[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 59 (Tuesday, April 15, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2994-S2995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATING BOSTON COLLEGE MEN'S ICE HOCKEY TEAM

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I welcome this opportunity to 
congratulate Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey team on their 
Division I National Championship and to offer a Senate resolution with 
my colleague from Massachusetts, Senator Kerry, to recognize the team's 
extraordinary accomplishment.
  This past Saturday, in Denver, Boston College defeated the University 
of Notre Dame four goals to one to claim their third national 
championship and their second since 2001. For the Eagles and their 
legion of supporters, known as the ``Super Fans,'' this victory marks 
the culmination of years of hard work in which they reached the Frozen 
Four's championship game in 3 consecutive years. Junior Nathan Gerbe 
was named the Frozen Four's Most Outstanding Player.
  Led by head coach Jerry York, Nathan Gerbe, captain Mike Brennan, and 
assistant captains Matt Greene and Dan Bertram, the Eagles compiled an 
impressive overall record of 24 wins, 11 losses, and 8 ties during the 
2007 to 2008 season, which also included Boston College's 14th victory 
in the historic Beanpot Championship.
  With their work ethic and dedication, the Eagles have made the entire 
Boston College community and all of us in New England proud. We 
congratulate the entire team, its coaches, and fans.
  We also thank Father William P. Leahy, president of Boston College, 
who has proved that you can foster a collegiate environment in which 
both academic and athletic excellence are the order of the day. The 
team deserves great credit for its extraordinary achievement, and I 
urge my colleagues in the Senate to approve this resolution.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an article from the 
Boston Globe be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                 [From the Boston Globe, Apr. 14, 2008]

                        At BC, a Moment To Savor

                      (By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell)

       Denver.--When Boston College won its NCAA championship in 
     2001, Bobby Allen was one of the team captains. So it seemed 
     fitting that it was Allen who gave the 2007-08 Eagles a 
     crucial pep talk last week just prior to their departure for 
     the Mile High City and this year's Frozen Four.
       In essence, Allen told the players to live in the moment, 
     to revel in the joy of the event and remember that hockey is 
     a labor of love.
       The team took that message to heart. After beating Notre 
     Dame, 4-1, in the title game Saturday night at the Pepsi 
     Center, the seniors in particular felt the weight of the 
     world lifted off their shoulders. They were the ones who most 
     acutely realized it was their last chance after two 
     consecutive failed attempts at the crown. Senior center Dan 
     Bertram said they were determined it wasn't going to elude 
     them a third time.
       ``I think [the experience factor] helped us a lot,'' said 
     Bertram. ``I know with our senior class here, we were all 
     pretty tight. We didn't know exactly what the feeling was 
     like to be on the other side and we sure as heck didn't want 
     to have that this year. Everyone else really saw the passion 
     from our captain [Mike Brennan] all the way down and you 
     can't say enough about just this feeling and the 
     achievement.''
       When Allen and his teammates were celebrating their 
     victory, John Muse was only 12 years old. The Falmouth 
     native, who backstopped the Eagles in all 44 games this 
     season, allowed only two goals in the Frozen Four, one each 
     to North Dakota and Notre Dame.
       ``He's been unbelievable,'' said Bertram. ``I think 
     everyone is going to know who John Muse is now. We're so 
     proud of him and we had so much confidence in him. That's a 
     hard thing, to come in as a freshman, and the whole year he 
     has played solid, consistent hockey. The way he played in the 
     Frozen Four is unbelievable. These guys are lucky to have him 
     for another three years.''
       While Muse was keeping out goals in his end, neither the 
     Fighting Sioux nor the Fighting Irish could do a thing about 
     junior left wing Nathan Gerbe, who tallied 4 points in each 
     game (five goals, three assists) on the way to being named 
     the tournament's most outstanding player. It's as if Gerbe 
     was playing on an entirely different stage than anyone else. 
     All they could do was watch.
       ``In our eyes, he's the best player in the country,'' said 
     Bertram. ``To show up in the biggest games, I think that's 
     the best [praise] someone can give you. He's a big-game 
     player. To lead this team and score those big goals, he's 
     going to be a great player at the national level, too, but 
     it's just so nice to experience and play with him here and 
     just see that talent first-hand. He's a game-breaker and if 
     you give him some chances and loosen up a little bit, he's 
     going to make you pay. The last two games, he was 
     unbelievable.''
       The seniors provided strong leadership throughout the 
     season, which was not always very smooth. There were winless 
     streaks, injuries, and player dismissals. But the steady 
     upperclassmen helped right the ship for the stretch run and 
     none allowed themselves to get too excited until practically 
     the final seconds ticked off the clock.
       ``I wasn't exhaling until I looked up with six seconds left 
     and said, `All right, I don't think they can score three 
     goals with six seconds left,' '' said Bertram. ``It's almost 
     surreal when you're sitting there and kind of watching the 
     clock go down, 30 seconds at a time. I guess when it got to 
     1:30 [left] and I'm thinking, `This is really in out of reach 
     now.' Six seconds was the only time I was like, `OK, start 
     enjoying it a little bit.' ''
       Senior Matt Greene said in his 22 years of living, the 
     feeling of accomplishment is unmatched.
       ``I can't say this is the best feeling I'll ever feel, but 
     this certainly is the highlight of my life so far,'' he said.
       Greene acknowledged, however, it hadn't quite hit him that 
     although the seniors went out on the ultimate high, his 
     collegiate career is over.
       ``I've got a couple more weeks to stick around the BC 
     campus,'' said Greene. ``It's the last time I'll stare across 
     and give [Andrew] Orpik a wink or maybe throw a tape ball at 
     [Brian Gibbons] or maybe a little bit of ice at [Kyle 
     Kucharski]. That's all a part of being a team.
       ``Hockey is a special sport because you grow in 
     relationships more than I think in any other sport. We deeply 
     mean what we say and it's going to hit me for sure.''
       Bertram said as devastated as they were to lose in the two 
     title games prior to this one, that's how incredible the 
     feeling is to win.
       ``You never want to lose,'' said Bertram. ``It's nice as 
     senior, you're remembered for your last game. There is no 
     better feeling than leaving Boston College, which has been so 
     good to us, on top and winning. It's something I'll never 
     forget and it's something forever I will be proud of.''

