[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E847-E848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE NORTH JERSEY AVALANCHE YOUTH HOCKEY TEAM; WINNERS 
 OF THE 2005 USA HOCKEY TIER I CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE 12 & UNDER DIVISION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 3, 2005

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride to honor a 
tremendous group of young people from the great state of New Jersey, 
the North Jersey Avalanche PeeWee AAA youth hockey team. The Avalanche 
recently won the 2005 USA Hockey Youth Tier I National Championship in 
the 12 & Under Division. The team skates out of the Ice House in 
Hackensack, NJ, which lies in the heart of my congressional district, 
and happens to be the largest ice-skating facility in the Garden State.
  Led by head coach Glenn Carlough and assistant coach J.J. Picinic, 
the North Jersey Avalanche won the National Championship in very 
convincing fashion. After cruising through preliminary tournaments, the 
group of 17 youngsters, many of whom have been playing hockey since 
they were toddlers, made their way to the Youth Tier I, 12 & Under 
Division Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska. In six games of fierce 
competition, the Avalanche rose to the top, with an outstanding record 
of five wins and one loss, and scoring a total of 29 goals, while only 
allowing 11.
  On April 13, 2005, over 1,000 people were in attendance for the 
Championship game, in which the North Jersey Avalanche took on the Los 
Angeles Hockey Club. The team hit the ice strongly, scoring two goals 
in just the first minute of the game. They maintained their intensity, 
as evidenced by the strong performances of players like Charles 
Orzetti, who scored two goals, including the game-winner. Anchoring the 
team's performance in the final game was goalie Jonathan Drago, who 
faced 27 shots and made 25 saves. The monumental effort put forth by 
all the team members led the Avalanche to a decisive 8-2 victory.
  The North Jersey Avalanche Tier I champion team is one of the 21 
traveling hockey teams based at the Ice House in Hackensack. Built in 
1997, the Ice House is widely regarded as one of the premier ice-
skating facilities in the Nation. In addition to the thousands of

[[Page E848]]

young athletes who play in year-round leagues and train in a variety of 
clinics, several Olympic figure skaters practice at the Ice House 
routinely, including 2002 Gold Medalists Sarah Hughes, Elena Bereznaia 
and Anton Sikharulidze. The Ice House's athletic programs continue to 
train and accommodate Northern New Jersey's youth, teaching the 
importance of physical fitness and upholding the values of good 
sportsmanship--values that the national champion Northern New Jersey 
Avalanche proudly uphold.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my distinguished colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the tremendous achievements of the outstanding group 
of young athletes who comprise the National Champion Northern New 
Jersey Avalanche, and acknowledge the success they have achieved, and 
the pride that they bring to the people of the great state of New 
Jersey.

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