[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 25, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM

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                           HON. TAMMY BALDWIN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 25, 2006

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker I rise today to recognize the University of 
Wisconsin men's hockey team, NCAA champions for the sixth time in the 
program's history. This is the first national championship for the 
Badgers since 1990, and also the first under head coach Mike Eaves. 
Coach Eaves previously won a national title as a player when he was the 
Badgers' team captain in 1977, and also coached the United States teams 
to their first gold medals at the 2002 World Under-18 Championship and 
the 2004 World Junior Championship. Coach Eaves' latest honor is being 
named the head coach of the United States Men's National Team.
  This championship caps off a remarkable season for the Badgers. 
Senior assistant captain defenseman Tom Gilbert tied for the national 
lead in goals by a defenseman, and scored the most points by a UW 
defenseman in almost ten years. Gilbert was named to the All-American 
second team, and was joined there by sophomore center Joe Pavelski. 
Pavelski led the team in scoring during the season, and also became 
just the ninth player in Badgers history to score 100 points in his 
first two years.
  Junior goalie Brian Elliott was named a first-team All-American. 
Elliot led the nation in every significant category of goaltending 
statistic, including goals-against-average, save percentage, and 
winning percentage, en route to being named a finalist for the Hobey 
Baker Player of the Year award. He also recorded eight shutouts, 
including two in the NCAA Tournament's regional rounds, helping Elliot 
earn Most Outstanding Player honors for the Midwest Regional.
  During the Frozen Four Championship in Milwaukee, it was Badgers' 
junior forward Robbie Earl who proved the Most Outstanding Player. Earl 
scored three goals combined in the semi-finals and finals, including 
the game-winning goal in the semi-final game and a tying goal in the 
final game.
  After the Badger women's hockey team won their national championship 
two weeks before the men, several players joked that they had stolen 
for Wisconsin the title of the ``State of Hockey'' from Minnesota. 
After the men's team completed the NCAA hockey sweep for UW, Athletic 
Director Barry Alvarez put it more simply: ``We own college hockey.''

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