[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A COLORADO AVALANCHE IN MIAMI

                                 ______


                           HON. WAYNE ALLARD

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 1996

  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate the Colorado Avalanche on their Stanley Cup championship. 
Colorado has had a long and illustrious history with all of its 
professional sports teams, yet the Avs are the first to bring home the 
top prize. While it has been almost 14 years since Colorado has had an 
NHL team, we are now able to appreciate Joe Sakic putting the biscuit 
in the basket and Patrick Roy's sterling defense in the net.
  Coloradans closely associate themselves with the fortunes of our 
professional sports franchises, but it was the new kid on the block, 
the Avalanche, who overwhelmed the best team in NHL history, the 
Detroit Red Wings, for a shot at the NHL's most coveted prize. Marc 
Crawford and his Avalanche did not disappoint their frenzied fans at 
home. After hard fought victories in games one and three of the 
championship series, Uwe Krupp scored the final goal in the third 
overtime of the fourth game to complete a sweep of the Florida Panthers 
and bring the hardware home.
  Mr. Speaker, since the Colorado Rockies hockey club left for New 
Jersey in 1982, NHL fans in Colorado have had little to celebrate. I 
can happily say that NHL hockey has returned to Colorado with a 
vengeance. With a team this young and talented, we look forward to many 
more championship seasons from the Colorado Avalanche.

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