[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 3 (Thursday, January 29, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SALUTE TO RON WILSON AND THE 1998 UNITED STATES OLYMPIC HOCKEY TEAM

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, the 1998 United States Olympic Team will 
soon depart for Nagano, Japan for the 18th Winter Olympic Games. I know 
I join my colleagues in saluting the American men and women who have 
worked so hard to compete at this highest level of international 
competition.
  I rise today to salute a son of Rhode Island, Ron Wilson, who will 
serve as head coach of the American Men's Hockey team. Hockey is not a 
sport in Rhode Island, it is a passion. That passion enabled Ron Wilson 
to achieve All-Star status at East Providence High School, and two-time 
All-American honors at Providence College, where, as a senior, he led 
the nation in scoring. His college coach, coincidentally, is also a 
Rhode Islander. Then-coach Lou Lamoriello is now president of the New 
Jersey Devils and will also serve as general manager of the U.S. 
Olympic Men's Hockey team.
  Ron Wilson went on to a successful professional playing career in the 
National Hockey League and Europe. Today, he is the very successful 
coach of the local entry in the National Hockey League, the Washington 
Capitals. He is well equipped to lead our team next month in Japan, 
having successfully coached the U.S. Team in the 1996 World Cup to a 
major upset of Canada to win that prestigious competition. The victory 
was the biggest win for the United States since the 1980 Winter 
Olympics.
  Hockey is, as I said, a passion in Rhode Island. Indeed, Coach Wilson 
will look down his bench and see three other Rhode Islanders on his 
team - Bryan Berard, Keith Carney, and Matthew Schneider. And the U.S. 
Women's Hockey team will include a majority of players who played their 
high school or college hockey in Rhode Island.
  The Nagano Games will soon begin, and I extend the heartiest best 
wishes for success to Coach Wilson, his fellow Rhode Islanders, and all 
Americans wearing our uniform.

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