[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 4075-4076]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM MAKES AMERICA'S HOCKEY STATE 
                               VERY PROUD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise to salute the University of 
Minnesota Golden Gophers men's hockey team on winning their fourth 
national championship Saturday night in St. Paul.
  Minnesota has a long and proud hockey tradition. This weekend, as one 
of our newspapers put it, we experienced a ``Return to Glory.'' On 
Saturday night, right in our State's capital city, the University of 
Minnesota, my proud alma mater, added an illustrious new chapter to our 
State's proud hockey heritage.
  Madam Speaker, in one of the most thrilling NCAA championship games 
ever played, the University of Minnesota defeated the University of 
Maine 4-to-3 in an overtime edge-of-your-seat nail-biter, a game that 
meant the 2002 NCAA men's ice hockey championship for the University of 
Minnesota. And, believe me, this was no ordinary hockey game. Both 
teams were fueled by powerful motivating forces that produced one of 
the most entertaining, hard-fought and memorable games ever played.
  Last season, the Gophers lost to Maine in an overtime game in the 
NCAA Tournament, and that memory united this year's Gophers team and 
provided the motivation to fight to the very end of the season's 
championship game.
  Maine had plenty of motivation also. The Black Bears had lost their 
longtime coach of 17 years, Shawn Walsh, to cancer just before the 
season started, and the Black Bears put forth a tremendous effort in 
memory of Coach Walsh.
  Madam Speaker, this champion season has been a long time coming, and 
it sure feels great to every Minnesota hockey fan. All of Minnesota is 
extremely proud of this talented, never-say-die team, which rallied to 
tie the championship game with just 52 seconds left in regulation on a 
goal by Matt Koalska, a St. Paul native playing in his hometown. The 
Gophers and Black Bears then battled through an intense 17 minutes of 
overtime before realizing the dream of all Minnesota hockey fans when 
Grant Potulny scored that winning goal.
  By tying the game in the final seconds of regulation and then winning 
in overtime, the University of Minnesota hockey team joins the list of 
legendary teams.
  Madam Speaker, there have been so many stars this season for the 
champion Gophers. I hesitate to mention any at risk of leaving out 
others, but they were a true team in the real meaning of that word. 
They came together in pursuit of a common goal, winning a national 
championship. Each player, each trainer, each coach, each manager, 
played a pivotal role during

[[Page 4076]]

the season, picking each other up at the crucial time.
  Goalie Adam Hauser made 42 saves in the championship game. Hauser had 
83 victories in his career, breaking the WCHA record. Adam also set 
league and school records for games played, shutouts and saves.
  All-American senior Johnny Pohl of Red Wing, Minnesota, ended his 
college career by leading the entire Nation in scoring.
  Madam Speaker, each and every one of these Gophers hockey players 
gave the record crowd of 19,324 great fans plenty to cheer about 
Saturday night, and in fact all season long. Jordan Leopold, a graduate 
of Armstrong High School in my district, was a big part of this 
season's greatness. Leopold won the Hobey Baker Award, which is college 
hockey's version of the Heisman Trophy, for his outstanding play. He is 
the fourth Gopher to win college hockey's highest honor.
  Madam Speaker, I also want to commend Coach Don Lucia for an 
outstanding job of coaching. The history of Golden Gophers hockey is 
reflected by its legendary coaches, and Coach Lucia joins this 
respected group: John Mariucci, Glen Sonmor, Doug Woog, Herb Brooks, a 
guy who knows a thing or two about miracles on ice.
  Madam Speaker, these hockey Gophers join the University of 
Minnesota's title winning teams of 1974, 1976 and 1979, and will 
forever be etched in the annals of the greatest Minnesota hockey teams.
  This year's team played with amazing consistency. They never lost 
consecutive games, and finished with a record of 32 wins, 8 losses and 
4 ties. The team's six seniors improved their record each and every 
year and provided solid senior leadership.
  Madam Speaker, the 2001-2002 Gophers hockey team will be remembered 
forever by Minnesotans and hockey fans throughout the world. All 
Minnesotans and Gophers hockey fans everywhere are very proud of this 
team, and we congratulate our national champions.

                          ____________________