[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 78 (Tuesday, June 20, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S5457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CONGRATULATIONS TO SCOTT GOMEZ OF ANCHORAGE

 Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the 
National Hockey League's Rookie of the Year, Scott Gomez of the Stanley 
Cup champion New Jersey Devils. Scott was born and raised in Anchorage, 
Alaska and is only the eighteenth Alaskan to play in the National 
Hockey League and the first to make such a huge impact in his first 
year.
  This past Thursday, Scott was awarded the Calder Trophy for best 
rookie performance in the 1999-2000 season. He led all rookies with 19 
goals and 51 assists in 82 regular season games. During the playoffs, 
he earned 10 points. Past winners of the Calder include Bobby Orr and 
Ray Bourque.
  Scott Gomez is an amazing young man. At the age of only 20, he has 
accomplished his lifelong dream of playing in the National Hockey 
League and winning the Stanley Cup, all in one year. He was a rising 
star in Anchorage where he began playing as a child. From very early 
on, it was evident that he would be a big star in the NHL. He was twice 
named Player of the Year by the Anchorage Daily News/State Coaches. In 
his junior year of high school, he led the Alaska All-Stars team, ages 
16-17, to the USA Hockey Tier I national championship. After graduating 
from East High School in Anchorage, Scott played for Team USA in the 
World Junior Championship. In addition to this, he is the first Latino 
to play in the NHL. His father, Carlos, is Mexican and his mother, 
Dalia, is Colombian.
  Mr. President, Scott Gomez is a wonderful example of a young, 
talented Alaskan who, I am sure, will continue to impress us all in the 
years to come.

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