[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22703]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         THE DETROIT RED WINGS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 11, 2000

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, tonight is a night that many people in 
Detroit look forward to all year long. Tonight is the Season ``Home 
Opener'' in Hockeytown. The Detroit Red Wings open their 75th season, 
tonight at Joe Louis Arena. The Red Wings, in their 75 years in 
Detroit, have become more than just a sports team in our hometown, they 
are a part of the community. There is a reason that Detroit is known as 
Hockeytown, and it isn't simply our love for the team. Hockey is a part 
of our lives in Detroit. Many Detroiters remember their first pickup 
games played on a neighborhood pond with their childhood friends. Our 
children, with the invention of rollerblades, now play street hockey 
year round in our neighborhood streets and driveways, or anywhere else 
they can find a smooth surface. It's not simply our climate, which is 
conducive to hockey, nor is it our proximity to Canada, the origin of 
the game, it's partly our attitude, and part our love for the game. But 
a large part of the reason we are known as Hockeytown is the fact that 
the Red Wings have helped shape Detroit for the past 75 years.
  The Red Wings began in the early 1920's with a group of investors led 
by Detroiter Charles Hughes. He convinced the Detroit Athletic Club to 
create a new team for the National Hockey League. They began playing in 
Olympia Stadium in 1927, and played there until 1979, when they moved 
to Joe Louis Arena on Detroit's waterfront. The Detroit Red Wings are 
known in the NHL, as part of an elite group, ``The Original 6''. The 
``Original 6'' were the 6 teams in the NHL that played during World War 
II, when men and finances were devoted to the War effort. Being a part 
of the ``Original 6'' has brought much pride and prestige to the Red 
Wings.
  Through their 75 years in Detroit they have earned 9 Stanley Cups, 
and numerous League Championships. We were most fortunate this last 
decade to have had a dynasty in Detroit, winning two Stanley Cups and 
capturing the President's Trophy for winning most games in a season 
twice, setting a new NHL record, in 1995.
  We have had winning seasons and losing seasons, but through it all we 
have been fortunate to have the Red Wings as a part of our community 
and I want to thank the Red Wings, and their owner, Mr. Mike Illitch, 
for their commitment to Detroit. I want to congratulate them for 75 
years in our great city, and I want to wish them luck this year in 
their quest for the cup. Go Wings!

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