[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 707-708]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       FEBRUARY HOCKEY IN ALASKA

 Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, ice hockey is a popular activity in 
Alaska year round and especially in the winter. Today, I want to 
highlight hockey in my home State.
  You can find someone passing the puck around in nearly any community

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or military installation with a frozen lake, pond or ice rink, whether 
it's organized play or a pickup game. There are dozens of leagues and 
camps for players of all ages from the squirts and midgets to 
Anchorage's Aces and Seawolves and Fairbanks' Ice Dogs and Nanooks.
  At the professional level, the National Hockey League recognizes the 
importance of hockey in the lower ranks by sponsoring the ``Hockey Is 
for Everyone'' program in February. This program helps young girls and 
boys learn essential life skills such as commitment and perseverance.
  The NHL, along with USA Hockey, participates in the Presidential 
Active Lifestyle Award program, to promote activity and good nutrition. 
Anyone who has ever skated hard for more than a few minutes knows how 
healthy it can be, whether your goal is to have fun, stay fit or to 
play in the NHL, on the U.S. Olympic team or at the 2014 Arctic Winter 
Games in Fairbanks.
  Not only does playing hockey teach the ideals of teamwork, fair play 
and loyalty, when Alaskans get involved in fund raising, coaching, and 
event chaperoning, they are practicing good civics and citizenship.
  And it's exciting to watch live or broadcasted games because the 
sport is so fast paced, yet graceful and athletic at the same time.
  Three cheers for the players, coaches and supporters of hockey in 
Alaska.

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