Noah Cates Bio
Noah Allen Cates is an American professional ice hockey player who serves as a left wing for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on February 5, 1999, in Stillwater, Minnesota, Cates was selected by the Flyers in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft with the 137th overall pick. He has established himself as a reliable two-way forward in the NHL, known for his defensive acumen and consistent play. Cates also represented the United States internationally, notably serving as an alternate captain at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. He played college hockey for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, where he won an NCAA Division I championship in 2019 and served as team captain.
Early Life and Background
Cates was born on February 5, 1999, in Stillwater, Minnesota, to Jeff and Jenny Cates. Hockey runs deep in his family, as his father Jeff won the 1988 NCAA Division III men’s ice hockey tournament with the Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons. His uncle Jay played three seasons of college hockey with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Cates began practicing hockey in his basement with his older brother Jackson, and the pair played together on youth teams throughout their childhood. Cates attended Stillwater Area High School, where he was a member of the ice hockey team and gained recognition when his overtime goal to send his team to the state tournament was featured on SportsCenter. The following year, he recorded an impressive 20 goals and 65 points in just 25 games for Stillwater.
Rather than entering college immediately after his 2017 high school graduation, Cates spent a season in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Omaha Lancers to develop physically and refine his game. The Lancers had selected Cates in the first phase of the 2015 USHL Draft, and he joined the team for the remainder of the 2016-17 season after his high school career concluded. In 11 USHL games, he recorded two goals and five assists while adapting to the faster pace of junior hockey.
Path to Professional Hockey
Following his season with the Omaha Lancers, Cates committed to playing for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs beginning in the 2018-19 season. He made his college hockey debut on October 6, 2018, against Minnesota and scored his first collegiate goal the following day in a 7-4 loss to the same opponent. During his freshman year, Cates quickly earned a spot on the top line and demonstrated his offensive upside, recording his first multi-goal game on March 1, 2019, with two goals and an assist against Miami, earning National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Offensive Player of the Week honors. He finished his rookie season with nine goals and 23 points, earning a place on the NCHC All-Rookie Team and becoming a finalist for NCHC Rookie of the Year. The Bulldogs captured the 2019 NCAA Division I championship, shutting out the UMass Minutemen 3-0 in the title game, with Cates scoring in the championship victory.
Cates returned to Duluth for the 2019-20 season, where he began playing on the same line as his brother Jackson. He earned consistent praise from coach Scott Sandelin for his reliability, physical style of play, and competitive nature. When his brother suffered a clavicle fracture late in February, Cates shifted to center to fill the gap. The season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Cates had already accumulated 14 goals and 33 points in 34 games. He received All-NCHC First Team honors and was named an AHCA All-American Second Team selection while being nominated for NCHC Forward of the Year.
Noah Cates Career
Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (2018–2022)
Entering the 2020-21 season, Cates was named captain of the Bulldogs, becoming the first junior captain since Adam Krause in 2014. With top-line center Justin Richards departing to join the New York Rangers, Cates assumed significant responsibility at center ice during his junior season. While his offensive numbers dipped to five goals and 19 points in 28 games, he was named to the All-NCHC Second Team. The Bulldogs advanced to the 2021 NCAA tournament semifinals but fell to UMass in a 3-2 overtime loss, with Cates recording an assist in his final college tournament appearance.
Cates elected to return for a fifth season with the Bulldogs in 2021-22, repeating as captain and Preseason All-Conference selection. With the team adding three centers before the season, he moved back to his natural wing position. Cates missed four conference games in February to represent the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics, returning to score a shootout goal in a victory over the St. Cloud State Huskies. He finished the season with 11 goals and 24 points in 35 games, earning All-NCHC Honorable Mention. Duluth’s season ended with a 2-1 loss to Denver in the regional finals of the NCAA tournament. Cates concluded his college career with 39 goals and 99 points in 139 games over four seasons, earning All-NCHC honors each year.
Philadelphia Flyers (2022–Present)
On March 27, 2022, Cates signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, effective immediately for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. He made his NHL debut two days later in a 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild, his hometown team, recording three shots on goal while playing left wing. His first NHL goal came on April 5, 2022, in the first period of a 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. In 16 games to close the season, Cates recorded five goals and nine points, impressing interim coach Mike Yeo with his maturity and hockey intelligence.
Heading into the 2022-23 season, Cates began the year at center due to Sean Couturier’s injury, adapting to the position after spending his career primarily on the wing. Despite a slow start with only one point in his first 11 games, he steadily improved throughout the season. Injuries to key players like Couturier, Cam Atkinson, and James van Riemsdyk thrust Cates into a larger role as a defensive-oriented two-way forward. By January, he developed strong chemistry on a line with Joel Farabee and Travis Konecny. Cates was one of four rookie forwards to appear in all 82 games that season, finishing with 13 goals and 38 points while leading all Flyers forwards with 1,456 minutes of ice time.
