Noah Cates
Noah Cates
Main page
N

Noah Cates

logo
Community Hub0 subscribers
Read side by side
Noah Cates
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Noah Allen Cates (born February 5, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a left winger for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers selected Cates in the fifth round, with the 137th overall pick, of the 2017 NHL entry draft. Cates has also been a member of the United States men's national ice hockey team, serving as an alternate captain at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Key Information

Born in Stillwater, Minnesota, Cates grew up practicing ice hockey with his older brother Jackson. After his time at Stillwater Area High School, he spent a season with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) before joining the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs for the 2018–19 season. Cates earned All-NCHC honors all four seasons at Duluth and won the 2019 NCAA Division I championship as a freshman. He joined the Flyers at the end of his college career, where he has found success as a two-way forward.

Early life

[edit]

Cates was born February 5, 1999, in Stillwater, Minnesota,[1] to Jeff and Jenny Cates.[2] His uncle Jay played three seasons of college ice hockey with the Minnesota Golden Gophers,[2] while his father won the 1988 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey tournament with the Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons.[3] Cates began practicing hockey in his basement with this brother Jackson, and the pair played on the same childhood teams.[4] A member of the Stillwater Area High School ice hockey team, Cates' overtime goal that sent his team to the state tournament was featured on SportsCenter. The next year, he recorded 20 goals and 65 points in 25 games for Stillwater.[5]

Rather than entering college immediately after his 2017 high school graduation, Cates spent time in the United States Hockey League (USHL) to improve physically and develop his frame.[6] The Omaha Lancers had taken Cates in Phase I of the 2015 USHL draft,[7] and at the end of his high school season, he joined the team for the remainder of the 2016–17 USHL season. In 11 games, Cates had two junior ice hockey goals and five assists.[8] Shortly afterwards, the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL) selected Cates in the fifth round, with the 137th overall pick, of the 2017 NHL entry draft.[9] After a slow start to the 2017–18 season, with six goals and 14 points in his first 22 games, Cates broke out for the remainder of the year, finishing his full season in Omaha with 21 goals and 55 points in 60 games, as well as a +21 plus–minus rating.[10]

Playing career

[edit]

College

[edit]

Cates joined the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs for the 2018–19 season, making his college hockey debut on October 6 against Minnesota.[2] He scored his first goal the next day in Duluth's 7–4 loss to Minnesota.[2][11] That January, Cates moved to the top line with Peter Krieger and Nick Swaney, and the trio contributed 10 goals and 18 points in their first 18 games of the calendar year.[12] Cates's first multi-goal game came on March 1, where he scored twice and assisted once in a 4–2 win over the Miami RedHawks, earning National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance.[13][14] Finishing the season with nine goals and 23 points,[2] Cates was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team and was a finalist for NCHC Rookie of the Year.[15][16] The Bulldogs shut out the UMass Minutemen to win the 2019 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament, with Cates scoring in the 3–0 championship game.[17]

Cates began the 2019–20 season playing on the same line as his brother, with six of their combined first eight goals of the season coming while the pair were on the ice together.[18] Cates earned praise from coach Scott Sandelin that season for his consistency, physical play, and competitive nature.[19] A natural left wing, Cates took over at center in place of his older brother at the end of February, when Jackson sustained a clavicle fracture.[20][21] At the time the remainder of the 2019–20 season was canceled due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,[22] Cates had 14 goals and 33 points in 34 games for the Bulldogs.[23] He received All-NCHC First Team and AHCA All-American Second Team honors and was a finalist for the NCHC Forward of the Year award.[23][24][25]

Going into the 2020–21 season, Cates was named captain of the Bulldogs, becoming the first junior captain in Duluth since Adam Krause in 2014.[26] The NCHC also named Cates to their Preseason All-Conference Team.[27] Taking on the role of top-line center for the Bulldogs after Justin Richards left to play for the New York Rangers, Cates saw a dip in offensive production during his junior season, with five goals and 19 points in 28 games.[2][28] He was named to the All-NCHC Second Team, one of four Bulldogs to receive All-NCHC honors.[29] The Bulldogs lost to the Minutemen in the 2021 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament semifinals, with Cates recording an assist in the 3–2 overtime loss.[30]

