[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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