[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 11, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10322-S10323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               CAM NEELY

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to recognize the 
achievements and contributions of one of Massachusetts' most beloved 
sports personalities, Mr. Cam Neely of the Boston Bruins.
  Last week, Cam announced his retirement from the Boston Bruins after 
5 years of struggle and pain caused by nagging injuries. He had played 
13 years in the National Hockey League, 3 with the Vancouver Canucks 
and the last 10 seasons with the Bruins. Through his decade with the 
Bruins, Cam has become the prototype NHL power forward by combining 
bone-crushing power with overwhelming talent and grace.
  In addition to his presence on the ice, he has made a continuing 
contribution

[[Page S10323]]

to the community off the ice by establishing the Cam Neely Foundation 
and planning the Neely House, which will provide a place to stay in 
Boston for families of cancer patients undergoing treatment at area 
hospitals.
  Throughout his career, Cam Neely rose to the challenge of being a top 
tier player in the NHL, setting records, redefining his position, and 
setting the standard by which forwards in the NHL are measured today. 
He played with courage and finesse. His career is a string of highlight 
films peppered with accomplishments and awards. In his first season 
with the Bruins, he was awarded the coveted Seventh-Player Award which 
is given to the Bruin who makes the most significant sustained 
contribution to the club over the duration of the season. That same 
season he led the team in scoring with 36 goals. In 1988, Cam provided 
the spark that lit the fire behind the Bruins' playoff series victory 
over the Montreal Canadiens--the first such victory in 45 years. During 
the 1989-90 season, Cam became only the fifth Bruin in history to reach 
the 50 goals mark and in 1990-91 he became only the second Bruin ever 
to reach 50 goals in consecutive seasons, joining the great Phil 
Esposito.
  Cam was at the height of his talent and skills in the 1991 playoff 
series against the Pittsburgh Penguins when he suffered an injury that 
would change his career. The hit resulted in an injury to his thigh 
that never fully healed. That injury led to another, and then another, 
and the pain never ceased. For 5 years, Cam Neely was the epitome of 
perseverance as he worked to keep his body in shape and prepared to 
play. He never let up and he never gave up. Every season marked a 
triumphant return to the ice for Boston's most admired hockey player. 
He would play in pain until the pain became unbearable. He would play 
whenever he was needed and his body would allow him. He kept coming 
back, and the Bruins' fans loved him dearly for his efforts.
  Cam rose above the issues of money and contracts and salary disputes 
and always seemed to be smiling and happy. He played hockey because he 
loved the game and it was part of him. During his announcement last 
week he said, ``I've always wanted to stay in this game as long as I 
could [while] achieving results and making positive contributions to my 
team. I never, ever wanted to play the game for the money or simply to 
go through the motions. Believe me, I loved playing in the big game. I 
loved the competitiveness of the sport. Since the day I arrived in 
Boston, I gave 100 percent to our team, to my teammates, and our 
fans.''
  Nobody would argue that fact. Cam worked hard for the Bruins. Even 
his teammates, opponents, and coaches agree.

  ``There'll be a lot of highlight clips. I'll just remember him 
running over people, things like him grabbing the puck and splitting 
the defense to score against [Patrick] Roy the year we finally beat the 
Canadiens,'' Bruins captain Ray Bourque said. ``And I'll remember 
seeing stars when he ran over me during a Canada Cup practice. It was 
fun to know you had Cam on your side.''
  ``You know when I realized how great he was?'' asked Don Sweeney, 
defenseman and long time teammate of Neely's. ``When he was back for a 
game and then out for a game, then back for a game, then out for a 
game. The difference when we had him and when we didn't was tremendous. 
There was a ripple effect he had on every player in that locker room.''
  Adam Oates, Cam's longtime line mate and the man who with him 
comprised one of the most feared scoring combinations in the NHL, said 
that Cam's announcement was ``something that we knew was going to 
happen all along. And today's the black day that it's happening.''
  Former Bruin standout Derek Sanderson has always considered Cam Neely 
one of the game's best forwards. ``His teammates will miss him, and no 
one will miss him more than Oates. Guys like him don't come along very 
often. No one can score like Cam; no one can hit like Cam,'' he said. 
``You can't replace him, you go along without him.''
  Derek's words echo the feelings of most of the Bruins' faithful. Cam 
Neely cannot be replaced. The team will go on without him. Like Bobby 
Orr, Gord Kluzak, and Normand Leveille, Cam is forced to leave the game 
he loves too soon, and before the fans are ready to let him go. But for 
every game, every period, and every shift, I, and every other Bruins 
fan, will look to the right wing and imagine the hulking No. 8 
streaking along the boards, taking the puck onto his stick, and blazing 
it past the netminder into the mesh netting of the goal. And, quietly, 
we will cheer.

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