[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 74 (Monday, May 7, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4519-H4520]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPARTANS FOR THEIR VICTORY IN 
                   THE 2007 NCAA HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 325) commending the Michigan State University 
Spartans for their victory in the 2007 NCAA Hockey Championship, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 325

       Whereas Michigan State University is one of the premier 
     academic institutions in the nation;
       Whereas on April 9, 2007, the Michigan State University 
     Spartans won their first National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association Hockey Championship in 21 years;
       Whereas the members of the Michigan State University 2007 
     hockey team include Jeff Lerg, Chris Snavely, Ethan Graham, 
     Brandon Gentile, Brandon Warner, Justin Abdelkader, Tim 
     Kennedy, Bryan Lerg, Ryan Turek, Zak McClellan, Jeff Dunne, 
     Tyler Howells, Jay Sprague, Chris Mueller, Chris Lawrence, 
     Nick Sucharski, Matt Schepke, Jim McKenzie, Kurt Kivisto, 
     Daniel Sturges, Daniel Vukovic, Steve Mnich, Bobby Jarosz, 
     Tim Crowder, Justin Johnston, and Michael Ratchuk;
       Whereas Head Coach Rick Comley and Assistant Coaches Tom 
     Newton, Brian Renfrew, and Rob Woodward are to be commended 
     for outstanding coaching throughout the 2007 season;
       Whereas the Spartans won the championship game by coming 
     from behind to score 3 goals in a stunning third-period 
     upset;
       Whereas the Spartans succeeded not only because of the 
     skills of talented individual players but because those 
     players worked so well together as a team;
       Whereas in the championship game, the Spartans beat Boston 
     College, a team that had won 13 straight games, featured 12 
     National Hockey League draft picks, and had played in the 
     2006 NCAA championship game as well;
       Whereas Spartan head coach Rick Comley has now won 3 
     national hockey championships (one with the NAIA and 2 with 
     the NCAA) with 3 different Michigan universities: Lake 
     Superior State University, Northern Michigan University, and 
     Michigan State University;
       Whereas when the Spartans last won a national hockey 
     championship, they were coached by Ron Mason, who continues 
     to serve Michigan State University as the school's Athletic 
     Director and who in fact hired Coach Comley as his 
     replacement;
       Whereas Michigan State University and the East Lansing 
     community honored the Spartans upon their return in a manner 
     befitting of champions; and
       Whereas Michigan State University students, faculty, 
     alumni, and all Michigan State fans are deeply committed to 
     bringing pride to Michigan State University and to the entire 
     state of Michigan: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the Michigan State University Spartans for 
     their victory in the 2007 NCAA Hockey Championship;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
     students, and staff whose hard work and dedication helped 
     Michigan State University win the championship; and
       (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to Michigan State 
     University President Lou Anna Simon, hockey Head Coach Rick 
     Comley, and Athletic Director Ron Mason for appropriate 
     display.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David 
Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, on April 7 in St. Louis, Missouri, the 
Michigan State Spartans beat the Boston College Eagles 3-1 to win the 
2007 NCAA Hockey Championship, affectionately known annually as the 
Frozen Four.
  The win gave the Michigan State hockey team their first championship 
in 21 years, and Spartan forward Justin Abdelkader rang it off the post 
and scored with 18.9 seconds to snap a 1-1 tie and bring home the 
championship for Michigan State.
  They scored three goals in the final 10 minutes of the game, and 
Spartan goalie Jeff Lerg was spectacular, making 29 saves and allowing 
only one goal.
  The Spartans won the hearts of underdogs everywhere. Their win capped 
an improbable four-game run by the third-seeded Michigan State team, 
who few considered to be championship contenders. In fact, the Spartans 
are only the second number three seed to make it to the championship 
game and the first in history to win it.
  Justin Abdelkader was the 2007 Men's Frozen Four MVP, and the 
championship is Head Coach Rich Comley's second. He also won as head 
coach of Northern Michigan in 1991. He is one of only three coaches to 
have won titles with two different teams.
  This is the second straight year that Boston College has lost in the 
championship game, and I did want to take a moment to highlight their 
achievements.
  Last year, they lost in the finals to the Wisconsin Badgers, but 
prior to this year's championship, they had won 13 consecutive games, 
piling up a 29-11-2 record. They had multiple All-American candidates 
and two players who received All New England honors.
  I want to extend my congratulations to the Spartan's head coach Rick 
Comley, Assistant Coaches Tom Newton, Brian Renfrew and Rob Woodward. I 
also want to recognize Michigan State University Athletic Director Ron 
Mason, President Lou Anna Simon and, most importantly, the Spartan 
players for their amazing season.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my 
time to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers), and I ask unanimous 
consent that he be allowed to control that time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
might consume.
  I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania. I also want to thank Bart 
Stupak from Michigan for working with us on this resolution.
  I am proud to represent Michigan State University in the great State 
of Michigan. It is truly an extraordinary school with a proud history 
of world-class academics and championship athletics. Known for its 
quality in faculty, its research, it is certainly one of the finer 
universities, a proud tradition in