[[Page S2995]]

       The Eagles will hold an autograph session at Conte Forum at 
     5:30 this afternoon, followed by a victory celebration at 
     6:15 p.m.

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 514 submitted earlier 
today.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the 
resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 514) congratulating the Boston 
     College men's ice hockey team on winning the 2008 National 
     Collegiate Athletic Association Division I National Ice 
     Hockey Championship.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
consider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the 
Record without intervening action or debate.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 514) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 514

       Whereas, on Saturday, April 12, 2008, the Boston College 
     men's ice hockey team (referred to in this preamble as the 
     ``Eagles'') won the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association (NCAA) Division I National Ice Hockey 
     Championship by defeating the University of Notre Dame men's 
     ice hockey team by the score of 4 to 1 in the final game of 
     the Frozen Four;
       Whereas the University of Notre Dame men's ice hockey team 
     deserves great respect for reaching the Frozen Four for the 
     first time in the team's history and then advancing to the 
     National Championship game;
       Whereas the victory for Boston College marked the Eagles' 
     third national hockey championship, after the team's first 
     championship win in 1949 and its second championship win in 
     2001;
       Whereas the Eagles earned the number 1 seed in the NCAA 
     hockey tournament with an impressive overall record of 24 
     wins, 11 losses, and 8 ties during the 2007-2008 season;
       Whereas the Eagles were led by junior Nathan Gerbe, the 
     Nation's leading scorer in men's college ice hockey, who came 
     in second for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, with 35 goals 
     and 32 assists during the season;
       Whereas the Eagles have made the National Championship game 
     in each of the past 3 years, demonstrating extraordinary 
     teamwork and dedication;
       Whereas the remarkable 2007-2008 season also included a 
     memorable victory for the Eagles in the historic Beanpot 
     Championship in February 2008, earning Boston College its 
     14th Beanpot Championship;
       Whereas Boston College ``Super Fans'' traveled great 
     distances all year and gave the Eagles strong support 
     throughout their championship season; and
       Whereas Boston College and its student athletes are well 
     known for their commitment to both athletic and academic 
     excellence, ranking sixth nationally among NCAA Division I 
     schools in the graduation rate of student athletes: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates--
       (A) the Boston College men's ice hockey team for winning 
     the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I 
     National Ice Hockey Championship; and
       (B) the players, coaching staff, faculty and staff of the 
     university, student body, and fans whose determination, 
     strong work ethic, drive, and support made the 2007-2008 
     championship season possible;
       (2) congratulates the University of Notre Dame men's ice 
     hockey team for its success in the 2007-2008 season and for 
     reaching the Frozen Four for the first time in the team's 
     history; and
       (3) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) Boston College President Father William P. Leahy, S.J.;
       (B) Boston College Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo; and
       (C) Boston College Head Coach Jerry York.

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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