[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 97 (Thursday, June 12, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5636-S5638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE DETROIT RED WINGS
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 593, submitted
earlier today by Senator Levin.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 593) honoring the Detroit Red Wings
on winning the 2008 National Hockey League Stanley Cup
Championship.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am delighted to submit this resolution
today, along with my Michigan colleague, Senator Stabenow,
congratulating the Detroit Red Wings on a
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hard-fought victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2008 Stanley
Cup finals. Last Wednesday night, the Red Wings captured Lord Stanley's
Cup for the fourth time in 11 years, marking the 11th Stanley Cup
Championship in the Red Wings' storied 81-year history.
The 2008 Championship was secured through grit, and the strength of
team work. As Kris Draper said after the series clinching win, ``Once
again, our resolve came through.'' This resolve, and the winning
tradition that spans every level of the Red Wings organization, has
been fostered over the years by the Ilitch family, whose commitment to
winning championships and to the Detroit community are second to none.
The Red Wings season was defined by a physically dominating team that
was able to control play at both ends of the ice. After winning three
difficult playoff series on the road, the Red Wings followed up a
heart-wrenching, triple-overtime loss at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit,
with an equally epic 3-2 heart-stopping cup-clinching victory in
Pittsburgh. Moments after cutting Detroit's lead in half with a power-
play goal with just 1:27 remaining, Pittsburgh swiftly pushed the puck
back deep into the Red Wings' zone. As time seemingly slowed, Red Wings
fans tensely watched, hoping their team would be able to withstand this
final onslaught. With the final seconds ticking away, a Pittsburgh
player launched a backhander toward the goal, goalie Chris Osgood dove
to the ice, stretching his pad to the post trying to block any rebound
attempt. Another Penguin slapped at it, and almost unimaginably, the
puck slithered all the way along the goal line, daring to throw the
game into yet another overtime inferno. And with that, the horn
sounded, giving Red Wings fans everywhere the sweet taste of victory. I
immediately called my daughter Erica to share in her joy as a Red Wing
fanatic. Knowing that for her, those last few seemed like an eternity.
This euphoria spilled out into the streets of Detroit last Friday,
where over a million fans joined the Red Wings organization in
celebration. Unfazed by the 92-degree heat, the Red Wings faithful
flaunted their red and white, swelling with pride over victoriously
navigating the difficult path to the cup.
Throughout the season, each member of the Red Wings organization
worked tirelessly toward their ultimate goal to bring the Cup home to
Hockeytown. The members of the 2008 Red Wings include Andrea Lilja,
Kyle Quincey, Niklas Lidstrom, Justin Abdelkader, Dan Cleary, Pavel
Datsyuk, Derek Meech, Dallas Drake, Kirk Maltby, Aaron Downey, Brett
Lebda, Brad Stuart, Chris Chelios, Darren McCarty, Jiri Hudler, Brian
Rafalski, Kris Draper, Mikael Samuelsson, Henrik Zetterberg, Mattias
Ritola, Darren Helm, Mark Hartigan, Jakub Kindl, Valtteri Flippula,
Jonathan Ericsson, Niklas Kronwall, Thomas Kopecky, Johan Franzen,
Thomas Holmstrom, Chris Osgood, Jimmy Howard, Dominik Hasek, Head Coach
Mike Babcock, and Assistant Coaches Paul McLean and Todd McLellan.
The Red Wings are one of the original six teams of the National
Hockey League, and since their inception in 1926, have been a constant
source of pride and inspiration for hockey fans throughout Michigan.
The Red Wings have won the third most Stanley Cup Championships in the
NHL, earning the distinction as one of the NHL's most successful
franchises, and the most dominating over the past decade and a half.
The Red Wings excellence, along with the undying love and support of
the fans in Michigan and the enormous popularity of hockey in Michigan,
make it clear why Detroit is widely known as Hockeytown, U.S.A.
Veterans such as Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Chelios, Darren McCarty,
Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby have remained integral figures on the ice
and positive role models in the community for many years. Dearborn
native Brian Rafalski, and Northern Michigan Alum Dallas Drake further
deepen the team's Michigan roots. Drake returned this year to the team
that drafted him and can now add a Stanley Cup championship to the one
he earned as a member of the 1991 Northern Michigan University NCAA
hockey championship team.
While this is first and foremost a team accomplishment, I would be
remiss not to highlight a couple of individuals who contributed
mightily to the team's overall success. Henrick Zetterberg, the Conn
Smythe trophy winner, set a Red Wings playoff record with 27 points,
including a remarkable six goal effort in the finals, the last of which
proved to be the series clincher. In addition, Captain Nicklas
Lidstrom, with his calm demeanor and unshakable nerve, became the first
European born player to captain an NHL team to a Stanley Cup
championship.
The Red Wings continue to set the standard for championship-caliber
hockey and teamwork. From long-time members of the Red Wings
organization, to veteran additions to the roster, to new, young talent
that helped to energize the team, the 2008 team united and won in
classic Red Wings fashion. In doing so, the Red Wings have once again
taken hockey fans across the country on a tremendous journey.
Let the record reflect a symbolic gesture as if to throw an octopus
onto the floor of the Senate. Go Wings! I know my colleagues join me in
congratulating the players, owners, and fans of the Detroit Red Wings
on capturing the Stanley Cup once again.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or
debate, and any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 593) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
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;
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,
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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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