Friday, July 12, 2013

Former NHLer Godard Joins 'Backs Coaching Staff

Press Release

The Salmon Arm SilverBacks are pleased to announce the hiring of former National Hockey League forward and Stanley Cup champion Eric Godard as an assistant coach.

Godard, a native of Vernon, played 8 seasons in the NHL with the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins, winning a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009. In 335 career NHL games, Godard scored 18 points and amassed 833 penalty minutes. Prior to making the jump to professional hockey, Godard spent three seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

During Pittsburgh’s run to the Stanley Cup in 2009, Godard was named the team’s “Player’s Player” in reference to his leadership and teamwork. He was also awarded the team’s Community Service award for his time and effort towards community and charity projects.

“I look forward to teaching discipline, loyalty and systems that create champions,” Godard said. “I believe that I have earned success throughout my career because of my determination, work ethic and the plain fact that I had to work hard for everything.”

“I’ve always worked well with my teammates, peers, and coaches and have always brought a ‘team first’ attitude, and those are all elements that I’d like to bring to the start of my coaching career,” Godard added.

“I’ve known Eric for a very long time and have become a fan of him personally. He worked hard and sacrificed for everything that he did in his career and nothing was ever handed to him,” said SilverBacks head coach/general manager Troy Mick. “His message as a coach will be that hard works pays off and don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t make it. He was a prime example of that message as he was never the top scorer or the guy that was heralded but the player who had to sacrifice everything every night to show he deserved to be there”

“Not many guys worked harder than he did and to top it off he was rewarded with a Stanley Cup ring, we are excited for him to be joining the SilverBacks,” Mick added.

Godard will join the SilverBacks in time for the team’s 2013 Main Camp, which begins Monday, August 19th at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.


(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

No comments: