Coventry Blaze Ice Hockey team have signed 27 year old, Canadian defenceman, Josh Godfrey from Norwegian side Sparta Sarpsborg for the next two seasons.
The 6’2” Ontario native was a second round draft pick of the Washington Capitals in 2007 and the following season played a major role helping Team Canada to win gold at the IIHF World Under 20 Championships – picking up 5 assists, the most by any defenceman at the tournament.
A hugely successful spell with the South Carolina Stingrays of the East Coast Hockey League followed including a Kelly Cup Championship winning season in 2008/09, an All Star game selection in 2010/11 and multiple American Hockey League call ups. During the 2010/11 All Star Game, Godfrey set the ECHL record for the hardest shot – recorded at 102.7mph.
Godfrey moved to Europe for the 2013/14 season, signing for Landshut Cannibals of the DEL2 League in Germany where he posted 46 points in 68 games, helping the Cannibals to the play off semi finals alongside current Blaze goalie, Brian Stewart.
Last season, he helped Sparta Sarpsborg to their best season for 5 years, finishing in 3rd place in the league behind Champions Hockey League sides, Stavanger and Storhamar. Godfrey posted 25 points in 45 games for the team, also reaching the semi finals of the play offs.
Blaze Head Coach, Chuck Weber is delighted with the capture of Godfrey – a player who has a built a great reputation as a top offensive defenceman with a huge shot, strong on the powerplay and who likes to play a physical game.
“Josh is a premier offensive defenceman who is highly effective in making either the first pass or exiting the zone with possession. He is very skilled at creating offence from the blue line and is always a big threat to score from the blue line with his huge shot.
“I coached against him for two seasons and he was someone who we always had to be aware of whenever he was on the ice. He was part of South Carolina’s 2009 Kelly Cup championship team and he’s played a lot of play off hockey in North America and in Europe. You cannot have enough of those guys in your room.”
Godfrey, who will combine his playing duties with a course of study at Coventry Business School, is equally pleased to be making the move to the Blaze.
“I’m very proud to be joining the Coventry Blaze for the next two years. They are a top quality hockey club and I’m grateful to both the team and Coventry Business School for giving me the opportunity to further my education at the same time as playing for the team. I just couldn’t pass on the opportunity to play for a first class organisation and learn at a top class University.
“I’m really looking forward to playing with Brian Stewart again. I’ve played both with and against him and I know how he can change a game. It will be good to be on the same side again.
“I’m also well aware of what Chuck Weber brings to a team. My first two years pro in South Carolina, I played against him when he was in Cincinnati and we each beat one another en route to championships in consecutive seasons. I really am very excited to be joining him in Coventry.”