Former Golden Bear Noah Philp scores first NHL goal

Noah Philp made his mark on October 11. The former Golden Bear scored his first National Hockey League goal as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-1.

He did it by doing the little things right. Philp went for an impressive 71.4 per cent in the faceoff circle, blocked two shots, and made smart plays throughout the game. This performance earned him the Atturo Tires Player of the Game.

Seeing him score in Oilers colours was a great end to Philp’s offseason story. After competing for and earning a roster spot, he quickly showed the coaches why he deserved it. Sporting a blue-collar mindset, developing good habits, and winning faceoffs.

Philp’s path to that moment took a detour. After a strong rookie season with the Bakersfield Condors in 2022–23, he stepped away from hockey for a year. He said it was a personal decision, one that helped him reset and rediscover what he loved about the game.

“When I step on the ice, it never feels like work,” he said at training camp. “It just feels like I’m having fun.”

That mindset showed on Saturday. His goal was clean and confident, the kind that comes from trusting your instincts. In tight defensive coverage, he quickly fired off a feed from Kasperi Kapanen, and netted it top right corner. You could tell he was enjoying every shift.

For the Golden Bears community, his goal was a proud moment. Another former Bear stepping into the spotlight, showing that U Sports hockey in Canada can lead straight to the big league.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch, a former Bear himself, later admitted it was “a difficult decision” to make Philp a healthy scratch the following game. The team needed to shuffle lines after adding Jack Roslovic in free agency, and Philp is not a contributor to the penalty kill or power play. Even so, his even-strength performance left a mark.

With star Forward Zach Hyman returning from injury soon, Philp will have to fight even harder to remain on the roster night-to-night. However, at only 27-years-old, this year gives him time to grow as a player, and show coaching staff why he deserves a permanent spot with the orange and blue.

Philp’s story is not about flashy or selfish plays. It is about patience, timing, and knowing when to trust yourself. His first goal just happened to sum that up perfectly.

So, whether you watched him at Clare Drake or just learned his name on Saturday, keep an eye on him. His story gives U Sports fans a chance to root for a feel-good story in the big leagues.