Noah Hanifin

Noah Hanifin was born on January 25, 1997, in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in Norwood, Massachusetts, and attended Saint Sebastian’s School, where he began playing varsity hockey in the eighth grade. Hanifin showed promising talent early on, serving as captain for the United States team that secured a gold medal at the 2014 U-17 World Hockey Challenge. He also won gold at the 2014 World Under-18 Championship, where he was the highest-scoring American defenseman with one goal and five points. After fast-tracking his high school graduation, Hanifin enrolled at Boston College as a 17-year-old, becoming the second-youngest player in the team’s history. During his single season with the Eagles, he played in 37 of 38 games, recording five goals and 18 assists, contributing to Boston College finishing tied for second in Hockey East.

Hanifin was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes as the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three-year entry-level contract in July 2015 and made his NHL debut on October 8, 2015, against the Nashville Predators. He scored his first NHL goal on November 16, 2015, against the Anaheim Ducks. He became a regular on the Hurricanes’ blue line, and in the 2017-18 season, he achieved his best offensive output with 32 points, comprising 10 goals and 22 assists. During this season, he was also selected as the sole representative for the Hurricanes at the 2018 NHL All-Star Game. On June 23, 2018, Hanifin was traded to the Calgary Flames. He spent six seasons in Calgary, signing a six-year, $29.7 million contract extension on August 30, 2018. On February 6, 2021, Hanifin played his 400th NHL game, becoming the sixth-youngest U.S.-born player to reach this milestone.

On March 6, 2024, Hanifin was involved in a three-way trade that sent him to the Vegas Golden Knights. He solidified his commitment to the team by signing an eight-year, $58.8 million contract extension with the Golden Knights on April 11, 2024, preventing him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. Hanifin was named to the United States roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off during the 2024-25 season.