[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 10, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H3582-H3583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DETROIT RED WINGS--STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Knollenberg] is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, at this very hour, thousands of 
Detroiters are lining the streets of Woodward Avenue in Detroit to 
honor their Detroit Red Wings, the 1997 Stanley Cup champions. After 
Saturday's 2 to 1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, the Red Wings 
completed a 4 to 0 sweep to win hockey's hallowed crown, Lord Stanley's 
Cup, the World champions of hockey.
  I was privileged to be at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday evening, and 
the atmosphere throughout the evening was electric. After the final 
horn sounded securing the cup victory, the standing room only crowd and 
fans everywhere rejoiced. There was no other picture that captured the 
victory better than Red Wing Captain Steve Yzerman circling the ice, 
holding the massive trophy over his head, sharing the victory

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with the screaming fans who have waited 42 years for this glorious 
moment.
  The town, Detroit, the community, the State, were starved for a 
hockey title. They got it Saturday night. The most successful U.S.-
based NHL franchise in history had not sipped from the cup since 1955. 
And after great seasons in 1994, 1995, and 1996. All ended in 
disappointing playoff defeats, the Wings fought off the demons and the 
naysayers skating into hockey lore with Red Wing legends like Gordie 
Howe, Terry Sawchuck, Ted Lindsey, and many others.
  Mr. Speaker, I came to Detroit in the late 1950's, when the Red Wings 
were a dynasty and hockey was the local religion shared by everyone. 
They won four Stanley Cup crowns during the 1950's and the expectations 
were always great. This team and its fans have endured good times and 
bad times. For years in the mid 1980's, when the Wings were the worst 
in the league and, in fact, in one season won only 17 games, to the 
disappointment of the 1995 finals, all that will be swept away today 
with the parade of victory.
  So congratulations go to Scotty Bowman, the coach, to Mike Illitch 
and Jimmy Devallano for putting this team together. Congratulations, 
obviously, to Steve Yzerman, the captain, to the MVP Mike Vernon, to 
Brendan Shanahan, to the Russian five, and to all members of this great 
club for laboring through the tough times. And congratulations also to 
the Red Wings fans who stood behind their team through it all. 
Together, we have finally done it.
  With an international flare, unlike many other teams, the Wings have 
Americans, Canadians, European, and Russian players. Detroit, with all 
of this group, has finally returned to hockey's ultimate peak. With the 
42-year climb filled with pitfalls and setbacks, now it is finally 
over. It is time for this team and our fans to enjoy the view, the 
Stanley Cup. But only for the summer. Next season starts in September, 
and the Red Wings are for real. Mr. Speaker, it is not called Hockey 
Town USA for nothing.

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