Rather than leaving college to begin his professional ice hockey career, Cates returned to the Bulldogs for the 2021–22 season,[28] where he repeated as captain and as a Preseason All-Conference selection.[31][32] The Bulldogs added three centers before the season, allowing Cates to move back to wing.[33] He missed four games in February against the Denver Pioneers and North Dakota Fighting Hawks while attending the 2022 Winter Olympics,[34][35] returning to score a shootout goal in the Bulldogs' February 22 win over the St. Cloud State Huskies.[36] Finishing the season with 11 goals and 24 points in 35 games,[37] Cates was an All-NCHC Honorable Mention.[38] Duluth lost 2–1 to Denver in the regional finals of the 2022 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament,[39] and Cates finished his college ice hockey career with 39 goals and 99 points in 139 games.[40]

Professional

[edit]
Cates with the Flyers in 2025

On March 27, 2022, shortly after the end of his college season, Cates signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Flyers, which went into effect for the remainder of the 2021-22 NHL season.[41] He made his NHL debut two days later, making three shots and starting on left wing in a 4–1 loss to his hometown Minnesota Wild.[42] His first NHL goal came on April 5, in the first period of a 4–2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.[43] In 16 games to end the season, Cates recorded five goals and nine points,[44] and he earned praise from interim coach Mike Yeo for his maturity and "really good hockey sense".[45]

With Sean Couturier not ready for opening night, head coach John Tortorella moved Cates to center to start the 2022–23 season. After struggling out of the gate, scoring only one point in his first 11 games, he adjusted to the role throughout the season.[46] Injuries to prominent players like Couturier, Cam Atkinson, and James van Riemsdyk forced Cates into a significant role as a rookie, where he served as a defensive-oriented two-way forward.[47] By January and into February, Cates found chemistry and consistency playing on a line with Joel Farabee and Travis Konecny.[48][49] One of four rookie forwards to play all 82 games during the 2022–23 season, Cates posted 13 goals and 38 points while leading all Flyers forwards with 1,456 minutes of ice time.[50][51]

A restricted free agent at the end of the 2022–23 season, Cates re-signed with the Flyers for two years and $5.25 million on July 10, 2023.[52] In preparation for the 2023–24 season, Cates worked on improving his offensive ability and his face-off skills.[53] Although he continued to succeed defensively, Cates was dropped from the first to the fourth line in November after continuing to struggle with scoring.[54] On November 25, Cates fractured his foot blocking a shot against the New York Islanders.[55] At the time, he had played 119 consecutive games to begin his career.[56] He missed the next 22 games, returning to the lineup on January 15 against the St. Louis Blues.[57] With only four points in 21 games before the injury, Cates told reporters he approached his recovery as a "mental reset" to improve his confidence and strength.[58] Filling in at center on nights when Couturier was unavailable, Cates predominantly played on the wing with Ryan Poehling and Garnet Hathaway.[59] He finished the year with six goals and 18 points in 59 games and told reporters that his season had suffered due to "an identity crisis and then some confidence stuff, some injuries", and citing his focus on offense instead of defense as a struggle.[60]

After serving as a healthy scratch for four of the Flyers' first five games of the 2024–25 season, Cates took over as a penalty kill specialist, drawing positive comparisons to Couturier for his defensive prowess.[61] He found offensive success that December on a line with Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster. The trio scored a combined 25 points in their first 15 games together, including a five-game goal streak for Cates.[62] Although the line was assembled to accommodate other player combinations, the Cates-Brink-Foerster trio played the most minutes of any forward combination through the end of February. Brink believed the trio were successful because they were "predictable" and could anticipate how their teammates would react during plays.[63] Over the course of the season, Cates took on a larger role both as a two-way forward and as a leader in the locker room.[64][65] At the Flyers' end-of-season award banquet, Cates received the Gene Hart Memorial Award as the player who demonstrated the most "heart" during the Flyers' season.[66] He finished the year with 16 goals and 37 points in 78 games.[67]

