Lawrence Noble

Lawrence Noble

Biographical details
Born	December 11, 1903(1903-12-11) Monroe, Michigan, USA
Died	October 20, 1985(1985-10-20) (aged 81) Westerly, Rhode Island, USA
Alma mater	Yale University
Playing career 1924–1927 Yale
Position(s)	Forward / Defenseman
Coaching career (HC unless noted) 1927–1928 Yale freshmen 1928–1930 Yale
Head coaching record
Overall	32–2–2 (.917)
Accomplishments and honors Championships 1925 East Intercollegiate Champion (player) 1928 East Freshman Champion 1929 East Intercollegiate Champion 1930 East Intercollegiate co-Champion

Lawrence Mason Noble was an American ice hockey forward, defenseman and coach. He led Yale to back-to-back intercollegiate championships in 1929 and 1930.

Career

Born in Monroe, Michigan, Noble was raised in Syracuse, New York and attended Kent School, a private prep schoo in Connecticut. After graduating, he began attending Yale University in the fall of 1923 and joined the freshman hockey team. Once he was eligible to play on the varsity teams, Noble was a member of the football and baseball teams but he excelled as a member of the ice hockey squad. As a sophomore, Noble played as a reserve forward, substituting in as required when the starters needed rest. That season he helped the Bulldogs win an intercollegiate title while losing just 1 game all season. The following year, Noble transitioned into a larger role with the team and began the year as a left wing, however, due to a rather poor season for the team he was shifted to defense. He remained on the blueline for his senior season and was named team captain for the program's first year as a major sport. Yale recovered with a solid season but was unable to get back to a championship level.

After graduating, Noble entered Yale Law School and spent his free time as the coach for the freshman hockey team. In his first year he helped the team win the yearling championship while also acting as an assistant coach for the varsity squad when required. Before the start of the following season, Clarence Wanamaker was transferred by the United States Rubber Company to a new posting in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and would no longer be able to lead the varsity team. Noble was tabbed as his replacement in November and took over a team that had finished as the runners-up for the east intercollegiate title in 1928. Having played under Wanamaker, Noble continued to coach in the same style and the stability that provided enabled the Bulldogs to produce an outstanding season. In his first year behind the bench, Yale won 15 out of 17 games which included 8 shutouts. His second season was nearly as good with a better 17–1–1 record, however, the Elis had to share the championship with Harvard.

Despite winning a championship in each of his three seasons as coach, Noble resigned from his position once he received his J. D. in 1930. He worked as an attorney afterwards but eventually found his vocation in education. He later became the director of admissions at Groton School.

1929-30 Championship season

Harvard and Yale would play two games during the regular season with Harvard winning 3-2 in overtime on March 1st in New Haven. On March 8th at the Boston Garden Yale would avenge the overtime loss with a 3-1 victory. This would set up the need for a playoff game for the Eastern championship as the schools tied in their regular season series. The game would be held March 13th at the Boston Garden.

The playoff between the Harvard and Yale would decide the Intercollegiate title and both teams prepared for a battle. Harvard, who had been outshone by Yale through most of the season, took two leads during the game but was unable to hold onto either for too long and, once more, overtime was required. Rather than attack, Yale held back, playing a defensive style much like Harvard and the two teams rarely threatened each other's netminders. The result was three rather dull overtime periods and the game ended in a draw.

Plans for a fourth and (hopefully) deciding game began immediately after the contest was over. A few days later, after a conference between the athletic directors of each school, W. J. Bingham of Harvard ultimately decided to end the Crimson's ice hockey season and leave the two without a clear victor. 1930 was the first time since 1900 that Harvard and Yale's ice hockey teams finished with a draw over the course of a season. The result was that both teams had claims to the eastern intercollegiate championship and would have to share the crown.

Personal

Noble married Louise McLanahan and the two remained together until his death in 1985. Their son, Lawrence Jr., also attended Yale, played on the ice hockey team, and served as captain during his senior season.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1924–25	Yale	THL		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1925–26	Yale	THL		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1926–27	Yale	Independent		—	14	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—

Note: assists were not an official statistic at the time.

Head coaching record

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Yale Bulldogs (Independent) (1928–1930)
1928–29	Yale	15–1–1			East Intercollegiate Champion
1929–30	Yale	17–1–1			East Intercollegiate co-Champion
Yale:		32–2–2
Total:		32–2–2
National Champion         Conference Regular Season Champion         Conference Tournament Champion       Conference Regular Season & Conference Tournament Champion       Conference Division Champion

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or ESPN.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com