[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5630-5631]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE UNIVERSITY RUNNING EAGLE HOCKEY TEAM

 Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I am delighted to have this 
opportunity to congratulate the Life University Running Eagle Hockey 
team on their remarkable season. Georgia fans all across the country 
have had the pleasure of watching this team take its third consecutive 
American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II National 
Championship.
  Head Coach Dan Bouchard has, in only three seasons, led the Life ice 
hockey team to one national runner-up position in the 1995-96 inaugural 
year and two division II national titles in the two subsequent years. 
This season brought the Running Eagles an impeccable record with 20 
wins, 1 tie and only 5 losses. Through pool play and the championship 
round, Life had 5 wins, no losses, and averaged 6 goals a game.
  Life University is fortunate to have an individual of the caliber of 
Dan Bouchard coaching their hockey team. Not

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only are he and his assistant coaches teaching their players hockey 
skills, but important lessons for life--courage, stamina, tenacity and 
dedication. Although he has enjoyed great success throughout his 
coaching career, his achievements go far beyond his great talent in 
coaching. He was a second round draft pick for the Boston Bruins in the 
1970 American Hockey League where he was the co-winner of the Happs 
Holmes Trophy which honors the top goalie in the AHL. Coach Bouchard 
moved to the National Hockey League in 1972 where he gained a number of 
honors. In 1976, he was chosen to play for Team Canada and in 1979 he 
co-founded the Atlanta Sports Carnival which fund raises for leukemia 
research at Emory University. I would be hard pressed to enumerate all 
of his magnificent life achievements and contributions to Life 
University, the Marrietta community and to all of the athletes whose 
lives he has touched.
  In this year's championship game the team quickly jumped ahead with a 
4-1 lead in the second period against Michigan State, thus setting the 
tone for defeat. With a final score of 6-2, they claimed their third 
national title. The Most Valuable Player award went to the Running 
Eagles' Mark Brodeur who scored 12 goals and had six assists for a 
total of 18 points. He led the tournament in scoring.
  Mr. President, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in 
recognizing and honoring the dedication and hard work of the athletes 
and coaches of the Life University Running Eagles. They have displayed 
their skills and dedication to excellence in hockey throughout this 
entire season and I extend my best wishes to them and congratulate the 
Life University Athletic Department on their continued success.

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