Cates signed a four-year, $16 million extension with the Flyers on June 3, 2025.[68] Going into the 2025–26 season, Cates hoped to continue his development on offense.[69] After recording only four assists in 17 games between January 1 and the Olympic break, Cates surged for 12 points in his next 13 games, which he attributed to the mental reset of the long midseason break.[70] He finished the regular season with a career-high 18 goals and 47 points in 82 games.[71] Cates made his postseason debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, and he scored his first playoff goal in the third game of that series.[72] After recording one goal and three assists in his eight postseason games, Cates sustained a fractured foot in Game 2 of the Flyers' second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes.[73][74] He missed the remainder of the series,[75] which the Flyers lost in four games.[76]

International play

[edit]
Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2019 Canada

Cates made his international ice hockey debut with the United States men's national junior ice hockey team at the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Canada.[77] He finished the tournament with one goal and three points in seven games while playing a heavy part on Team USA's penalty kill.[78] The one goal came against the Czech Republic in the tournament quarterfinals off an assist from Jack Hughes.[12][79] Cates and the United States won silver at the tournament, losing 3–2 to Finland in the championship game.[80]

With NHL players not participating due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,[81] Cates was one of 15 college ice hockey players named to the United States men's national ice hockey team for the tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.[34] He was named one of three alternate captains for the tournament, serving behind captain Andy Miele.[82] Playing wing on the third line, Cates had one goal in four games before Team USA was eliminated in a quarterfinal loss to Slovakia.[83]

Personal life

[edit]

Cates's older brother Jackson made his NHL debut with the Flyers in 2021,[84] and he has most recently appeared with the Rockford IceHogs, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks.[85]

Career statistics

[edit]

Regular season and playoffs

[edit]
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2015–16 Omaha Lancers USHL 2 1 0 1 2 — — — — —
2016–17 Omaha Lancers USHL 11 2 5 7 6 — — — — —
2017–18 Omaha Lancers USHL 60 21 34 55 26 4 1 2 3 0
2018–19 U. of Minnesota Duluth NCHC 40 9 14 23 33 — — — — —
2019–20 U. of Minnesota Duluth NCHC 34 14 19 33 35 — — — — —
2020–21 U. of Minnesota Duluth NCHC 28 5 14 19 25 — — — — —
2021–22 U. of Minnesota Duluth NCHC 37 11 13 24 19 — — — — —
2021–22 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 16 5 4 9 4 — — — — —
2022–23 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 82 13 25 38 12 — — — — —
2023–24 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 59 6 12 18 0 — — — — —
2024–25 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 78 16 21 37 14 — — — — —
2025–26 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 82 18 29 47 44 8 1 3 4 0
NHL totals 317 58 91 149 74 8 1 3 4 0

Source: Elite Prospects[67]

International

[edit]
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2019 United States WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 1 2 3 2
2022 United States OG 5th 4 1 0 1 2
Junior totals 7 1 2 3 2
Senior totals 4 1 0 1 2

Source: Elite Prospects[67]

Awards and honors

[edit]
Award Year(s) Ref.
College
AHCA All-American Second Team 2020 [23]
All-NCHC First Team 2020 [24]
All-NCHC Second Team 2021 [29]
All-NCHC Honorable Mention 2022 [38]
NCHC All-Rookie Team 2019 [15]
NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament champion 2019 [17]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Noah Cates

