[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7690]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 198--CONGRATULATING THE ALASKA ACES HOCKEY TEAM ON 
 WINNING THE 2011 KELLY CUP AND BECOMING THE EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE 
             CHAMPIONS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TEAM HISTORY

  Mr. BEGICH (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 198

       Whereas on Saturday, May 21, 2011, the Alaska Aces won the 
     second Kelly Cup championship in the history of the team with 
     a 5-3 victory over the Kalamazoo Wings;
       Whereas the Alaska Aces lost only 1 game throughout the 
     entire 2011 Kelly Cup playoffs;
       Whereas the Alaska Aces finished the regular season by 
     winning an impressive 35 of the final 41 games;
       Whereas the Alaska Aces won the Brabham Cup with the best 
     record in the East Coast Hockey League regular season;
       Whereas head coach Brent Thompson led the Alaska Aces to 
     the Kelly Cup championship in only his second year as head 
     coach and received the John Brophy award as the East Coast 
     Hockey League's Coach of the Year;
       Whereas Alaska Aces Captain Scott Burt became the first 
     player in East Coast Hockey League history to win 3 Kelly 
     Cups;
       Whereas Alaska Aces forward Scott Howes was named the Most 
     Valuable Player of the Kelly Cup playoffs with 7 goals and 19 
     points earned during the postseason;
       Whereas Alaska Aces forward Wes Goldie was named Most 
     Valuable Player for the 2010-2011 East Coast Hockey League 
     regular season with 83 points;
       Whereas Alaska Aces goaltender Gerald Coleman backstopped 
     the Alaska Aces with a record of 11 wins and 1 loss during 
     the Kelly Cup playoffs and was selected as the East Coast 
     Hockey League's Goaltender of the Year;
       Whereas the Alaska Aces benefitted from the veteran 
     leadership of center and native Alaskan Brian Swanson;
       Whereas the hard work and dedication of the entire team 
     lead the Alaska Aces to victory;
       Whereas the East Coast Hockey League has developed some of 
     the greatest hockey players who have later enjoyed successful 
     careers in the National Hockey League and the American Hockey 
     League; and
       Whereas Alaskans everywhere are proud of the 
     accomplishments of the Alaska Aces in the 2011 season: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates each member and the coaching staff of the 
     Alaska Aces hockey team on an impressive championship season;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the East Coast Hockey 
     League on another fine season of developing players and 
     promoting ice hockey in North America; and
       (3) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the Alaska Aces ownership;
       (B) the Commissioner of the East Coast Hockey League, Brian 
     McKenna; and
       (C) the Commissioner Emeritus of the East Coast Hockey 
     League, Patrick J. Kelly.

                          ____________________