[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5673-5674]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                            UND HOCKEY TEAM

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I would like to take a few minutes to 
recognize the University of North Dakota's Hockey team. As a native 
North Dakotan, I am very proud of the rich hockey tradition at the 
University of North Dakota. The defending NCAA Champion ``Fighting 
Sioux'' defeated Michigan State in NCAA hockey's ``frozen four'' semi-
final today in Albany, New York by a final score of 2-0. They will 
defend their title Saturday at 4 p.m. in the national championship 
game.
  Dean Blais, the team's coach, has done a fantastic job in continuing 
the UND hockey program's tradition of excellence. The ``Fighting 
Sioux'' have

[[Page 5674]]

won a total of 7 national championships. In just 6 years as head coach, 
Blais has led the team to four Western Collegiate Hockey Association 
regular season titles in the past five years and National championships 
in 1997 and 2000. Last year, the ``Fighting Sioux'' were honored as the 
first collegiate hockey team ever invited to the White House.
  The ``Fighting Sioux'' are led by Jeff Panzer, a Grand Forks, North 
Dakota native who is nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, which 
recognizes college hockey's top play. Panzer had 26 goals and 55 
assists during the regular season and led the Nation in scoring with 81 
points. But at UND, teamwork and team spirit has always been a 
paramount, and the team's success this year has once against been the 
product of a team effort.
  On behalf of the entire State of North Dakota, I wish the ``Fighting 
Sioux'' the best of luck in the championship game on Saturday. I'll be 
cheering for you.

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