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Noah Cates (born February 5, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey forward who plays as a left wing for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] Drafted by the Flyers in the fifth round, 137th overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Cates has emerged as a reliable two-way forward known for his defensive reliability and penalty-killing contributions.[1][2] As of the 2025–26 season, he is in the first year of a four-year, $16 million contract extension signed with the Flyers on June 3, 2025, carrying an average annual value of $4 million.[3][4] Born in Stillwater, Minnesota, Cates grew up playing hockey alongside his older brother Jackson, who also became a professional player and briefly joined him on the Flyers roster.[5] Before college, he spent two seasons in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Omaha Lancers from 2016 to 2018, where he served as team captain during his junior and senior years and accumulated 99 points (39 goals and 60 assists) in 139 games.[2] His junior career highlighted his leadership and scoring ability, setting the stage for his transition to collegiate hockey.[6] Cates played four seasons of college hockey with the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) Bulldogs in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) from 2018 to 2022, where he studied business and earned a bachelor's degree in marketing.[7] As a freshman in 2018–19, he contributed to UMD's NCAA Division I national championship, recording 23 points (9 goals and 14 assists) in 40 games and earning NCHC Rookie of the Year honors as the top-scoring freshman on the team.[3][7] He served as team captain in his junior and senior seasons (2020–21 and 2021–22), amassing career college totals of 99 points (39 goals and 60 assists) in 139 games, including a career-high 33 points in his sophomore season.[8][7] Cates signed his entry-level contract with the Flyers on March 28, 2022, near the end of his senior season after the Olympics, and made his NHL debut later that month against the Minnesota Wild.[9] In his full NHL rookie season of 2022–23, Cates posted 18 points (9 goals and 9 assists) in 59 games, establishing himself on the Flyers' bottom-six lines and penalty kill.[1] He improved in 2023–24 with 20 points in 82 games before a breakout 2024–25 campaign, where he recorded 37 points (16 goals and 21 assists) in 78 games, showcasing enhanced offensive production while maintaining strong defensive metrics.[2][10] Entering the 2025–26 season, Cates has continued to log significant ice time across all situations, including 4 goals and 6 assists through the early games.[11] Over 248 career NHL games as of November 2025, he has tallied 43 goals and 68 assists for 111 points.[12] Internationally, Cates represented the United States at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he helped secure a silver medal with 3 points in 7 games.[2] He served as an alternate captain for Team USA at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, contributing 2 assists in 7 games en route to another silver medal, becoming one of only 15 current NCAA players selected for the roster.[2][13]

Background

Early life

Noah Cates was born on February 5, 1999, in Stillwater, Minnesota, to parents Jeff and Jenny Cates.[7][11] He grew up in Stillwater alongside his older brother Jackson, who is 16 months his senior, in a family deeply rooted in hockey traditions.[14] Their father, Jeff, a 1988 Stillwater High School graduate, played college ice hockey at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where he contributed to an NCAA Division III national championship team, while their uncle Jay also competed for three seasons at the same institution.[15] This familial legacy provided early encouragement, fostering the brothers' shared passion for the sport from a young age.[5] Cates' initial exposure to organized hockey came through local youth programs in Stillwater, where he developed his skills alongside his brother before advancing to high school varsity play.[7] The siblings often teamed up in youth and high school games, building a strong on-ice chemistry that mirrored their close sibling bond off the rink. By his early teens, Cates was balancing academics and athletics in the competitive Minnesota hockey scene, which emphasized skill development and team play. Cates attended Stillwater Area High School, where he joined the varsity ice hockey team and quickly emerged as a standout forward. As team captain during his junior and senior years, he helped lead the Ponies to notable successes, including a memorable overtime goal in the 2017 Class 2A Section 4 final against Hill-Murray that advanced the team to the state tournament—a moment highlighted on ESPN's SportsCenter.[16] In his senior season of 2016–17, Cates recorded 20 goals and 45 assists for 65 points in 25 regular-season games, earning selection to the Associated Press All-State First Team.[17][7] His high school performance showcased a blend of scoring prowess and playmaking ability, setting the stage for his move to junior hockey with the Omaha Lancers in the United States Hockey League.

