[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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