[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 80 (Thursday, June 18, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6529-S6530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING THE DETROIT RED WINGS ON WINNING THE 1998 NATIONAL
HOCKEY LEAGUE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 251, which was
introduced earlier today by Senator Levin on his behalf and my behalf.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The bill clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 251) to congratulate the Detroit Red
Wings on winning the 1998 National Hockey League Stanley Cup
Championship and proving themselves to be one of the best
teams in NHL history.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate
consideration of the resolution?
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I was initially going to seek to dispense
with the reading of the resolution. But it sounds so good that I could
not help to want to hear and allow our gallery to hear, as well, those
words.
We in Michigan, and hockey fans, I think, throughout the world, are
excited by the victory Tuesday night of the Detroit Red Wings in the
Stanley Cup hockey finals.
Earlier today, Senator Levin, on his behalf and my own, introduced a
resolution to commemorate that victory. I will not take the time of the
Senate to read the entire text of that resolution again. But I would
like to stand here today to acknowledge and express the pride that he
and I and the Detroit Red Wings fans, not only in Michigan but
everywhere else, have as the team on Tuesday won its second consecutive
Stanley Cup hockey championship.
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to host the visit of the Stanley
Cup itself to the Senate. We had the chance to share with our
colleagues a little bit about the history of that most ancient trophy,
which commemorates each year the winner of hockey's ultimate
championship.
As I say, this is the second straight year that championship has been
won by the Detroit Red Wings. It is also the second straight year that
the Red Wings have won the championship with a four-game sweep, clearly
an indication of the talent and the abilities of this team.
I think this year's victory was also special for a variety of other
reasons that I would like to mention.
First, as evident throughout the season and certainly during the
final days of the playoffs, this victory was special because of the
presence in the players' spirits and minds, and then ultimately at the
arena itself, of Vladimir Konstantinov, one of the stars of last year's
championship who was innocently the victim of an auto accident and
injury that made it impossible for him to play this year. We all wish
him a speedy recovery, although he is still wheelchair bound.
It was a special win because the players dedicated the season to him
and to the team trainer, Sergei Mnatsakanov, who likewise had been
injured in that automobile accident.
It marked the eighth straight Stanley Cup victory for Scotty Bowman,
and that ties him with his mentor, Toe Blake, for the most victories of
this championship in the history of the NHL.
It was a special victory because team captain Steve Yzerman, in his
15th season, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is a trophy that
goes to the most valuable player in the playoffs. Those of us who have
followed Red Wing hockey throughout that time
[[Page S6530]]
know just how much he has meant not only to Detroit hockey but hockey
in the NHL, one of the great players of all time.
We in Michigan refer to Detroit as ``Hockeytown U.S.A.'' That has
been our designation, but I think this victory, coupled with last
year's victory, will make it clear, to everyone who may have had some
doubts as to where the ultimate center of hockey spirit in this country
is, that at least until they are dethroned, Detroit, MI, is that center
and the Detroit Red Wings are the team that deserve the accolades they
were able to achieve on Tuesday night.
Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the resolution and
preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon
the table, and that any statements relating to the resolution be
printed in the Record at the appropriate place as if read.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution (S. Res. 251), with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 251
Whereas on June 16, 1998, the Detroit Red Wings defeated
the Washington Capitals, 4-1, in Game 4 of the championship
series;
Whereas this victory marks the second year in a row that
the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in a four game sweep;
Whereas the Stanley Cup took its first trip around the rink
in the lap of Vladimir Konstantinov, the Red Wings defenseman
who was seriously injured in an accident less than a week
after Detroit won the Cup last year;
Whereas Vladi and his wife Irina, whose strength and
courage are a source of pride and inspiration to our entire
community are an exemplary Red Wings family and Vladi's
battle is an inspiration to all Americans;
Whereas Marian and Mike Ilitch, the owners of the Red Wings
and community leaders in Detroit and Michigan, have brought
the Stanley Cup back to Detroit yet again;
Whereas the Red Wings, as one of the original six NHL
teams, have always held a special place in the hearts of all
Michiganders;
Whereas it was a profound source of pride for Detroit when
the Wings brought the Cup back to Detroit in 1954 and 1955,
the last time the Wings won consecutive NHL championships;
Whereas today, Detroit continues to provide Red Wings fans
with hockey greatness and Detroit, otherwise known as
``Hockeytown, U.S.A.'' is home to the most loyal fans in the
world;
Whereas the Red Wings are indebted to Head Coach Scotty
Bowman, who has brought the Red Wings to the playoffs 3 times
in the last 4 years, and with this year's victory, has earned
his eighth Stanley Cup victory, tying him with his mentor Toe
Blake for the most championships in league history;
Whereas the Wings are also lucky to have the phenomenal
leadership of Team Captain Steve Yzerman, who in his
fifteenth season in the NHL, received the Conn Smythe Trophy,
given to the most valuable player in the NHL playoffs;
Whereas each one of the Red Wings will be remembered on the
premier sports trophy, the Stanley Cup, including Slava
Fetisov, Bob Rouse, Nick Lidstrom, Igor Larionov, Mathieu
Dandenault, Slava Kozlov, Brendan Shanahan, Dmitri Mironov,
Doug Brown, Kirk Maltby, Steve Yzerman, Martin Lapointe, Mike
Knuble, Darren McCarty, Joe Kocur, Aaron Ward, Chris Osgood,
Kevin Hodson, Kris Draper, Jamie Macoun, Brent Gilchrist,
Anders Eriksson, Larry Murphy, Sergei Federov, and Tomas
Holmstrom: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the U.S. Senate congratulates the Detroit
Red Wings on winning the 1998 National Hockey League Stanley
Cup Championship.
Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I again thank the Senator from New Mexico
for giving us the chance to do this today. I appreciate his indulgence.
I thank the Chair.
Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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