Personal life

Noah Cates maintains close ties to his family, particularly with his older brother Jackson Cates, who is also a professional ice hockey player currently signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Rockford IceHogs.[18] Born 16 months apart, the brothers share a deep bond forged through years of competing and practicing together, often on the same teams every other year during their youth.[14] This sibling rivalry and mutual support have extended into their professional careers, with both crediting each other for fueling their development in hockey.[14] Their family's longstanding involvement in hockey has provided ongoing encouragement, as their father, Jeff Cates, not only coached the brothers but also played college hockey at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where he contributed to an NCAA Division III national championship team in 1994.[15] Their mother, Jenny Cates, supported their early pursuits by serving as a goalie and announcer, fostering an environment that embraced their passion for the sport, including makeshift basement practices that left lasting marks on the family home.[14] Off the ice, Cates resides in Stillwater, Minnesota, where he returns during the offseason to recharge with family.[14] He enjoys low-key activities such as relaxing at the family cabin and participating in water-based recreation, while maintaining his fitness through workouts at the University of Minnesota, occasional skates with the Golden Gophers, and stair runs in Stillwater.[14]

Playing career

College career

Noah Cates enrolled at the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2018 and joined the Bulldogs men's ice hockey team in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), where he played as a forward for four seasons from 2018 to 2022.[7] As a freshman during the 2018–19 season, Cates appeared in 40 games, recording 9 goals and 14 assists for 23 points while accumulating 33 penalty minutes and a +12 plus-minus rating.[6] His contributions helped the Bulldogs secure the NCHC postseason title and advance to the NCAA Division I championship, where UMD defeated the UMass Minutemen 3–0 in the final; Cates scored the eventual game-winning goal with 2:42 remaining in the third period to seal the victory.[19][20] For his rookie performance, he was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team, earning the most votes among forwards.[19] In his sophomore year of 2019–20, Cates elevated his game, playing 34 games and tallying career highs of 14 goals—including four on the power play—and 19 assists for 33 points, along with 35 penalty minutes and a +7 plus-minus.[7][6] These efforts earned him a spot on the NCHC First All-Star Team and the AHCA West Second-Team All-American honors.[21][2] Cates developed into a reliable two-way forward, contributing on both the power play and penalty kill while providing strong defensive play and playmaking in the offensive zone.[7] As a junior in the shortened 2020–21 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Cates served as team captain and skated in 28 games, posting 5 goals and 14 assists for 19 points, 25 penalty minutes, and a +6 plus-minus.[6] He received NCHC Second All-Star Team recognition for his leadership and consistent performance.[2] In his senior 2021–22 campaign, again as captain, Cates played 37 games, notching 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points, 19 penalty minutes, and a +4 plus-minus, which led to All-NCHC Honorable Mention honors.[6][22] Over his collegiate career, Cates amassed 39 goals and 60 assists for 99 points in 139 games, showcasing his growth as a versatile forward with strong decision-making and special-teams reliability.[6] Following the season, he signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers organization on March 27, 2022.[23]

Professional career

Cates signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on March 27, 2022, shortly after concluding his college career.[24] He made his NHL debut two days later on March 29, 2022, against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center in his hometown of Stillwater, Minnesota, where he logged 14:52 of ice time in a 4-1 loss.[2] Cates recorded his first NHL goal on April 5, 2022, in a 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, tipping in a shot from defenseman Ivan Provorov during a power play.[25] In the 2022–23 season, Cates appeared in all 82 games for the Flyers, establishing himself as a reliable bottom-six forward and leading the team's forwards in total ice time with 1,456 minutes across all situations.[26] His rookie campaign included 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points, while he contributed defensively with a plus-3 rating and regular shifts on the penalty kill.[1] Following the season, as a restricted free agent, Cates signed a two-year contract extension with the Flyers on July 10, 2023, valued at $5.25 million with an average annual value of $2.625 million, avoiding salary arbitration.[27] In the 2023–24 season, Cates appeared in 59 games, recording 6 goals and 12 assists for 18 points while dealing with injuries, but maintained his defensive reliability and contributed on the penalty kill with strong underlying metrics.[1] During the 2024–25 season, Cates achieved a career-high 16 goals and 37 points in 78 games, showcasing improved offensive output while maintaining his defensive reliability.[2] He solidified his role as a two-way left wing, frequently deployed on the penalty kill where he averaged over 1:30 of shorthanded ice time per game and helped the Flyers rank among the league's better units in that category.[28] Entering the 2025–26 season, Cates has continued to log significant ice time across all situations, recording 4 goals and 6 assists through the early games as of November 2025.[11] On June 3, 2025, Cates agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Flyers worth $16 million, carrying an average annual value of $4 million and extending his tenure through the 2028–29 season.[3]