Following the 2022-23 season, Cates re-signed with the Flyers for two years at $5.25 million on July 10, 2023. The 2023-24 season presented challenges, as he worked on improving his offensive production and face-off skills during training camp. While Cates maintained his strong defensive play, his scoring struggled, and he was dropped from the first line to the fourth line in November. On November 25, 2023, he suffered a fractured foot blocking a shot against the New York Islanders, ending a streak of 119 consecutive games to begin his career. He missed 22 games before returning in mid-January, eventually finding a role as a fill-in center when Couturier was unavailable. Cates finished the season with six goals and 18 points in 59 games, later acknowledging struggles with an identity crisis and confidence issues.
The 2024-25 season saw Cates emerge as a consistent contributor for the Flyers. After serving as a healthy scratch for four of the team’s first five games, he transitioned to a penalty kill specialist role and drew favorable comparisons to Couturier for his defensive play. In December, Cates found success on a line with Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster, with the trio combining for 25 points in their first 15 games together, including a five-game goal streak for Cates. As the season progressed, Cates took on increased responsibility as both a two-way forward and a leader in the locker room. He was awarded the Gene Hart Memorial Award at the Flyers’ end-of-season banquet, recognizing the player who demonstrated the most heart throughout the year. Cates finished 2024-25 with 16 goals and 37 points in 78 games.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cates is renowned as a skilled two-way forward who excels in defensive situations while maintaining the ability to contribute offensively. His hockey intelligence and mature approach to the game have been consistently praised by coaches throughout his career. He is effective in his own zone, reads plays well, and is capable of playing both center and wing positions. Cates has developed into a reliable penalty-kill specialist with the Flyers, and his consistency and physical style of play make him a valuable asset in all situations. His ability to adapt to different roles and line combinations demonstrates his versatility and hockey sense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Several milestones stand out in Cates’ professional career. He scored his first NHL goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 5, 2022, in just his 11th professional game. The 2024-25 season brought renewed success when he formed an effective trio with Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster, with the combination becoming one of the Flyers’ most productive forward lines. Cates received the Gene Hart Memorial Award, cementing his reputation as a player who brings relentless effort and character to the rink every night.
Noah Cates Career Wins
Throughout his hockey career, Cates has accumulated significant achievements at both the collegiate and international levels. His most prestigious victory remains the 2019 NCAA Division I championship with Minnesota Duluth, where he scored in the championship game. He has earned multiple conference honors during his four years in the NCHC and represented the United States at both the World Junior Championships and the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Minnesota Duluth Highlights
During his four seasons with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs from 2018 to 2022, Cates established himself as one of the conference’s premier forwards. He won the NCAA Division I championship in 2019, scoring in the 3-0 championship game victory over UMass. Cates earned All-NCHC honors all four years, including First Team recognition in 2019-20 and Second Team honors in 2020-21. He was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team in 2018-19 and served as team captain for three consecutive seasons from 2020 to 2022. His 39 goals and 99 points in 139 career games reflect consistent production across his collegiate career.
International and Other Achievements
Cates represented the United States at the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Canada, contributing one goal and three points while playing a significant role on the penalty kill. The United States earned a silver medal at the tournament, falling to Finland in the championship game. At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Cates served as one of three alternate captains for Team USA, recording one goal in four games during the tournament.
Noah Cates Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey is deeply rooted in the Cates family. His father, Jeff Cates, won the 1988 NCAA Division III men’s ice hockey tournament with the Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons. His uncle, Jay Cates, played three seasons of college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. This family tradition of excellence in hockey helped shape Noah’s development from an early age.
Personal Life
Noah Cates grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota, alongside his older brother Jackson Cates, who also pursued a professional hockey career. Jackson made his NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2021, making the brothers the second set of siblings to play for the Flyers franchise. Jackson has most recently played for the Rockford IceHogs, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. Noah and Jackson played together during parts of their youth career and briefly at the University of Minnesota Duluth, forming a formidable combination on the Bulldogs’ top line during the 2019-20 season.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 NHL season marked a significant step forward in Cates’ professional career with the Philadelphia Flyers. After beginning the season as a healthy scratch early on, he transitioned into a penalty kill specialist role and became increasingly valuable to the team’s defensive structure. His December surge on a line with Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster proved to be a turning point, as the trio provided consistent offensive spark while maintaining defensive responsibility. Cates took on an expanded leadership role throughout the season, emerging as a voice in the locker room and demonstrating the qualities that earned him the Gene Hart Memorial Award. His 16 goals and 37 points in 78 games represented solid secondary scoring, while his work on the penalty kill and in his own zone made him an integral part of the Flyers’ plans moving forward.