[[Page H4520]]

land grant institutions in this great State who is now headed by 
President Lou Anna Simon, who has done a tremendous job at the 
university in so many areas.
  But last month we got to witness Michigan State's winning tradition 
once again, this time on the biggest stage in college hockey.
  On April 7, the MSU hockey team won the Division I NCAA National 
Championship. The Spartans defeated Boston College by a score of 3-1, 
as we all know, and the winning goal came with only 18.9 seconds left 
in the game. It's no fun unless you make it close. Well, our Spartans 
certainly got our heart rates up that particular day.
  It was a hard-fought game against a top-ranked opponent, but as many 
of you know, the Spartans' specialty is winning. They came out on top.
  The Spartans scored three goals in the third period to spur a 
dramatic, comeback-from-behind victory. Justin Abdelkader scored the 
game-winning goal and was named MVP of the NCAA Frozen Four tournament. 
Chris Mueller put the game out of reach with an empty-net goal with 
just 1.2 seconds left on the clock. Goalie Jeff Lerg made 29 saves, as 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania discussed earlier.
  Upon their return to East Lansing, showing the school spirit, 
certainly the community's support, there were over 4,500 fans turned 
out for a parade and a rally at Munn Ice Arena on the campus of 
Michigan State University.
  Prior to the championship game, the MSU hockey squad burned through 
the NCAA Frozen Four tournament. The Spartans defeated Boston 
University, Notre Dame, University of Maine to reach that championship 
game.
  In the tournament, the Spartans played top-notch defense against the 
Nation's best teams. They were 17 for 18 on penalty kills. Jeff Lerg 
made 104 saves and allowed only five goals in the tournament.
  Let me tell you a little bit more about this historic championship 
season. The Spartans won the national championship for the third time 
in school history, the first since 1986 when current Athletic Director 
Ron Mason coached the team. Michigan State's Rick Comley, in his fifth 
year as head coach, won his first national title with Michigan State 
and the second national title as head coach. The Spartans compiled a 
23-13-3 record and won the national championship as a number three seed 
in a field of 16 tournament.
  There are many reasons to be proud of this Spartan team, and there 
are many reasons Michigan State fans are so proud of their hockey team 
and their university.
  Michigan State remains the all-time winningest program in the history 
of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Former Head Coach Ron 
Mason has 924 victories, making him the all-time winningest coach in 
NCAA history. Current Head Coach Rick Comley has 714 wins, ranking 
fifth of all time.
  I am proud to be a Spartan and represent that fine Michigan State 
University, and on behalf of myself, the entire Michigan delegation, 
Bart Stupak for his special assistance, I would like to congratulate 
our head coach, Rick Comley; his hardworking staff and assistants; and 
the best hockey players on the ice, the Michigan State Spartans; and 
certainly their fans.
  Go Green.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.
  Mr. ALTMIRE. I thank the gentleman from Michigan. I know there is no 
greater Michigan State fan in this body than him and how thrilled he 
was when they brought home that title. So congratulations to him.
  This bill was sponsored by Congressman Stupak from Michigan, and he 
apologizes for not being able to be here. We had a change in the 
schedule due to the budget discussion that we had that went on for an 
hour or so. He wanted me to point out specifically how happy he was for 
Head Coach Comley, whom he has known for his years at Northern Michigan 
where he won his first championship.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I yield back my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 325, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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