Eric Godard

Eric Godard
Godard with the Penguins, April 2010
Born	(1980-03-07) March 7, 1980 (age 37) Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	227 lb (103 kg; 16 st 3 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	New York Islanders Calgary Flames Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2000–2012

Eric Godard (born March 7, 1980) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Godard was known as an enforcer for his physical style of play and regularly dropping the gloves. His nickname is "The Hand of God".

Godard played junior hockey with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League. He went undrafted and was signed as a free agent by the Florida Panthers on September 24, 1999. After being called up to the American Hockey League on April 1, 2000, by the Louisville Panthers, Godard was involved in his first professional fight taking on Todd Fedoruk of the Philadelphia Phantoms. Godard never played for the NHL Panthers though and on June 22, 2002, was traded to the New York Islanders for a third-round selection (previously acquired – Gregory Campbell).

Godard made his NHL debut with the Islanders on October 17, 2002, against the Philadelphia Flyers. In his next game on December 6, Godard recorded his first career fight against Tie Domi of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Godard played only occasionally for the rest of season, bouncing back and forth between the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL and the Islanders.