[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8635-8636]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPARTANS

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 144 submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The resolution (S. Res. 144) honoring the Michigan State 
     University Spartans on winning the 2007 Men's National 
     Collegiate Hockey Championship.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am happy to join with my colleague from 
Michigan, Senator Debbie Stabenow, in supporting this resolution, which 
recognizes the Spartans hard work, grit and determination in winning 
Michigan State University's third NCAA Men's Hockey championship. The 
Spartans secured the 2007 National Title in dramatic fashion by 
overcoming a 1 to 0 deficit to defeat Boston College 3 to 1 in the NCAA 
Men's Championship Final. This victory is a great source of pride for 
all those affiliated with Michigan State University and for the entire 
state of Michigan.
  Championships are won by doing all the little things right, by not 
giving up, and by trusting one another regardless of the obstacles. All 
of these traits were on display Saturday night when, in the waning 
moments of the championship game, the Spartans mounted a final charge 
to capture the 2007 NCAA Title. The Spartans scored 3 goals in the 
final 10 minutes of play. The game was tied until the last minute of 
regulation, when Justin Abdelkader scored the go-ahead goal with 18.9 
seconds remaining. The Spartans solidified this hard-fought victory by 
scoring an empty netter set up by an Eagle team that desperately fought 
to tie the game.
  The Spartans upset victory before a record setting crowd of 19,432 at 
the Scottrade Center in St. Louis completed a highly entertaining and 
rewarding season. MSU Hockey's third NCAA title is being celebrated 
today in East Lansing, Michigan. The members of the championship team 
are being honored with a parade followed by a rally at Munn Ice Arena. 
This is a victory for the Spartan team and MSU community, as well as 
for the many fans, friends, and family whose strong and unwavering 
support was exhibited throughout the Spartans' memorable championship 
season.
  Each member of the MSU team made important contributions to the 
Spartans' 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, Brandon Warner, 
Head Coach Rick Comley, Assistant Coaches Tom Newton and Brian Renfrew, 
and Athletic Trainer Dave Carrier.
  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. Coach Comley recorded his 714th career 
victory on Saturday. He currently holds the distinction of being the 
third winningest coach amongst active hockey coaches and fifth 
winningest in NCAA Hockey history. He has continued the successful 
Spartan Hockey tradition established by Ron Mason, the Spartans' former 
head coach, current athletic director, and the all-time winningest NCAA 
Hockey coach.
  Throughout the 2007 championship season, the MSU men's hockey team 
has demonstrated a commitment to unselfish play, always placing team 
success ahead of individual accomplishments. However, I would be remiss 
if I did not acknowledge the outstanding individual effort displayed by 
sophomore goal tender Jeff Lerg, whose instrumental play throughout the 
season helped to secure the title and earned him both NCAA Midwest 
Regional MVP honors and a place on the Frozen Four All Tournament team.
  I know my colleagues in the Senate join me in congratulating Coach

[[Page 8636]]

Comley and the 2007 Michigan State University Spartans on their NCAA 
Men's Hockey National Championship.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to commend the Michigan 
State University Spartans on winning the 2007 Men's National Collegiate 
Hockey Championship.
  On Saturday, April 7, 2007, the Michigan State University Men's 
Hockey Team won the 2007 Men's Hockey National Collegiate Athletic 
Association Championship by defeating Boston College by a score of 3 to 
1.
  In a hard-fought game, and going into the final period with a one-
goal deficit, the Spartans charged ahead to tie the game, and then 
triumphantly scored a game-winning goal with only 18.9 seconds 
remaining of play.
  This victory constituted MSU Hockey's third national championship, 
and the first since 1986. Each member of the MSU Hockey organization 
made essential contributions to the team's success.
  MSU Spartans' Head Coach Rick Comley has become only the third coach 
in college hockey history to win national titles at two institutions, 
and has earned over 700 career wins.
  A record crowd of over 19,000 people attended the Frozen Four 
Championship game in St. Louis, and the enthusiasm shown by the people 
of Michigan and the students of MSU demonstrate Michigan's strong 
support for the MSU Hockey organization.
  I know how important the families and friends of the team have been 
in providing unwavering support and always cheering on their Spartans.
  In the final weeks of the season, with an uncertain forecast of their 
playoff position, the Spartans rallied together with unrivaled team 
character and focus, and starting with the 1st round playoffs in Grand 
Rapids, MI, they went on undefeated to clinch the championship.
  Michigan State University has always stood as a center for excellence 
in both athletics and scholarship, especially with the guidance of 
University President Lou Anna K. Simon, and athletic director and 
renowned former MSU Hockey coach, Ron Mason.
  I am a proud MSU alumnus myself, and was beyond delighted to see this 
great team win the national championship.
  The MSU Spartans displayed unparalleled team camaraderie, and have 
shown their ability to unite both on and off the ice has led them to 
well-fought victories.
  The Spartan Hockey Team demonstrated superior strength, skill, 
perseverance and determination and has made Michigan State University 
and the entire State of Michigan proud.
  I congratulate the MSU Spartan Hockey Team on winning the 2007 NCAA 
Championship and recognize all the players, coaches, staff, fans, and 
others who were instrumental in this great achievement.
  Again, this is a wonderful day for Michigan State University. We are 
very proud of our hockey members and particularly proud of a member of 
my staff, Jeff Muich, whose brother Steve is a member of that team. So 
with pride we congratulate Michigan State University on this wonderful 
achievement.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, 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. 144) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              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 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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