[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     HONORING THE DETROIT RED WINGS

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to ask my colleagues to 
join me in saluting the 1997 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings. 
After 42 years of frustration and near misses, on Saturday night a week 
ago the Red Wings completed a 4-0 sweep of the powerful Philadelphia 
Flyers and brought the most coveted trophy in professional sports back 
to the city known by hockey fans across North America as 
``Hockeytown.''
  My wife, Barbara, and I had one of the most thrilling experiences of 
our lives when we were able to attend the game. Our daughter, Erica, 
came within a whisker of coming to Detroit from New York but ended up 
glued to her TV instead, with our daughter, Laura, 800 miles away. With 
our daughter, Kate, watching in Ann Arbor, the family was together, 
electronically watching history in the making. The outpouring of 
positive emotion after the game was almost as memorable as the game 
itself! The long drought was finally over and Detroit's fans poured 
forth into the streets all across Michigan to whoop it up.
  The Detroit Red Wings are one of the most successful teams in hockey 
history. An ``Original Six'' franchise, today's team is rooted in the 
tradition of hockey legends like Sid Abel, Ted Lindsay, Terry Sawchuck, 
and the greatest player ever to lace up skates, Gordie Howe. Their 
numbers have been retired and hang on banners from the rafters of Joe 
Louis Arena, reminding today's players and fans of glory years past.
  The 1996-97 Red Wings won the Stanley Cup because of an 
organizationwide commitment to excellence. That commitment begins at 
the top with team owners Mike and Marian Ilitch, and is matched only by 
their dedication to the city of Detroit. When Mike and Marian purchased 
the team 15 years ago, the Wings regularly missed the playoffs and gave 
away a car at each home game to put fans in the seats. Their 
perseverance, dedication to winning and commitment to the city of 
Detroit have paid off with their Stanley Cup triumph.
  The Red Wings' tremendous victory was truly a team effort, but a few 
individuals deserve a special mention. Coach Scotty Bowman won his 
seventh Stanley Cup, and became the first coach in NHL history to win 
the cup with three teams. Mike Vernon, the Red Wings' veteran goalie, 
earned the Conn Smythe trophy as the most valuable player in the 
playoffs with his stellar netminding. But this victory may mean the 
most to Red Wings Captain Steve Yzerman, one of the classiest 
professional athletes one could ever meet. Steve was drafted 14 years 
ago and was named team captain 11 years ago, making him the longest 
serving captain with the same team in the NHL. He has carried his team, 
and the often weighty hopes of Red Wings fans, on his shoulders with 
dignity and grace. My congratulations go to Mike and Marian Ilitch, 
Scotty Bowman, Mike Vernon, Steve Yzerman, Jimmy Devellano; and players 
Doug Brown, Mathieu Dandenault, Kris Draper, Sergei Fedorov, Viacheslav 
Fetisov, Kevin Hodson, Tomas Holmstrom, Mike Knuble, Joey Kocur, 
Vladimir Konstantinov, Vyacheslav Kozlov, Martin LaPointe, Igor 
Larionov, Nicklas Lidstrom, Kirk Maltby, Darren McCarty, Larry Murphy, 
Chris Osgood, Jamie Pushor, Bob Rouse, Tomas Sandstrom, Brendan 
Shanahan, Tim Taylor and Aaron Ward.
  I would like to extend my congratulations as well to the Philadelphia 
Flyers for a well-played series. Their strength and power gave the Red 
Wings a tough battle.
  Last Friday, after a week of celebration which saw 1 million people 
fill Hart Plaza and Woodward Avenue for the Red Wings' victory parade, 
Hockeytown met with tragedy as three members of the team were involved 
in a limousine accident. Two of the Wings' famous ``Russian Five,'' 
Vladimir Konstantinov and Slava Fetisov, as well as the team's masseur, 
Sergei Mnatsakanov, were seriously injured. Today, Vladimir and Sergei 
are each in a coma with critical head injuries. Slava, thankfully, is 
listed in good condition with chest injuries. Vladimir, a finalist for 
the Norris Trophy as the National Hockey League's top defenseman, and 
Slava, a 39-year-old known to his teammates as ``Papa Bear,'' are fan 
favorites around the league. Hockey fans in the Detroit area and across 
North America are praying for the full recovery of all three men.
  Mr. President, the Detroit Red Wings showed people around the world 
what it takes to be a champion. I know my colleagues will join me in 
extending the congratulations of the entire U.S. Senate to the 1997 
Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings and also send our hopes and 
prayers for the full recovery of all those injured last Friday 
night.

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