nˈɑːɛl wʌz ʌndɹˈæftᵻd ˈæftɚ plˈeɪɪŋ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ sˈɛvənti fˈaɪv wɪððə kˈɪtʃənɚ ɹˈeɪndʒɚz, bˌʌt hiː wʌz sˈaɪnd æz ɐ pɹəfˈɛʃənəl wɪððə bˈʌfəlˌoʊ nˈoːɹsɪmˌɛn ʌvðə nˈɔːɹθ ɐmˈɛɹɪkən hˈɑːki lˈiːɡ nˈɑːl, stˈɑːɹɾɪŋ ɐ lˈɔŋ mˈaɪnɚ lˈiːɡ plˈeɪɪŋ kɚɹˈɪɹ.
Noël was undrafted after playing 1974–75 with the Kitchener Rangers, but he was signed as a professional with the Buffalo Norsemen of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), starting a long minor league playing career.