[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 97 (Thursday, June 12, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5633-S5634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 593--HONORING THE DETROIT RED WINGS ON WINNING THE 
          2008 NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. LEVIN (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 593

       Whereas, on June 4, 2008, the Detroit Red Wings defeated 
     the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3 to 2 in game 6 of the National 
     Hockey League Stanley Cup Finals;
       Whereas that triumph marks the 11th Stanley Cup 
     Championship in the history of the Red Wings, bringing the 
     total number of Stanley Cup Championships won by the Red 
     Wings to more than the number won by any other professional 
     hockey team in the United States;
       Whereas that triumph also marks the fourth Stanley Cup 
     Championship for the Red Wings in 11 seasons, building on the 
     team's reputation as one of the greatest dynasties in the 
     history of the National Hockey League;
       Whereas the championship win caps a historic season in 
     which the Red Wings set a National Hockey League record for 
     the most victories during the first half of the regular 
     season (30-8-3), captured a seventh consecutive division 
     title, earned a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 
     17th consecutive season, and won a sixth Presidents' Cup 
     Trophy for the best regular season record in the National 
     Hockey League;
       Whereas, led by Captain Nicklas Lidstrom, the Red Wings, 
     employing a combination of both youth and experience, became 
     National Hockey League champions through pure grit and 
     determination;
       Whereas Nicklas Lidstrom, born in Vasteras, Sweden, became 
     the first European-born National Hockey League player to 
     captain a Stanley Cup Championship team;
       Whereas Henrik Zetterberg, through his hard work and skill 
     on both ends of the ice, won the Conn Smythe Trophy for the 
     most valuable player in the playoffs;
       Whereas Nicklas Lidstrom, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Tomas 
     Holmstrom, and Darren McCarty have all been members of the 
     team for the last 4 Stanley Cups won by the Red Wings, and 
     Chris Osgood, Chris Chelios, and Brian Rafalski have each 
     earned their third Stanley Cup Championship;
       Whereas Marian and Mike Ilitch, the owners of the Red Wings 
     and community leaders in Michigan, have once again returned 
     Lord Stanley's Cup to the city of Detroit;
       Whereas Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock, following in the 
     footsteps of the great Scotty Bowman, has won his first 
     Stanley Cup Championship;
       Whereas the Red Wings, who have played in Detroit since 
     1926, continue to be prized and cherished by all Michiganders 
     and Red Wing fans across the country;
       Whereas, since 1952, Red Wings fans have continued the 
     tradition of the ``Legend of the Octopus'', throwing octopi 
     onto the ice, each of the 8 tentacles symbolizing the 
     original 8 games needed to win the Stanley Cup;

[[Page S5634]]

       Whereas Detroit, otherwise known as ``Hockeytown, U.S.A.'', 
     is home to the most loyal fan base in the world;
       Whereas the passion and support of all Red Wings fans have 
     assisted the team through this long and difficult season, 
     enabling the players to achieve the greatest prize in all of 
     hockey, the Stanley Cup;
       Whereas each Red Wings player made a valuable contribution 
     to the team's success and will be remembered on the most 
     illustrious sports trophy, the Stanley Cup; and
       Whereas those Red Wings players are Chris Chelios, Dan 
     Cleary, Pavel Datsyuk, Aaron Downey, Dallas Drake, Kris 
     Draper, Jonathan Ericsson, Valtteri Filppula, Johan Franzen, 
     Mark Hartigan, Dominik Hasek, Tomas Holmstrom, Jimmy Howard, 
     Jiri Hudler, Tomas Kopecky, Niklas Kronwall, Brett Lebda, 
     Nicklas Lidstrom, Andreas Lilja, Justin Abdelkader, Kirk 
     Maltby, Darren McCarty, Derek Meech, Chris Osgood, Kyle 
     Quincey, Brian Rafalski, Mikael Samuelsson, Mattias Ritola, 
     Darren Helm, Jakub Kindl, Brad Stuart, and Henrik Zetterberg: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate congratulates the Detroit Red 
     Wings on winning the 2008 National Hockey League Stanley Cup 
     Championship.

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