[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 10283-10284]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               THE COLORADO AVALANCHE BRING HOME THE CUP

  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the Colorado 
Avalanche for bringing the Stanley Cup back to Colorado. With a 3-1 
victory in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday night over the 
defending world champion New Jersey Devils, the Colorado Avalanche are 
champions once again. The Avalanche won their first cup in 1996 after 
arriving in Denver from Quebec.
  The tough game seven victory capped an incredible season for the 
Avalanche. They won the President's Trophy which is awarded to the team 
with the most points at the end of the regular season. Captain Joe 
Sakic lead the way by having an MVP type season with 118 points and 54 
goals. He scored another 13 goals in the playoffs to lead everyone in 
that catagory. With 52 wins in the regular season and securing home ice 
throughout the playoffs, the Avalanche started their long march towards 
the cup.
  After a first-round sweep of the Vancouver Canucks, the Avs faced the 
Los Angeles Kings which proved to be their toughest task aside from the 
finals. It took a 5-1 victory in game 7 of the Western Conference semi-
finals to get to the Conference finals against the St. Louis Blues. 
With the scare of losing to Los Angeles behind them, the Avalanche came 
together in the Conference Finals and rolled over the St. Louis Blues 
in five games. The next hurdle would prove to be their toughest. The 
Colorado Avalanche had to face the defending champion New Jersey Devils 
to whom they had lost twice in the regular season.
  Head Coach Bob Hartley had his Avalanche hitting on all cylinders in 
the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals and defeated the Devils 5-0. 
That would prove to be the only easy win in the entire series. The 
defending champion Devils defended their title well and the series was 
back and fourth the rest of the way until the game 7 win two weeks 
later. With Conn Smythe trophy winner Patrick Roy leading the way the 
Avs have brought the Stanley Cup back to the Rocky Mountains.
  Roy, who won the Conn Smythe trophy, which is awarded to the most 
valuable player in the playoffs, is no stranger to awards. Roy won his 
first playoff MVP award 15 years ago, for the Montreal Canadiens. He 
became the first three-time winner of the award, and holds not only the 
all-time regular-season wins record, but his 212 playoff wins are tops 
as well. The great play of Roy and Sakic should not overshadow the play 
of the rest of the team, players like Alex Tanguay who scored the game 
winning goal on Saturday and Chris Drury who had the game winner of 
game 6 in New Jersey. Milan Hejduk had a great year and had 23 points 
in the playoffs, second only to Sakic. Rob Blake and Adam Foote did a 
tremendous job during the Avs quest for the cup as well. Up and down 
the roster for the Avalanche from Stephan Yelle to Eric Messier 
contributions were evident.
  The team really came together when superstar Peter Forsberg had 
emergency surgery to remove a ruptured spleen after the game 7 victory 
over the Los Angeles Kings. Forsberg, who is considered by many to be 
the best all around player in the National Hockey League, had 14 points 
in 11 games before being sidelined for the Conference Finals and the 
Stanley Cup Finals. With Forsberg out, the team really stuck together 
and put forth quite an effort. The effort displayed on the ice was most 
evident by one player who waited 22 years to win a Stanley Cup.
  Ray Bourque came to Colorado last year after playing his entire 20 
year career in Boston for the Bruins in hopes of winning his first 
Stanley Cup. The 40

[[Page 10284]]

year old is one of the best defenseman to ever lace up the skates and 
he has a spot waiting for him in the Hall of Fame. The only thing 
eluding him during his illustrious career was Lord Stanley's Cup. 
Saturday night, I along with the rest of the country saw what pure joy 
feels like when number 77 hoisted the Cup above his head. After 1,826 
games Ray Bourque can finally call himself a World Champion.
  I congratulate Ray Bourque and the entire World Champion Colorado 
Avalanche organization on a sensational year.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I recognize the members of the 
World Champion Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League and 
their outstanding Stanley Cup Finals victory this past weekend.
  The Colorado Avalanche has proven the value of dedication, 
preparation and execution as they played through the regular hockey 
season, becoming the 2000-01 Presidents' Trophy winner, which is 
awarded annually to the NHL club that compiles the league's best 
regular season record, into the playoffs and in the Stanley Cup finals. 
As defenseman Ray Bourque declared in the playoffs this was Mission 
16W, 16 wins to win the championship.
  Most folks know how great of a team the Avalanche proved to be in 
winning its second cup in six seasons. In addition, the Colorado 
Avalanche players and the entire organization overcame injuries to key 
players and pulled together to win the championship. Their younger 
players, the next generation of all-stars for the Avalanche, also 
deserve additional praise for their contributions when they had to step 
up and take leadership roles. Great teams are measured by sustained 
success and the Colorado Avalanche has proven they are one of the 
premier teams in the NHL. For the second time since coming to Colorado 
in 1995, the Colorado Avalanche has won Lord Stanley's Cup. A total 
team effort was exemplified by the Colorado Avalanche this season.
  Mr. President, I would also like to recognize several members of the 
Colorado Avalanche organization for their outstanding achievements 
during this past season. Specifically, Owner E. Stanley Kroenke, 
President and General Manager Pierre Lacroix and Head Coach Bob Hartley 
for their proven ability to assemble the necessary players and develop 
powerful lines that consistently provide victories for this franchise; 
Captain Joe Sakic, one of the best team leaders in the game today and a 
top scoring threat in the NHL; Goalie Patrick Roy, the anchor of the 
defense and the first player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy three times, 
which is awarded to the most valuable player of the playoffs; and 
defenseman Ray Bourque, whose 22 season quest for the cup is finally 
over.
  These people are the most recognizable names in the Avalanche's 
organization and are major contributors to the team's success. But, the 
total team effort is what made the Avalanche victorious. The entire 
team worked together, went after and achieved a common goal. Each team 
member deserves to be recognized: Peter Forsberg, Dan Hinote, Steve 
Reinprecht, Stephane Yelle, Chris Dingman, Chris Drury, Eric Messier, 
Ville Nieminen, Alex Tanguay, Milan Hejduk, Scott Parker, Shjon Podein, 
Dave Reid, Rob Blake, Greg de Vries, Adam Foote, Jon Klemm, Bryan Muir, 
Nolan Pratt, Martin Skoula, David Aebischer, Jacques Cloutier, and 
Bryan Trottier.
  The Avalanche's defense also proved they are in an elite class. When 
push came to shove, the defense only allowed 11 goals in the seven NHL 
final games against the New Jersey Devils, a team that is consistently 
one of the strongest teams in the league. Defense wins championships, 
and the Avalanche's defense proved this to be true.
  It is a special honor for me to make this Senate floor statement to 
honor the Colorado Avalanche. Today I invite my Senate colleagues to 
join me in congratulating the Colorado Avalanche in bringing Lord 
Stanley's Cup back to the Centennial State.
  Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Presiding Officer attended the game.

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