 |
Blake GeoffrionHockey player
Date of Birth: 03.02.1988
Country:  USA |
Content:
Early Life and Career
Blake Geoffrion was born in Plantation, Florida, and grew up in Brentwood, Tennessee. He attended Culver Military Academy, where he played for the school's hockey team. In 2006, Geoffrion made his international debut, representing the United States at the World U18 Championships.
College Career
For the 2006-2007 season, Geoffrion joined the University of Wisconsin's "Madison Badgers." While continuing to play for the national team, he served as one of the Badgers' captains in 2008, showcasing exceptional skill. In 2010, Geoffrion was awarded the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in American college hockey.
Professional Debut
Although drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2006, Geoffrion chose to finish college before signing a professional contract with the Predators' affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, of the American Hockey League (AHL). He signed a professional contract with the Predators on June 15, 2010, becoming the first Tennessee-born player to make the NHL roster.
NHL Career and Injury
Initially sent back to the AHL, Geoffrion earned 16 points in his first 31 games before scoring 17 points in just seven games. His performance caught the attention of the Predators' management, who recalled him on February 25, 2011. Geoffrion made his NHL debut the next night and scored his first goal on March 1. He recorded his first hat-trick on March 20.
On February 17, 2012, Geoffrion was traded to the Montreal Canadiens along with Robert Slaney for Hal Gill and a conditional fifth-round draft pick in 2013. He began the 2012-2013 season with the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs but suffered a serious head injury on November 9, 2012. After four months, Geoffrion announced his intention to retire from hockey, which he did on July 15, 2013.
Hockey Legacy
Blake Geoffrion is the first fourth-generation NHL hockey player. His great-grandfather, Howard William Morenz, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and was named the Canadian Press's Best Player of the First Half of the 20th Century. His grandfather, Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion, is also a Hockey Hall of Famer and is credited with inventing the slap shot. His father, Daniel Geoffrion, played in the NHL but did not achieve the same level of success as his predecessors.
