[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 12, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S3764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 542--CONGRATULATING THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS FOR 
            WINNING THE 2018 STANLEY CUP HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. Warner) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 542

       Whereas, on June 7, 2018, the Washington Capitals won the 
     2018 Stanley Cup hockey championship;
       Whereas the Capitals, in their 44th year playing in the 
     National Hockey League, won their first Stanley Cup;
       Whereas the Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in 
     the Stanley Cup Final in 5 games, clinching the series with 4 
     wins and 1 loss, including 4 wins in a row to close out the 
     series;
       Whereas the Capitals overcame 3 series deficits to 3 
     opponents en route to the Stanley Cup Final, defeating the 
     Columbus Blue Jackets, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Tampa 
     Bay Lightning to clinch the Eastern Conference title and win 
     their second Prince of Wales Trophy;
       Whereas the Capitals became the first team from Washington, 
     DC, in the 4 major professional sports leagues in the United 
     States to win a championship since 1992;
       Whereas the Capitals overcame years of heartbreak to 
     advance past the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for 
     the first time since 1998;
       Whereas tens of thousands of Capitals fans watched Game 5 
     of the Stanley Cup Final outside of Capital One Arena in 
     Washington, DC;
       Whereas Ted Leonsis, chief executive officer of Monumental 
     Sports and owner of the Washington Capitals since 1999, has 
     built a culture of success and contributed greatly to the 
     Washington, DC, community through philanthropy;
       Whereas John Walton, radio announcer for the Capitals, is 
     beloved by Capitals fans and prophetically asserted this 
     playoffs, ``It's OK to believe.'';
       Whereas Alexander Ovechkin, captain of the Washington 
     Capitals since 2010 and the first overall pick in the 2004 
     National Hockey League draft, exhibited extraordinary 
     leadership and delivered superstar-caliber play, leading all 
     scorers in the Stanley Cup playoffs with 15 goals and 
     receiving the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player 
     for the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs;
       Whereas during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Braden Holtby 
     recorded a remarkable 0.922 save percentage and 2 shutouts;
       Whereas during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Evgeny 
     Kuznetsov recorded 32 points, including 12 goals and 20 
     assists, the second most points scored in a Stanley Cup 
     playoff year since 1997, and was only the fifth player to 
     record 30 or more points in a single Stanley Cup playoff year 
     since 1997;
       Whereas Barry Trotz, head coach of the Capitals, and the 
     entire coaching staff kept the Capitals composed and 
     organized, despite facing obstacles and adversity throughout 
     the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs; and
       Whereas the entire Capitals roster banded together as one 
     family to contribute to the Stanley Cup victory, including 
     Nicklas Backstrom, Jay Beagle, Travis Boyd, Madison Bowey, 
     Andre Burakovsky, John Carlson, Alex Chiasson, Brett 
     Connolly, Pheonix Copley, Christian Djoos, Lars Eller, Shane 
     Gersich, Philipp Grubauer, Braden Holtby, Jakub Jerabek, 
     Michal Kempny, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Matt Niskanen, Dmitry Orlov, 
     Brooks Orpik, T.J. Oshie, Alex Ovechkin, Devante Smith-Pelly, 
     Chandler Stephenson, Jakub Vrana, Nathan Walker, and Tom 
     Wilson: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Washington Capitals and their 
     dedicated fans for becoming the 2018 National Hockey League 
     Stanley Cup champions; and
       (2) respectfully directs the Secretary of the Senate to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the founder, chairman, majority owner, and chief 
     executive officer of Monumental Sports and owner of the 
     Washington Capitals, Ted Leonsis;
       (B) the senior vice president and general manager of the 
     Washington Capitals, Brian MacLellan; and
       (C) the head coach of the Washington Capitals, Barry Trotz.

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