs in all seven seasons (excluding the 2019-20 postseason, which was canceled due to the coronavirus).
“I think what we found was a guy with an energy that was contagious,” Miami athletics director David Saylor said. “That's someone who's willing to engage in the conversation and dig deep into why they want to be a hockey player and why they want to be an elite hockey player.
“This program is very important to me,” Saylor added. “…We just weren't where we were supposed to be and that ends today. This program is going to be a competitive program in the NCHC and we're going to compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. That's the expectation and that's what we want. We are heading there. There are no ifs, no buts, and no buts. So it's exciting for me to feel that energy and passion. ”
Noreen led the Storm to two Anderson Cups (2019 and 2022) and was named Coach of the Year in both seasons.
Noreen has coached 34 NHL draft picks over seven seasons with the Storm. Tri-City has produced over 100 NCAA Division I hockey players during that time. He won the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he served as his U-18 coach for the USA team, and in 2018 he coached the USA Junior Selection Team to a gold medal at the World Junior A Challenge. .
Noreen holds a Bachelor of Science in Interpersonal/Organizational Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where she began her coaching career as an assistant. At his alma mater, he served as team captain in his third and fourth years.
“The future is upon us now,” Saylor said. “And it's up to everyone here to help the program and support Coach Noreen as she moves through the process.”
Noreen will remain with the Storm through the remainder of the USHL postseason before officially taking over in Miami.
Noreen said she was excited to meet some of the players on Tuesday. He had communicated with them through Zoom beforehand.
“Myself and my staff have made a commitment that our number one goal is to support them,” he said. “Our number one goal is to develop them. Our job, and I think our staff's job, is to help our players grow as people, as leaders, and as hockey players. Our job is to do everything in our power to make sure that we do what we do best.”
Noreen described her coaching style as disciplined while playing the game at an up-tempo pace. He preached that he wanted to form teammates he could trust and connect as a unit.
“The goal is to have an identity,” Noreen said. “The goal is to have everyone do the same thing, whether it's someone who comes in on a Friday or Saturday night or Tuesday afternoon during practice and has played in the NHL for 20 years, or the opposing team, or is watching a hockey game for the first time. That's what I'm saying about the team on the ice.
“Ultimately it's my job to set the standards, and my standards are very high,” Noreen added. “It's not one-size-fits-all. But we're going to live by that standard. We hold them accountable to that standard. We get uncomfortable when we reach that standard. But by saying, There is no one in the world they will ever meet or be around who will support them and push them to reach that standard more than me and my staff. .”
Noreen said the support from Miami alumni has been the most impressive he's seen since getting involved in hockey, which is encouraging as he aims to bring back a championship culture to Oxford.
“It was unbelievable,” Noreen said. “I'm very grateful to them because I know how much this place means to them, but for their assistance to me and for having me here. Because it means an incredible amount to me.
“I'm looking forward to it. I'm really looking forward to it. I can't wait to see everyone and be a part of it. The game is going to be great, but today is what matters. Then tomorrow, tomorrow is what matters. Not just you guys. , we will do our bit to make our graduates and everyone involved in this program proud.”