International career

World Junior Championships

Noah Cates was selected to represent the United States at the 2019 IIHF World Under-20 Championship as a 19-year-old forward from Stillwater, Minnesota, playing for the University of Minnesota Duluth in his freshman season.[29][2] During the tournament held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Cates appeared in all seven games for the U.S. team, recording one goal and two assists for three points.[30] His goal came in the quarterfinal victory over the Czech Republic on January 2, 2019, where he opened the scoring in a 3-1 win that advanced the Americans.[31] Cates also contributed an assist in the gold medal game against Finland on January 5, setting up Alexander Chmelevski's goal in a 3-2 loss.[32] The U.S. team reached the final after defeating Russia 2-1 in the semifinals on January 4, securing a silver medal overall despite the narrow defeat to Finland.[33] Cates' participation marked a significant developmental step, providing valuable international experience that bridged his junior hockey background and emerging college career at Minnesota Duluth, where he returned to build on the momentum from the tournament.[34]

Olympic participation

Noah Cates was selected to represent Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, as a 22-year-old forward from the University of Minnesota Duluth.[35][2] He served as an alternate captain for the team, a leadership role announced prior to their opening game, alongside captain Andy Miele and alternates Aaron Ness and Steven Kampfer.[36][37] This marked Cates' senior international debut, highlighting his emergence as a key contributor on the predominantly college-aged roster.[38] In the tournament, Cates appeared in all four games for Team USA, recording one goal.[8] His goal came in the opener against host nation China on February 10, an 8-0 victory where he scored at 5:32 of the second period off a no-look pass from Sean Farrell, helping extend the lead to 3-0.[39] Team USA advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Canada 4-2 and Germany 3-2, both in regulation time, completing an undefeated preliminary round, with Cates logging shifts on the third line while supporting the team's defensive structure and forecheck as an alternate captain.[40] In the quarterfinal against Slovakia on February 16, Cates played nearly 15 minutes but the U.S. and Slovakia ended 2-2 after overtime, with Slovakia winning 3-2 in the shootout to eliminate the U.S. in fourth place.[41]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Noah Cates made his NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2021–22 season, appearing in 16 games and recording 5 goals and 4 assists for 9 points, while averaging 13:15 of ice time per game.[1] In the following 2022–23 season, he established himself as a full-time NHL player, skating in all 82 games with 13 goals, 25 assists, and 38 points, alongside an increase to 17:46 average ice time, including contributions on the power play with 3 goals and 1 short-handed goal.[1] His production dipped in 2023–24 to 59 games, 6 goals, 12 assists, and 18 points, with reduced ice time of 13:48 per game amid team adjustments and injuries.[1] Cates rebounded in the 2024–25 season, achieving a career-high 16 goals (1 on the power play) and 21 assists for 37 points over 78 games, averaging 15:53 of ice time and posting a +3 plus-minus rating.[1] Through the early 2025–26 season as of November 15, 2025, he has played 16 games, tallying 4 goals (1 on the power play), 6 assists, and 10 points, with his average ice time rising to 17:35 per game, reflecting expanded roles in all situations.[1] Overall, Cates has accumulated 251 regular-season games, 44 goals, 68 assists, and 112 points with the Flyers, demonstrating steady progression from a bottom-six forward to a more versatile middle-six contributor.[1] Prior to his NHL debut, Cates had no regular-season appearances in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, transitioning directly from college hockey to the NHL after signing his entry-level contract in March 2022.[6] The Philadelphia Flyers have not qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs during Cates' NHL tenure from 2021–22 to 2024–25, resulting in no postseason games played.[1]

