[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 80 (Thursday, June 18, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6580-S6581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 251--CONGRATULATING THE DETROIT RED WINGS ON WINNING 
        THE 1998 NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. LEVIN (for himself and Mr. Abraham) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              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 Wing 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

[[Page S6581]]

     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.

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