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Noah Ruden during his
hockey playing days at the
University of Michigan

Education Game-Changer
For Former Goalie

ARTS

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STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

N

oah Ruden never lost sight
Ruden also earned a degree in
of the puck when he played
communication and media studies
hockey. Off the ice, he never
in 2006 after being named to All-CCA
lost sight of the importance of educa- and All-Big Ten academic teams.
tion.
“Coach (Red) Berenson told us
Those two attributes served him
many times that no matter who you
well.
are, there’s always life after hockey
Ruden had a great career
and you have to prepare for
as a goalie, including four
it,” Ruden said. “He made
years on the University of
sure we were student-ath-
Michigan hockey team. Now
letes.”
he has a great career as an
Ruden gave minor profes-
account manager for an
sional hockey a try after
international producer of spi-
he left U-M, playing for the
nal implants.
Port Huron Flags of the
He added a new line on
now-defunct United Hockey
Noah Ruden
his resume this fall. The
League for one season.
35-year-old Plymouth resi-
Then he made a life-
dent was inducted into the
changing decision.
Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
“If I didn’t get a contract for the
during the annual dinner at the
next season that would advance my
Jewish Community Center in West
career, then that was it for hockey,”
Bloomfield.
he said.
“What an honor,” he said. “What
He didn’t get that contract.
really put it into perspective for me
“Hockey was a great part of my life
was my father telling me about see-
for a long time, but it was time to
ing all the plaques of Hall of Fame
move on,” he said.
members when he goes to the JCC.
After dabbling in sports broadcast-
Now my plaque is there with people
ing, including an internship with
like Hank Greenberg.”
now-retired Channel 7 sportscaster
Ruden played junior hockey for
Don Shane while he was at U-M,
two seasons after graduating from
Ruden made another important deci-
Bloomfield Hills Andover High
sion.
School. He was with the Dubuque
“In sports broadcasting, you have
Fighting Saints and Tri-City Storm of
to work your way up through small
the United States Hockey League.
markets,” he said. “I’d already done
Then he went to U-M.
something similar in hockey. I didn’t
He appeared in 41 games for the
want to do it again.”
Wolverines in four seasons from
A former U-M teammate intro-
2002-2006 with a 2.74 career goals-
duced Ruden to his current profes-
against average and .907 save per-
sion, and he’s made his mark.
centage.
“I’m fortunate to have my degree
He was named to the all-tourna-
from U-M,” Ruden said. “Having a
ment team at the 2004 Great Lakes
college degree is very important. It’s
Invitational, and was on two Central
a hyper-competitive work world out
Collegiate Hockey Association regu-
there. In my job, I can’t hire anyone
lar-season and playoff championship who doesn’t have a college degree.” •
teams, and four teams that went to
Send sports news to stevestein502004@
the NCAA Tournament, including
yahoo.com.
one that made it to the Frozen Four.

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December 28 • 2017

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