NHL Regular Season Statistics

SeasonTeamGPGAPTSPIM+/-PPGSHGATOI
2021–22PHI165494+41013:15
2022–23PHI8213253812+33117:46
2023–24PHI59612180–80013:48
2024–25PHI7816213714+31015:53
2025–26PHI1646106+31017:35
Career251446811236+56115:45
ATOI = Average Time On Ice; PPG = Power-Play Goals; SHG = Short-Handed Goals. Statistics current as of November 15, 2025.[1] Cates' career trajectory shows notable growth in ice time from his rookie year, peaking at over 17 minutes in 2022–23 and again early in 2025–26, correlating with his 2024–25 goal-scoring surge that highlighted improved finishing and positioning.[1] Milestones include his first NHL goal on April 5, 2022, against the New Jersey Devils and reaching 100 career games in the 2023–24 season, underscoring his transition to a reliable two-way forward.[2]

International tournaments

Noah Cates has represented the United States in two major international ice hockey tournaments, accumulating 4 points in 11 games played. His contributions were particularly notable in the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he helped secure a silver medal for Team USA. In the 2022 Winter Olympics, he served as an alternate captain and provided depth scoring for the squad that finished fifth.[3] The following table summarizes Cates' performance statistics in these tournaments:
TournamentYearTeamGPGAPtsPIM+/-
World Junior Championship2019USA U2071232+2
Winter Olympics2022USA41012+2
Sources: Statistics from Elite Prospects.[42][43] Across these international appearances, Cates averaged 0.36 points per game, reflecting efficient bottom-six forward play in high-stakes environments, though slightly below his NHL career average of 0.45 points per game in professional club competition.[6]

Awards and honors

Collegiate achievements

During his freshman season with the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in 2018–19, Noah Cates contributed to the team's NCAA Division I national championship victory, defeating Bowling Green State University 3–1 in the title game on April 13, 2019. Cates earned widespread recognition for his performance across his four collegiate seasons, receiving All-NCHC honors each year. As a freshman in 2018–19, he was selected to the NCHC All-Rookie Team after recording 23 points (9 goals and 14 assists) in 40 games.[19] In his sophomore year of 2019–20, Cates was named to the NCHC First All-Star Team, highlighting his 33 points in 34 games as a key forward for the Bulldogs.[21] He followed this with Second All-Star Team honors in 2020–21, where he captained the team and recorded 19 points in 28 games despite a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a senior in 2021–22, Cates received NCHC Honorable Mention recognition, serving as team captain and helping secure the program's second NCHC Frozen Faceoff title during his career. In 2020, Cates was selected as an AHCA West Second-Team All-American, one of four Bulldogs honored that year for their contributions to college hockey.[44][45] Cates also garnered multiple NCHC weekly honors for standout performances, including Offensive Player of the Week on three occasions: October 22–28, 2018, for his game-winning goal and assist in a win over Notre Dame; February 25–March 3, 2019, for his two goals and assist in a sweep of St. Cloud State; and November 18–24, 2019, for five power-play points in a sweep of Colorado College.[46][47][48]

Professional accolades

In the 2024–25 NHL season, Noah Cates was selected as the recipient of the Gene Hart Memorial Award by the Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club, an honor given annually to the player who best exemplifies "heart" through tenacity, effort, and playing the game the right way on the ice.[49] This recognition highlighted Cates' reliable two-way contributions as a forward, including his strong defensive play and penalty-kill duties, where he logged significant minutes while chipping in offensively with 16 goals and 21 assists in 78 games.[50] Cates' consistent performance throughout the season culminated in a four-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Flyers on June 3, 2025, valued at $16 million with an average annual value of $4 million, underscoring the organization's acknowledgment of his emergence as a dependable middle-six center.[3] This milestone deal reflects his growth since his NHL debut in 2022 and his role in the team's rebuilding efforts.[51]

