[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6869-6870]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          MINNESOTA ATHLETICS

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, it has been a great winter when it comes 
to Minnesota athletics. Last week I had the privilege to congratulate 
and recognize the achievements of the University of Minnesota Twin-
Cities women's hockey and basketball teams. Today, I switch schools and 
genders to recognize and congratulate head coach Scott Sandelin and the 
University of Minnesota-Duluth Men's ice hockey team for their 
appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four. The Bulldogs will be making their 
third NCAA Frozen Four appearance tomorrow, having previously appeared 
in 1984 and 1985.
  The team and many of its fans are in Boston today, gearing up for the 
fast pace and the emotion that comes with playing in the Frozen Four on 
national television. The road to the Frozen Four can be difficult and 
demanding. I say ``can be difficult'' only because--well, the Bulldogs 
made it look somewhat easy.
  In convincing fashion, the Bulldogs defeated Michigan State 5 to 0 
and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 3 to 1 to earn their first 
Frozen Four bid since 1985. Against arch-rival Minnesota-Twin Cities, 
the Bulldogs stuck to a solid game plan, scored timely goals, and 
received phenomenal goaltending from Isaac Reichmuth, who also should 
be recognized for his stellar shut-out of Michigan State.
  While absent 19 years from the Frozen Four, the Bulldogs appearance 
in this year's Frozen Four is no surprise. After finishing the season 
28-12-4, and placing second in the Western Collegiate Hockey 
Association, the Bulldogs earned the second seed in the Midwest 
Regional of the NCAA tournament.
  They are coached by Scott Sandelin. Coach Sandelin is a finalist for 
the Spencer Penrose Award, the official award of the NCAA for Division 
1 coach of the year, and recently received Inside-college-hockey's 
award for Coach of the Year.
  On the ice, the Bulldogs have been led all year by Hobey Baker 
finalist Junior Lessard, who currently leads the Nation in goals and 
scoring. Lessard has also racked up two prestigious Player of the Year 
awards by Inside-college-hockey and U.S. College Hockey Online.

[[Page 6870]]

  On the blue line, the Bulldogs are led by first team WCHA all-
conference selection Beau Geisler, and as I mentioned before, Isaac 
Reichmuch, himself a second team all conference selection, has been 
unbeatable in the pipes for the Bulldogs.
  The Bulldog ice-hockey tradition runs deep. The program has placed 
over 34 of its student-athletes into the National Hockey League over 
the past 35 years. Thanks to Bulldog legends such as Curt Giles, Pat 
Boutette, Brett Hull, Chris Marinucci, Derek Plante, and Shjon Podein, 
Minnesota-Duluth is one of the premier hockey schools in the Nation and 
a source of deep pride for Duluth and all of Minnesota.
  These young men, 15 of whom are native Minnesotans, are continuing 
this tradition of excellence and deserve the recognition and excitement 
that is accompanying their trip to the Frozen Four. Charter buses of 
Minnesotans have made the long trek to Beantown to cheer on their team 
and I, like them, look forward to a great match-up between the Bulldogs 
and the University of Denver tomorrow in Boston.
  Congratulations to the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs for 
what has been a stellar season, and best wishes on their ongoing quest 
for the national championship.

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