2021 bhm noah warren e
© Ghyslain Bergeron/QMJHL

In My Own Words: Noah Warren

The Gatineau Olympiques defenceman and 2020 Youth Olympics bronze medallist talks about his future in the game, and the role he hopes to play in making hockey more diverse

Noah Warren
|
February 23, 2021
|

Like a lot of junior hockey players, I have big goals for my hockey career. But there’s one that’s more important to me than anything else.

I want to be a role model for young Black kids.

I’ve dealt with racism in hockey. I’ve been called names on the ice. And it’s hard. I learned to use the hateful words as motivation for my own game, to prove the haters wrong.

It’s encouraging to see that leagues and federations are taking tangible steps to remove racism from the game, but I’m motivated to do what I can to make the game a better place. To make it safer and more welcoming for everyone, regardless of the colour of their skin. I want to follow in the footsteps of players like Anthony Duclair and P.K. Subban, and hopefully join in the work being done by the Hockey Diversity Alliance.

The world has seen a lot of change in the last year, and I want to be part of that change. I may only be 16, but I want my voice to be heard – now and in the future.

***

It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to say I was born to be an athlete. My grandfather, Raynald Boutin, played in the QMJHL with Chicoutimi in the 1960s. My father, Claude, played through Midget [now U18] and was a swim coach, and my mother, Magalie, was a nationally ranked swimmer.

I played everything growing up; I swam, and I played soccer, tennis and basketball. But there was nothing like hockey for me. From the first time I got on the outdoor rink with my friends, I knew that was where I belonged. It fed my passion for the game, and I’ve still got that passion today.

My path hasn’t been much different than so many other players across the country. I started out in MAHG here in Quebec, and just worked my way up. I played for a few LHAs in and around Richelieu, finishing my minor hockey career with the Riverains du Collège Charles-Lemoyne in the LHMAAAQ.

I will admit, I wasn’t very good when I started. But I always wanted to be better. I watched older players and told my dad I wanted to be as good as them. So, he helped make that happen. We trained during the season and during the summer to make me a better player.

It didn’t hurt that I had a huge growth spurt when I was 10 years old. After that I moved from forward to defence to take advantage my size, and today I’m 6-foot-5 and 209 pounds.

I had a couple of great seasons with Charles-Lemoyne, which helped me get selected eighth overall by Gatineau in the QMJHL Draft last June. I was actually the fourth pick by the Olympiques in the first round – the team picked first, second, fourth and eighth. It has been an interesting rookie season thanks to COVID-19. We had our camp in the fall, but the season has been a lot of stops and starts. It has been a challenge, but there is a lot to look forward to.

Without a doubt, my career highlight came last January when I was selected to represent Canada at the Winter Youth Olympic Games. I have watched the Olympics imagining myself wearing the Maple Leaf, and to do it at 15 years old was a dream come true.

We won bronze, which was great, but it was all about the experience. I had been to Europe for hockey before, but this was so much different. To play against the Russians and the Americans, to measure myself against the best players in the world … it opened my eyes to what I needed to work on.

I hope that’s just the first international experience I’ll have. It was disappointing to have the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge cancelled this season because of the pandemic, but I know there will be other opportunities.

***

Every up and down I’ve had in the game has helped me learn my strengths and my weaknesses. My size is definitely a positive. I’m a big body who likes to play physical. I have a heavy shot, but I need to get it on net more. And I can make better decisions.

But the best part is I’m only 16. I know I’m going to get better and gain more confidence.

Hopefully, I’ll hear my name called at the NHL Draft in the summer of 2022, hopefully, I’ll have a career in the National Hockey League, and hopefully – as I said earlier – I’ll have a role in continuing to make hockey a more diverse and inclusive game.

I’m excited to look to the future. For myself, for my family and for the Black players who will follow me.

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

[email protected] 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

[email protected]

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

[email protected]

Recent News
Most Popular
Videos
Photos
HCC: One For All in Yellowknife
One For All celebrated women’s hockey with more than 300 participants.
2024 NWT Rivalry Series: CAN 6 – USA 1 (Game 7)
Spooner and Maltais scored twice to lead Canada to win the series.
2023-24 NWT: CAN 3 – USA 0 (Game 6)
Maschmeyer made 27 saves for the shutout to tie the Rivalry Series.
2023-24 NWT: CAN 4 – USA 2 (Game 5)
Bell, Fast and Stacey scored late to help Canada stay alive.
Schedule