[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 14, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING THE ANCHORAGE NORTH STARS

 Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I would like to take a moment 
today to recognize and congratulate an incredible group of young 
Alaskans on their victory in the 2019 USA Hockey National Championship. 
On April 8, 2019, the Anchorage North Stars beat the McKinney North 
Stars of Texas 4-3 to win the Youth Tier II 16U National Championship.
  USA Hockey is the major governing body for ice hockey in the United 
States. There are almost 600,000 players across the various age groups. 
Make no mistake; the best youth hockey players in the country were 
competing in this tournament, which makes the North Stars' victory all 
the more significant.
  The Anchorage North Stars traveled nearly 4,000 miles to compete with 
11 other teams for the title. Early on in the tournament, during round-
robin play, the Anchorage North Stars lost to the McKinney North Stars 
in a hard-fought 3-2 battle. However, like many great sports stories, 
the Anchorage North Stars found redemption.
  Late in the championship game, the teams were tied 3-3, but Hayden 
Fox, who had already scored one goal in the third period, scored the 
game-winning goal for the Anchorage North Stars with less than a minute 
left on the clock. The Anchorage North Stars held their lead and came 
home with a national championship, the first for an Alaska youth hockey 
team since the mid-90's.
  Hockey is a way of life for many Alaskan families. Many of these 
players have been in the sport since they were young kids. The North 
Stars' victory is a testament to the years of hard work and commitment 
by each and every player and coach, not to mention all the support from 
parents and other family members who were there from the beginning 
providing support, driving the players to and from practice, and 
cheering them on to victory. This achievement was a long time in the 
making, and I think it is important to recognize that kind of 
dedication.
  Throughout the season, the North Stars adhered to two mottos--``Let's 
Leave No Doubt'' and ``Together We Can.'' This spirit of confidence and 
comradeship took the North Stars all the way to the final round, and 
they showed the entire country what kind of team they are. They 
performed at the highest level on the biggest stage, and I think it is 
safe to say that there is no one doubting them now.

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