Last Updated on November 10, 2026 by Bernald Sanders
Noah Cates is an American professional ice hockey player who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on February 5, 1999, in Stillwater, Minnesota, he is known for his defensive abilities, versatility, and strong work ethic.
Beyond his NHL career, Cates comes from a family with deep connections to ice hockey. His parents are Jeff and Jenny Cates, and he has an older brother named Jackson Cates, who is also a professional hockey player.
Noah has also been romantically linked to Carlie Mies, although his current relationship status has not been publicly confirmed through recent reliable reporting.
Noah Cates’s Girlfriend: Is He Dating or Married?
Noah Cates was previously identified as being in a relationship with Carlie Mies, a Minnesota native who attended the University of Minnesota Duluth.
The relationship was discussed in several online biographical reports published between 2022 and 2023.
According to a June 2023 article published by Earn the Necklace, Carlie and Noah had been romantically involved for several years.
Earlier reports also described photographs shared on social media that suggested the couple had been dating since approximately 2019.
However, these reports have not been independently confirmed through recent interviews with Cates or official statements from the Philadelphia Flyers.
Consequently, Carlie Mies should be described as a previously reported girlfriend rather than definitively identified as his current partner.
There is also no reliable public announcement confirming that Noah Cates is married or engaged.
Who Is Carlie Mies?
Carlie Mies is an American woman from Cold Spring, Minnesota, who has been publicly linked to Noah Cates.
She reportedly attended Rocori Senior High School before continuing her education at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where Noah played college hockey.
According to biographical reporting published in 2023, Carlie was born on June 2, 2000.
Although some reports have discussed their relationship, Carlie generally maintains a private personal life.
Verified information about her current profession and relationship status is limited.
Noah Cates’s Children: Does He Have Kids?
Noah Cates has no publicly confirmed children.
Reliable reports from NHL.com, the Philadelphia Flyers, and established sports publications do not identify any sons or daughters belonging to him.
Although Cates has occasionally discussed his family background and personal experiences in interviews, he has not publicly announced becoming a father.
Therefore, his parental status remains unconfirmed rather than definitively establishing that he has no children.
Noah Cates’s Parents: Who Are His Father and Mother?
Noah Cates was born to Jeff Cates and Jenny Cates in Stillwater, Minnesota.
Both parents have played important roles in his upbringing and hockey development.
Their identities are confirmed in Noah’s official Team USA biography and his University of Minnesota Duluth athletics profile.
The Cates family has an extensive hockey background, with Jeff having played college hockey and both sons eventually reaching the professional level.
Noah Cates’s Father: Jeff Cates
Jeff Cates is Noah Cates’s father, a former college hockey player and businessman.
He played as a defenseman at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, where he was part of the program that won the 1988 NCAA Division III men’s ice hockey national championship.
After his playing career, Jeff remained involved in hockey through his sons’ development.
He also became associated with Cates Fine Homes, a homebuilding business in Minnesota.
According to an August 2022 feature published by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Jeff’s company sponsored the Stillwater High School boys’ hockey team’s power play.
The sponsorship became especially memorable because his sons, Jackson and Noah, contributed to many of the team’s power-play goals.
Jeff was also involved in coaching his children during their youth hockey careers.
Although he had not initially planned to coach his sons, his experience as a former college defenseman made him a valuable volunteer for their teams.
He often helped as a defensive assistant while Noah and Jackson played forward.
During their childhood, Jeff regularly participated in hockey-related activities at home, including informal games in the family’s basement.
In March 2022, Jeff expressed his pride when Noah made his NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers.
At the time, he had already watched his older son Jackson reach the NHL with the same organization.
Having both sons play professional hockey for Philadelphia was an achievement the family had never expected.
Noah Cates’s Mother: Jenny Cates
Jenny Cates is Noah Cates’s mother and the wife of Jeff Cates.
She raised Noah and his older brother Jackson in Stillwater, Minnesota, where hockey became an important part of family life.
Jenny has spoken publicly about her sons’ childhood and their shared passion for the sport.
In an August 2022 interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, she described how Noah and Jackson spent countless hours playing hockey in the family’s unfinished basement.
Initially, Jenny participated in their games as a goaltender. However, as the boys became older and their shots grew more powerful, she began acting as the game’s announcer instead.
The brothers practiced so frequently that the family eventually installed plywood along the basement walls to protect them from flying pucks.
Jenny also supported their participation in other sports, although both sons consistently showed a stronger interest in hockey.
She was particularly emotional when Noah made his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild on March 29, 2022.
Jackson, who had already played for Philadelphia, traveled to Minnesota to watch his younger brother’s first NHL game despite recovering from an injury.
Jenny later spoke about how meaningful it was to see her sons supporting each other’s achievements.
Throughout their careers, she has remained one of their most important supporters.
Noah Cates’s Siblings: Does He Have Brothers or Sisters?
Noah Cates has one publicly documented sibling, an older brother named Jackson Cates.
Both brothers grew up playing hockey together in Stillwater, Minnesota, and eventually represented the University of Minnesota Duluth before reaching the professional level.
No additional siblings are identified in their official university biographies.
