[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 53 (Friday, May 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING CENTRAL MISSOURI EAGLES YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENNY C. HULSHOF

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 4, 2006

  Mr. HULSHOF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Central 
Missouri Eagles Youth Hockey Association for winning one of the 
Positive Coaching Alliance's 2006 ``Honoring the Game'' Awards. For 
those of you not familiar with the Positive Coaching Alliance, they are 
a partnership of coaches, athletes--both current and retired--and 
community leaders who are dedicated to improving the quality of youth 
sports programs by offering training workshops and providing resources 
to coaches and parents that stress sports fundamentals, positive 
coaching and good sportsmanship.
  The Positive Coaching Alliance presents an Honoring the Game Award to 
youth sports organizations and schools that demonstrate excellence in 
coaching, strong organizational culture and the promotion of good 
values. Award winners receive an all expenses paid trip to San 
Francisco where they are recognized for their accomplishments. The 
Central Missouri Eagles Youth Hockey Association was one of three 
national winners and the only Midwest team to be honored.
  The Eagles are composed of 4 coed teams with 60 players, ranging in 
age from 5 to 18. The Eagles have a motto--``Building Good Athletes and 
Great Citizens''--and they have certainly lived up to it. Since 2001, 
all players have participated in a community service project as part of 
their commitment to the team. This season, the Eagles made numerous 
outstanding contributions in Mid-Missouri.
  The Eagles pee-wee team, which includes 11 and 12 year-olds, gathered 
500 stuffed animals and 130 backpacks for abused and neglected 
children. The high school varsity squad also collected more than 400 
stuffed animals for sick children at the University of Missouri's 
Children's Hospital in Columbia. Finally, the mite and squirt teams, 
which are 5 and 10 year-olds respectively, collected more than 300 cans 
of food for those in need.
  The involvement of our youth in activities that build character 
through community service and athletic competition is a positive 
experience, and it is refreshing to hear of organizations such as the 
Eagles that not only promote sportsmanship, good coaching, and having 
fun but also encourage player development outside the rink. This is 
exemplified in an excerpt from the Eagles mission statement, which 
reads as follows:
  ``The community is best served when the Eagles graduate young 
citizens enriched by meaningful participation in a disciplined team 
sport, long after the outcomes of distant games have faded from 
memory.''
  The Eagles are an outstanding organization and should be commended 
for all their efforts. The coaches and parents who have made this 
program a success are also deserving of our praise and recognition. I 
wish the Eagles continued success both on and off the ice and again 
offer my sincere congratulations for their winning an Honoring the Game 
Award from the Positive Coaching Alliance.

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