[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 61 (Tuesday, May 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ERIE OTTERS WIN THE ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE TITLE

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                           HON. PHIL ENGLISH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2002

  Mr. ENGLISH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize 
the Erie Otters hockey team for their recent triumph over the Barrie 
Colts in the Ontario Hockey League Championship Series.
  On Friday, May 10, Erie center Sean Courtney snapped the series-
clinching shot off a Colts defenseman to give the Otters a 2-1 win 14 
minutes into the overtime period. The Otters, coached by Dave McQueen, 
pulled off their first OHL championship by ``crushing the Colts'' 4 
games to 1. Erie's own league-ending playoff scorer, center Corey 
Pecker, opened the scoring with his 25th goal of the playoffs early in 
the first period. The Colts, struggling to stay alive in the 
championship series, tied the game late in the first. The game remained 
tied until Courtney's clutch game winner in OT. Otters' captain Brad 
Boyes was later named the OHL playoffs' Wayne Gretzky 99 Most Valuable 
Player.
  The Otters arrived in my hometown of Erie in 1996, and have since 
featured some of the most dynamic young hockey players in the world. 
The Ontario Hockey League has produced world superstars like Mario 
Lemieux, Joe Sakic, Ron Francis, Scott Stevens and Patrick Roy. 
Friday's win marks the first time that the Otters have won the highly-
regarded OHL championship and gives the young Otters an opportunity to 
battle for the Canadian Hockey League's Memorial Cup. The Memorial Cup 
is an 84-year-old ``final four'' tournament that crowns the year's best 
Junior hockey team in North America. The Otters, combining a steely 
work ethic and spectacular skill, should be a dominant force at the 
Memorial Cup tournament. The tournament begins May 18th in Guelph, 
Ontario. I would like to conclude by congratulating Erie's hockey 
heroes and by wishing them the best of luck in their quest for the 
Memorial Cup trophy.

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