Reg Noble was among the top players during the NHL's first 15 seasons, winning the Stanley Cup three times in a career that saw him excel as a forward in his early years before later becoming a defenseman.

A native of Collingwood, Ontario, Noble turned pro with the Toronto Blueshirts of the National Hockey Association in 1916-17. He was assigned to the Montreal Canadiens after Toronto was suspended by the NHA, but the Canadiens didn't retain his rights when they joined the NHL in the fall of 1917, and Noble signed with the Toronto Arenas.

In 1917-18, Noble scored 29 goals in 20 regular-season games before helping the Arenas defeat the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association in the Stanley Cup Final.

After dipping to 10 goals in 1918-19, Noble rebounded with 24 goals in 1919-20. Two seasons later, he scored 17 goals for Toronto, which was now renamed the St. Patricks, and won the Cup for the second time in his career after again defeating Vancouver in the Final.

However, the St. Patricks traded Noble to the Montreal Maroons on Dec. 9, 1924, and he won the Cup for the third time in 1926 when the Maroons defeated the Victoria Cougars of the Western Hockey League in the Final.

On Oct. 4, 1927, Montreal sold Noble, now a defenseman, to the Detroit Cougars. He became a mainstay in Detroit, where coach/general manager Jack Adams refused to believe he was washed up, and he was named the second captain in team history from 1927-30.

But on Dec. 9, 1932, Noble was traded back to Montreal, where he was held scoreless in 21 games for the Maroons during his final NHL season.

After retiring with 273 points (167 goals, 106 assists) in 510 NHL games, Noble returned to the NHL as a referee for two seasons.

He was inducted into the Red Wings Hall of Fame in 1944, and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.

Noble died on Jan. 19, 1962 at the age of 65.