2023 QMJHL Draft | Under the Microscope: Noah Collette
Noah Collette lives in Bouctouche, New Brunswick, about ten minutes away from Lukas Cormier’s family home. Over the years, the two defensemen have built a friendship, and used to train together every Wednesday growing up.
This summer, they skated together once before Cormier, who played four years with the Charlottetown Islanders and was selected by Vegas in the third round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, left for Golden Knights training camp. With such a great mentor and friend to look up to, Collette hopes he can follow in Cormier’s footsteps by getting drafted into the QMJHL this summer, and eventually becoming an NHL draft choice down the road.
Like Cormier, 15-year-old Collette may be undersized, especially for a defender, but he’s capable of playing a solid two-way game. He’s shown good offensive instincts and a strong first pass time and time again. This season, he’s continuing his development with the Moncton Flyers in the NB/PEI Major U18 Hockey League under the watchful eye of head coach John DeCourcey, who sees similar skills and instincts in Collette that Cormier also has.
Not only does Collette come to the rink every day with a smile on his face, but he wants to learn and improve. He’s a hockey player through and through. He’s also as relaxed off the ice as he is calm on the ice, in the heat of the action. His poise is a quality that’s going to help him succeed at the next level.
“He’s very under control,” explained DeCourcey. “He’s going to be able to play at high speeds because he can see the game, maintains his control and doesn’t get bothered by the pressure of the game.”
Collette, who grew up playing hockey on the backyard rink that his dad still builds every year, likes to model his game after fellow undersized defenseman Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks), because of his mobility and high hockey IQ. Even though DeCourcey is quick to point out his young charge’s standout passing skills, Collette is most proud of another strength of his that is going to make him a valuable blueliner, no matter where his hockey career takes him.
“Getting shots to the net is the best part of his game right now,” he said. “I’ve also been working on the defensive side of my game and keeping my stick on the ice, so that I can be harder on my opponents since a lot of them are bigger than me.”
While it’s impossible to predict Collette’s hockey future, one thing is for sure: he’s not going to let his size get in the way of achieving his goal of playing in the QMJHL one day. And by all accounts, he has the talent, work ethic, and demeanour to make it happen.
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Noah Collette
Height: 5’7″ | Weight: 141 lbs
Date of Birth: November 8, 2007
Birthplace: Bouctouche, New Brunswick
Shoots: Left
