Eric Godard
A Canadian enforcer whose fists and fearlessness earned him a Stanley Cup ring and the unforgettable nickname 'the Hand of God'.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: March 7·Generation X
Biography
Eric Godard had a specific, uncompromising job in the NHL: protection. In an era that still valued enforcers, the towering right-winger built a decade-long career on willingness and toughness. Drafted by the New York Islanders, he became a fixture in the league's tough-guy circuit, dropping gloves with the most feared fighters to defend teammates and shift momentum. His journey included stints with the Calgary Flames and a career-defining move to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In Pittsburgh, his role as a deterrent on the fourth line contributed to the team's culture, and he was part of the 2009 squad that lifted the Stanley Cup. Godard's legacy is that of a specialist who understood and mastered the physical demands of his position.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Eric was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.
- Accumulated over 700 penalty minutes in his 304-game NHL career, primarily for fighting majors.
- Played in 44 games for the Penguins during their 2008-09 championship season, providing a physical presence.
Did You Know?
His nickname, 'the Hand of God', is a play on his surname and a reference to the infamous Diego Maradona goal.
He was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 7th round (219th overall) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
He once engaged in a fight with fellow enforcer George Parros that was so intense it broke the glass surrounding the penalty box.
“My role was clear: stand up for my teammates, no matter the cost.”