Jackson Cates – Noah Cates’s Older Brother
Jackson Cates is Noah’s older brother and a professional ice hockey player.
He was born on September 28, 1997, in Stillwater, Minnesota.
Jackson is approximately 16 months older than Noah, and the brothers spent much of their childhood playing on the same youth hockey teams.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, their father frequently described the brothers as having grown up almost like twins because of their close relationship and shared interests.
They played together at Stillwater Area High School and later reunited at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Both helped the Bulldogs win the 2019 NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey national championship.
Jackson was not selected in the NHL Entry Draft, but his college performances attracted the attention of professional scouts.
On April 13, 2021, he signed an entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.
He made his NHL debut later that month and scored his first NHL goal against the Montreal Canadiens on December 16, 2021.
Noah followed his brother into the NHL in March 2022, making their family story particularly memorable for Flyers supporters.
After leaving Philadelphia’s organization, Jackson continued playing professionally with the Rockford IceHogs in the American Hockey League.
In August 2026, he signed a one-year contract with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Despite pursuing their careers in different locations, the brothers share a strong relationship built through their childhood and college experiences.
Noah Cates’s Extended Family and Hockey Background
Hockey connections extend beyond Noah’s father and brother.
His uncle, Jay Cates, also played competitive college hockey.
According to Noah’s official Team USA biography, Jay played three seasons at the University of Minnesota between 1985 and 1988.
This family history meant Noah grew up surrounded by relatives familiar with the demands of competitive hockey.
His father’s experience as an NCAA champion and his uncle’s involvement in college hockey provided additional examples for Noah and Jackson to follow.
Noah Cates’s Family Support During His NHL Debut
One of the most memorable moments in Noah Cates’s family history occurred on March 29, 2022, when he made his NHL debut for the Philadelphia Flyers against the Minnesota Wild.
The game was held at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, approximately half an hour from his hometown of Stillwater.
More than 150 friends, family members, former teammates, and supporters attended the game to celebrate his achievement.
Among those present were his parents and older brother Jackson.
Jackson had previously made his NHL debut for Philadelphia in April 2021, and Noah had traveled to watch that occasion.
When Noah received his opportunity, Jackson returned the gesture by traveling to Minnesota despite being injured.
For their parents, watching both sons achieve their NHL dreams represented the culmination of many years of dedication, travel, practices, and family support.
Noah Cates’s Early Life and Family Background
Noah Allen Cates was born on February 5, 1999, in Stillwater, Minnesota, United States.
He grew up with his parents, Jeff and Jenny, and his older brother Jackson.
He began playing organized hockey at approximately five years old.
After developing his skills through youth hockey, he attended Stillwater Area High School, where he became one of Minnesota’s promising young forwards.
He later played junior hockey with the Omaha Lancers in the United States Hockey League.
The Philadelphia Flyers selected him in the fifth round, 137th overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Instead of immediately turning professional, Cates attended the University of Minnesota Duluth.
He played four seasons with the Bulldogs from 2018 to 2022, recording 99 points in 139 games.
During his freshman season, he helped Minnesota Duluth win the 2019 NCAA national championship.
He also served as a team captain during his final two college seasons.
In February 2022, Cates represented the United States at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.
He subsequently signed his first NHL contract with Philadelphia in March 2022 and made his league debut against Minnesota.
On June 3, 2025, the Flyers announced that they had signed Cates to a four-year contract extension worth $16 million.
His NHL development reflects the support he received from his family throughout his childhood and college career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Noah Cates’s Family
Who is Noah Cates’s girlfriend?
Noah Cates was previously linked to Carlie Mies, a Minnesota native who attended the University of Minnesota Duluth. However, the current status of their relationship has not been reliably confirmed.
Is Noah Cates married?
There is no verified public information establishing that Noah Cates is married.
Does Noah Cates have children?
Noah Cates has no publicly confirmed children.
Who is Noah Cates’s father?
His father is Jeff Cates, a former college hockey defenseman at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and a businessman associated with Cates Fine Homes.
Who is Noah Cates’s mother?
His mother is Jenny Cates, who helped raise Noah and his older brother Jackson in Stillwater, Minnesota.
Does Noah Cates have a brother?
Yes. Noah Cates has an older brother named Jackson Cates, who also played in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers.
How many siblings does Noah Cates have?
Noah Cates has one publicly documented sibling, his older brother Jackson.
Are Noah Cates and Jackson Cates related?
Yes. They are brothers. Both played college hockey at the University of Minnesota Duluth and later reached the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Where does Noah Cates’s brother play hockey?
Jackson Cates joined the Nürnberg Ice Tigers of Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga in August 2026 after previously playing professionally in North America.
Who is Noah Cates’s uncle?
His uncle is Jay Cates, a former University of Minnesota college hockey player who competed from 1985 to 1988.
Living and breathing ice hockey, Bernald Sanders delivers comprehensive coverage of the NHL season from puck drop to the Stanley Cup Finals. He specializes in tactical breakdowns, trade analysis, power-play strategies, and tracking rising draft prospects. Bernald turns fast-paced on-ice action into clear, sharp insights for hockey fans around the globe.
