Eric Godard retires?

[GOON 21]

Forgive me guys if this is posted in another section, but just stumbled across this article and story, hes only 32 years old


http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/sports/176874371.html


This is making me feel old lol, i remember him coming to the Isles and me as giddy as a kid on christmas morning, the guy was a damn good NHL enforcer and fighter, many good memories of him as a player



Still very young, i wish him the best

[Cat Smasher]

Good career. Another heavy bites the dust At least this one seems by choice, leaving on his terms. He got his ring, he did his destruction. Will be missed.

edit* The thing I noticed about Godard was just how damn good he got as time went on. He just kept getting better.

[Mike Tython]

I always enjoyed watching him play in Pittsburgh, and from all accounts he was a great teammate (even winning the Players' Player award as that article mentions). Good luck to him.

[D Y B FLYERS]

Solid NHL enforcer. Glad he decided to go on his own terms, though at this point ever seeing him playing in the NHL again was doubtful. He certainly was involved in some of the better fights of the past decade.

[flamesblackace]

Loved watching The Goddard of War punch the lights out of Boogaard!! That was like Christmas morning for me...

[RetardedChimp]

One of the better, but also more confusing fighters of the last few years. Looked like an absolute monster some days (vs Boogaard and MacIntyre) then would look completely average others. Inconsistency seemed to be the only major knock against him. Overall a solid career for a solid heavyweight. I remember a few off seasons ago when Seward made a post saying Godard was signing with the Flyers got me amped up. Alas, it never came to be.

[Kid Roberts]

That sucks to see him go. He was a GREAT team guy and one of my favorite players.

[JKidd]

Amazing the 2nd start he got all thanks to Derek Boogaard massacring guys in the NW division. The Eric comes up, and in one swing of a FOTY, knocks Boogs out, and is a household name again.

An amazing start to another chapter of his very solid enforcer career.

If he does call it a career for sure, best of luck to him, and thanks for the great memories.

[Killah_punk]

One of my all-time favorites. Godard was a warrior and it's sad to see there is no longer a place in the game for a player like Godard. He was one of the most involved players in the communities. He spent a lot of time visiting the sicks kids at the hospital. I was wonder what he was doing during the lockout and what his hockey future held. I wish him all the best in retirement, thanks for the memories Eric 'Hand of God' Godard.
Here were some of my favorite fights from Eric, he has so many good wars to choose from.

Godard and Boogaard the fight Godard is most known for.

Boogaard vs Godard Jan 09, 2007 - YouTube

Godard breaks MacIntyre face.

Steve MacIntyre vs

Godard and Lessard (AHL Playoffs)

AHL War: Eric Godard vs

Godard and King, whatever happened to DJ King some had him touted the future heavyweight champ.

Godard vs King Nov 25, 2007 - YouTube

Godard and Orr series, these two heavy punchers had some wars.

RIVALS Eric Godard vs

[Black Ice]

Sad times if this news is true. Godard is without doubt THE guy who made me appreciate hockey fights when I was younger. He was a giant killer with a right hand that could flatten a mountain (see Boogaard, MacIntyre fights, etc) and a pretty good guy off the ice too by all accounts. I remember jumping out my seat when he cleanly beat Orr on Jan 28th 2009. I like Orr too but I'd waited so long to see Godard truly show up against him and that game he finally did. I still consider EG to have been the champ at around that time (08-09 season) for whatever it's worth when there are no titles or belts to fight for. He achieved a great deal for an enforcer. And his name's on the cup. I'll miss his scraps. I wish him all the best

[OLLBLUEEYZ]

He was an incredible NHL tough guy. Good Luck to him in the future.

[GOON 21]

I think the lockout might have had something to do with this decision as well, but lets remember the guy didnt play much last year or so..


He was a great but sometimes inconsistent fighter, some nights looking like world champ and the next day a medicore middle of road guy ---- he was a guy who seemed to fight to the level of his competition, both up and down


As a Islander him and Cairns made a great 1-2 punch and was a tough task for many teams best heavies to matchup, those division games (Flyers) with Fedoruk and Brash always made me anxious to watch, ahhhhh the good ole days of 2003, 04, 05 lol

[V12_Bi-Turbo]

Thanks for the memories, Eric

And yes that Boogaard knocking down was surreal

[FightingIsGood]

A damn shame. I loved Godard when he was in Pittsburgh, and I will always remember him breaking Big Mac's face (ironically the guy who ended up replacing him), beating the sh*t out of Jay Rosehill after he went after Crosby and jumping off the bench to help Brent Johnson in the Pens/Isles brawl game. Too bad that ended up being his last hurrah in a Penguin uniform.

Best of luck to you, Eric, and thanks for the memories.

[Kid Roberts]

I got in 'trouble' after posting this on HF Boards. I had to respond to some non-fighting derps.