References

  1. Noah Cates Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title
  2. Noah Cates Stats And News - Philadelphia - NHL.com
  3. Flyers Re-Sign Forward Noah Cates to a Four-Year Contract
  4. Noah Cates | NHL Contracts & Salaries - Spotrac.com
  5. The Cates brothers are fittingly excelling in the City of Brotherly Love
  6. Noah Cates - Stats, Contract, Salary & More - Elite Prospects
  7. Noah Cates - 2021-22 Men's Hockey Roster - UMD Athletics
  8. Noah Cates Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com
  9. Cates leaves Minnesota-Duluth, signs with Flyers - ESPN
  10. Noah Cates: News, Stats, Game Logs | RotoWire
  11. Noah Cates - Philadelphia Flyers Left Wing - ESPN
  12. Noah Cates - Philadelphia Flyers LW - StatMuse
  13. Noah Cates | Team USA
  14. Flyers' Jackson and Noah Cates hoping to live out childhood NHL ...
  15. Hockey: Cates brothers help Bulldogs defend national championship
  16. East Metro boys hockey player of the year: Stillwater's Noah Cates
  17. Stillwater High - 2016-2017 Regular Season Player Stats
  18. IceHogs Bring Back Jackson Cates
  19. Six Teams Represented on Seven-Man 2018-19 NCHC All-Rookie ...
  20. College men's hockey: Minnesota Duluth wins second straight title
  21. Quartet of Bulldogs Leads 2019-20 NCHC All-Conference First Team
  22. FANTI, CATES EARN ALL-NCHC HONORS - UMD Athletics
  23. CATES SIGNS NHL CONTRACT WITH FLYERS - UMD Athletics
  24. Flyers sign Noah Cates to two-year, entry-level contract
  25. Noah Cates thinks he “Can play at this level” after potting his first ...
  26. Flyers Summer Sampler: Noah Cates appears destined for bigger role
  27. Transaction Analysis: Noah Cates Signs 2-Year Contract Extension
  28. Flyers Sign Noah Cates To Four-Year Extension | Pro Hockey Rumors
  29. 2019 WJC | U.S. Roster - Team USA Hockey
  30. Team USA - U20 World Championships 2019 - Player Stats
  31. U.S. Edges Czech Republic, 3-1, Advances to Semifinals
  32. IIHF - USA - FIN 05.01.2019 - Game Centre Play by play - IIHF
  33. 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship - Team USA Hockey
  34. Back to school: WJC experience kickstart for Noah Cates
  35. CATES NAMED TO U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM - UMD Athletics
  36. Andy Miele Named Captain of 2022 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey ...
  37. UMD men's hockey: Bulldogs captain Noah Cates will wear a letter ...
  38. UMD men's hockey: Bulldogs' captain Noah Cates named to college ...
  39. Olympic men's ice hockey: Team USA wins opener against China
  40. 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games | Men's Tournament
  41. UMD men's hockey: USA, Bulldogs captain Cates ousted in Olympic ...
  42. WJC-20 Stats 2018-2019 - Elite Prospects
  43. https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/og/stats/2021-2022
  44. Men's CCM/AHCA Hockey Division I All-Americans Announced
  45. 2019-20 CCM/AHCA Division I men's hockey All-Americans ...
  46. Bauer NCHC Players of the Week: October 22-28, 2018
  47. Bauer NCHC Players of the Week: Feb. 25-March 3, 2019
  48. Bauer NCHC Players of the Week: November 18-24, 2019 - National ...
  49. Philadelphia Flyers Present 2024-25 End-of-Season Awards
  50. Flyers announce winners of their 2024-25 team awards - Yahoo Sports
  51. Flyers sign forward Noah Cates to $16 million extension - ESPN
User Avatar
No comments yet.