[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 14 (Tuesday, February 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TWO MINNESOTANS ON THE U.S. WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM SHARE IN OLYMPIC 
                                VICTORY

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                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 1998

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to bring the 
attention of my colleagues to the accomplishments of our U.S. Women's 
Hockey Team, who recently won the gold medal in the 1998 Winter 
Olympics in Nagano, Japan. I am particularly honored to mention two 
Minnesotans who shared in the February 16 victory over Canada, Alana 
Blahoski of St. Paul and Jenny Schmidgall of Edina.
  Alana Blahoski, who is 23 years old, played on boy's teams at Johnson 
High School, traditionally one of the best Minnesota high school hockey 
teams. She later played on the men's hockey team at Providence College 
in Rhode Island. This has been her third year with Team USA. Jenny 
Schmidgall was in eighth grade when she started playing women's hockey 
at Edina High School. At 19 years old, she is the second youngest 
player on Team USA. She currently plays hockey for the outstanding 
University of Minnesota women's hockey team.
  The victory of Team USA marks a watershed moment in the history of 
women's hockey and sports in the United States. Until as recently as 
five years ago, women's hockey as a sanctioned sport was practically 
nonexistent in the United States, though its popularity in Canada and 
countries in Europe was soaring. As early as the 1970s, women's hockey 
was an internationally competitive sport. The United States did not 
actually recognize women's hockey until 1994, when Minnesota became the 
first state to sanction high school ice hockey for girls. Now, thanks 
to the dedication, hard work and discipline of Alana Blahoski, Jenny 
Schmidgall and the rest of the Team USA, women's ice hockey in the 
United States is receiving the recognition it deserves. The future of 
women's ice hockey has been assured by this historic moment.
  This achievement is a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to two 
great Minnesotans, whose efforts last week made history for female 
hockey players all over the world and earned them the 1998 Olympic gold 
medal.

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