[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6358-6359]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATING UNIVERSITY OF DENVER PIONEERS MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 106 submitted earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant journal clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 106) congratulating the University of 
     Denver Pioneers men's hockey team, 2005 National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association Division I Hockey Champions.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today for the second year in a row 
to recognize the recent achievement of the University of Denver Hockey 
Team. On April 9, 2005, almost a year to the day that they won the 2004 
Men's NCAA Division I Championship on the frigid ice of a Boston arena, 
the Pioneers repeated their amazing feat capturing a second national 
title in Columbus, OH at this year's Frozen Four. On this particular 
evening the University of Denver Pioneers defeated the North Dakota 
Fighting Sioux by a score of 4-1, clinching a seventh overall hockey 
championship.
  At the helm of the University of Denver hockey team for the last 11 
years has been coach George Gwozdecky. Coach Gwozdecky came to DU in 
1994 and has compiled an impressive record at DU, including his 400th 
win as a coach a few short weeks ago and his 405th win in the national 
title game. Coach Gwozdecky has shaped the Pioneer program into one of 
the elite programs in all of collegiate sports, and he is the only NCAA 
coach to win a national hockey title as a player, assistant coach, and 
head coach.
  Later today the University of Denver campus will host a rally in 
honor of the Pioneer hockey champions. While I regret that I can not be 
there in person to commend this fantastic team, I would like to honor 
just a few of the great players that made this repeat championship 
possible. Freshman Peter Mannino, named the Most Outstanding Player of 
this year's Frozen Four, made an astonishing 44 saves in the 
championship game including a 23 shot barrage in the third period. 
Forward Paul Stastny scored two of the Pioneer's four goals with Jeff 
Drummond and Gabe Gauthier each adding one. Five Pioneers, Forwards 
Gauthier and Stastny, Defensemen Matt Carle and Brett Skinner, and 
goalie Mannino were named to the All-Tournament Team.
  Today I share my congratulations with the entire University of Denver 
community. Winning a national title is a rare and precious 
accomplishment. Winning two championships in a row is all the more 
rare. This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of many 
people. Congratulations to all the DU Pioneers. Congratulations to 
Chancellor Daniel Ritchie, Provost Bob Coombe, President Mark Holtzman, 
Interim Director of Athletics Stuart Halsall, Coach Gwozdecky and his 
staff, and especially the Pioneer players, students and fans. You have 
made us all very proud.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be 
printed in the Record, without intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 106) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

[[Page 6359]]



                              S. Res. 106

       Whereas the Denver Pioneers first won the National 
     Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Hockey Championship in 
     1958;
       Whereas the University of Denver has won 7 NCAA Division I 
     Men's Hockey Championships, including back-to-back 
     championships in 2004 and 2005;
       Whereas on April 9, 2005, the University of Denver won the 
     Frozen Four with a hard fought victory over the University of 
     North Dakota Fighting Sioux; and
       Whereas the Championship ended a terrific season in which 
     the University of Denver outscored its opponents 170 to 109 
     and had a record of 31-9-2: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate congratulates the University of 
     Denver Pioneers men's hockey team, Coach George Gwozdecky, 
     and Chancellor Daniel Ritchie on an outstanding championship 
     season, a season which solidifies the Pioneers' status among 
     the elite in collegiate hockey.

                          ____________________