[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8432-8433]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         COMMENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH BULLDOGS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 104, submitted 
earlier today by Senator Dayton and Senator Coleman.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 104) commending the University of 
     Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs for winning the 2002-2003 National 
     Collegiate Athletic Association Division I National 
     Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championship.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, I am proud to rise today with my colleague

[[Page 8433]]

from Minnesota, Senator Coleman, to pay tribute to the University of 
Minnesota Duluth Women's Ice Hockey Team, who just won their third 
consecutive National Collegiate Athletic Association championship. The 
Bulldogs defeated an outstanding Harvard team, 4 to 3, in the second 
sudden-death overtime.
  I was once a hockey goalie, back in the days when we used dinosaur 
bones for goalie sticks. So I have experienced firsthand the incredible 
intensity and pressure of overtime in hockey. It truly is ``sudden 
death.'' For the Bulldogs to win their third straight national 
championship under that pressure, in front of their families, friends, 
and many fans in Duluth, is an extraordinary achievement.
  I congratulate all the players on the University of Minnesota Duluth 
team, their head coach, Shannon Miller, who has spearheaded this 
incredibly successful hockey program, and UMD Chancellor Kathryn 
Martin. They have accomplished more than anyone could have imagined 
just 3 years ago, and they have made all Minnesotans exceptionally 
proud of them.
  Senator Coleman, Representative Jim Oberstar, and I have written to 
President Bush and asked him to invite the team to the White House. Two 
years ago, after the Bulldogs' won their first national championship, I 
read that the NCAA men's championship team had been invited to the 
White House. We asked the President then that the UMD women's team be 
so honored. The President graciously extended that invitation to the 
Bulldogs team and personally hosted them at the White House.
  Last year, we had the additional thrill of attending a White House 
ceremony honoring both the men's and women's NCAA hockey champions: the 
University of Minnesota Duluth women's champions and the University of 
Minnesota men's champions. Since the Gophers men's team is now in the 
semifinals of their national tournament, I am hopeful that we will 
experience that same thrill again this year. Regardless of that 
outcome, the UMD women's team are again the National Champions. A 
``Threepeat!'' Awesome! Congratulations, Bulldogs!
  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my distinguished 
colleague from Minnesota in recognizing the University of Minnesota 
Duluth Women's Ice Hockey Team for winning their third straight 
national championship.
  A Stanley Cup-winning professional hockey player said that ``when you 
start a tournament, you stick with it.'' History has shown that the 
Lady Bulldogs maintain this same principle. In 2001 at the inaugural 
Frozen Four, they took on St. Lawrence University and won 4-2. The 
following year, they made it through the semifinals again, allowing 
them the opportunity to face Brown University, who they defeated 3-2 
for their second title.
  They entered this year's national tournament playing Dartmouth 
College in the semifinals, a game which was tied in the second period 
before UMD came back to win it 5-2.
  Two days later, in the championship, they met No. 2 seeded Harvard 
University in what has been referred to by some as the best women's 
college hockey game ever.
  Knowing what makes a good hockey game, I would have to agree. There 
was a near-capacity crowd; a first period ending score of 2-0, with 
Duluth in the lead; a solid return by Harvard in the second; and a 
scoreless first overtime, which resulted in a second where sophomore 
Nora Tallus scored the winning goal at 4 minutes and 19 seconds.
  This goal concluded the 84-minute game, giving the Lady Bulldogs 
their third and probably most memorable title, as it was won at home in 
front of a near-capacity crowd at the Duluth Entertainment Convention 
Center.
  I am pleased to stand here today, commending the UMD Women's Ice 
Hockey Team for winning the 2003 NCAA Division I National Collegiate 
Women's Ice Hockey Championship and recognizing the achievements of all 
the team's players, coaches, and staff.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
and preamble be agreed to en bloc; that the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, without intervening action or debate; and that any 
statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 104) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 104

       Whereas on Sunday, March 23, 2003, the two-time defending 
     NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Champions, the 
     University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, won the National 
     Championship for the third straight year;
       Whereas Minnesota Duluth defeated Harvard University in 
     double overtime of the championship game by the score of 4-3, 
     having defeated Dartmouth College 5-2 in the semifinal;
       Whereas sophomore Nora Tallus scored the game-winning goal 
     in the second overtime, assisted by Erika Holst and Joanne 
     Eustace;
       Whereas during the 2002-2003 season, the Bulldogs won an 
     impressive 31 games, while losing only 3 and tying 2;
       Whereas forwards Jenny Potter, Hanne Sikio, and Caroline 
     Ouellette were selected to the 2003 All-Tournament team, and 
     Caroline Ouellette was named the tournament's Most Valuable 
     Player;
       Whereas the Bulldogs were the only team in the country to 
     earn a berth to the National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey 
     Championship Tournament in every year of its existence;
       Whereas junior forward Jenny Potter was a top-three 
     finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given 
     annually to the most outstanding player in women's collegiate 
     varsity ice hockey, and was named to the Jofa Women's 
     University Division Ice Hockey All-American first team;
       Whereas senior forward Maria Rooth, for the fourth time, 
     was a top-ten finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award 
     and was named to the Jofa Women's University Division Ice 
     Hockey All-American second team;
       Whereas seniors Jenny Hempel, Erika Holst, Joanne Eustace, 
     Hanne Sikio, Navada Russell, Michelle McAteer, Patricia 
     Sautter, and Maria Rooth made lasting contributions to the 
     University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs women's ice hockey 
     program;
       Whereas Minnesota Duluth Head Coach Shannon Miller, after 
     winning the National Championship in 3 consecutive years, has 
     been named a finalist for the 2002-2003 Women's Ice Hockey 
     University Division Coach of the Year Award; and
       Whereas all of the team's players showed tremendous 
     dedication throughout the season toward the goal of winning 
     the National Championship; New, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the University of Minnesota Duluth Women's Ice 
     Hockey Team for winning the 2003 NCAA Division I National 
     Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championship;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of all of the team's 
     players, coaches, and support staff, and invites them to the 
     Untied States Capitol Building to be honored;
       (3) requests that the President of Minnesota Duluth Women's 
     Ice Hockey Team, and invite them to the White House for an 
     appropriate ceremony honoring a national championship team; 
     and
       (4) directs the Secretary of the Senate to make available 
     enrolled copies of this Resolution to the University of 
     Minnesota Duluth for appropriate display, and to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this Resolution to every coach and member of 
     the 2003 NCAA Division I National Collegiate Women's Ice 
     Hockey Championship Team.

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