[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8633-8634]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 144--HONORING THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPARTANS 
   ON WINNING THE 2007 MEN'S NATIONAL COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

  Ms. STABENOW (for herself and Mr. Levin) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 144

       Whereas, on Saturday, April 7, 2007, the Michigan State 
     University (MSU) Men's Hockey Team won the 2007 Men's Hockey 
     National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship 
     by defeating Boston College by a score of 3 to 1;
       Whereas entering the final period with a one-goal deficit, 
     the Spartans rallied to tie the game at 1 to 1, and with 18.9 
     seconds remaining in regulation, scored the go-ahead goal to 
     secure MSU Hockey's third national championship, and first 
     since 1986;
       Whereas the MSU Spartans won the NCAA Midwest Regional in 
     Grand Rapids, Michigan, to qualify for the Frozen Four 
     finals, making them the first Central Collegiate Hockey 
     Association team to reach the tournament finals since 1998;
       Whereas each member of the MSU Hockey organization made 
     essential contributions to

[[Page 8634]]

     the team's success, including players Justin Abdelkader, Tim 
     Crowder, Jeff Dunne, Tyler Howells, Brandon Gentile, Ethan 
     Graham, Bobby Jarosz, Justin Johnston, Tim Kennedy, Kurt 
     Kivisto, Chris Lawrence, Bryan Lerg, Jeff Lerg, Zak 
     McClellan, Jim McKenzie, Steve Mnich, Chris Mueller, Michael 
     Ratchuk, Matt Schepke, Chris Snavely, Jay Sprague, Daniel 
     Sturges, Nick Sucharski, Ryan Turek, Daniel Vukovic, and 
     Brandon Warner, Head Coach Rick Comley, Assistant Coaches Tom 
     Newton and Brian Renfrew, and Athletic Trainer Dave Carrier;
       Whereas MSU Spartans' Head Coach Rick Comley, who was named 
     a 2007 National Coach of the Year finalist, became the third 
     coach in college hockey history to win national titles at two 
     institutions, the first with Northern Michigan University, 
     and has recorded over 700 career victories, making him the 
     third winningest coach amongst active coaches, and fifth 
     winningest in NCAA history;
       Whereas at the Frozen Four Championship game in St. Louis, 
     a record 19,432 people attended and the enthusiasm shown by 
     the people of Michigan and the student body of Michigan State 
     University clearly demonstrates Michigan's strong support for 
     the MSU Hockey organization and the determined effort of all 
     the team's players;
       Whereas MSU Hockey's third NCAA title will be celebrated in 
     East Lansing, Michigan on Tuesday, April 10, 2007, and its 
     members honored with a parade followed by a rally at Munn Ice 
     Arena;
       Whereas the families and friends of the team have provided 
     unwavering support and have tirelessly cheered on their 
     Spartans;
       Whereas after many trials and tribulations in the later 
     part of the season, the Spartans rallied together with 
     unrivaled team character and focus to clinch the NCAA title;
       Whereas Michigan State University has always stood as a 
     center for excellence in both athletics and scholarship, 
     under the current leadership of University President Lou Anna 
     K. Simon, and Athletic Director and renowned former MSU 
     Hockey coach Ron Mason;
       Whereas the MSU Spartans displayed unparalleled team 
     camaraderie and have shown their ability to unite both on and 
     off the ice, which led to hard-fought victories throughout 
     the season; and
       Whereas the Spartan Men's Hockey Team demonstrated superior 
     strength, skill, perseverance, and determination during the 
     2006-2007 season and has made Michigan State University and 
     the entire State of Michigan proud: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Michigan State University Men's 
     Hockey Team on winning the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association Championship and recognizes all the players, 
     coaches, staff, fans, families, and others who were 
     instrumental in this great achievement; and
       (2) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution to Michigan State University 
     and to the MSU Spartans Men's Hockey Team for appropriate 
     display.

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