[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
[January 10, 1997]
[Pages 26-27]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks to the 1996 National Hockey League Champion Colorado Avalanche
January 10, 1997

    I'd like to welcome all of you to the White House, especially 
Representative Diana DeGette; and Charlie Lyons, the president of Ascent 
Entertainment; and of course the 1996 Stanley Cup winners, the Colorado 
Avalanche.
    I'm pleased that all of you could join us today to congratulate the 
team, especially the people who have come all the way from Colorado. Ice 
hockey is one of the fastest, most exciting games going, and there was 
an article in one of the papers yesterday detailing all the cities in 
America that now want a hockey franchise. I think it's because Colorado 
won the championship so quickly. [Laughter]
    When you watch an amazing team like the Avalanche take the ice, you 
understand why children all over our country for the first time are 
trying on skates and crowding the rinks. This was a very awe-inspiring 
performance that this team turned in this year.
    No one could have anticipated the kind of season you've had when you 
moved to Denver just 18 months ago, rolling over the NHL like the 
avalanche you are so well named for. You swept the final series against 
the Florida Panthers, a great team who deserve a lot of credit for being 
the youngest expansion team to make it to the Stanley Cup final after 
only 3 years in the league. And as the Avalanche played out the final 
minutes of the triple overtime game that brought you to victory, you 
also showed what teamwork is all about. I may show those final minutes 
to the Cabinet repeatedly over the next 2 years. [Laughter]
    In one short season, you captured the heart of your new home city 
and gave Colorado its first major sports championship ever. Your coach, 
Marc Crawford, is the third youngest coach in history to lead a team to 
a Stanley Cup victory. That's a remarkable achievement, something I can 
identify with. I used to be the youngest person doing things--
[laughter]--a long time ago. At 27, Joe Sakic brings incredible talent 
and maturity to the team, and I see him here recovering from his recent 
injury. I hope you'll be back on your skates soon. Your outstanding 
goalie, Patrick Roy, must be used to this by now. Of course, this is his 
third Stanley Cup victory. I understand he's an avid golfer as well, and 
the difference is, of course, in golf you're not allowed to block the 
other person's shots. [Laughter] I must say, there have been a lot of 
times when I wished there had been someone there to block mine.
    This victory belongs to every player on the team. By bringing home 
to Denver and to Colorado their first ever professional sports 
championship, you have justified the loyalty and pride of some 
ferociously loyal and proud fans. And I think it highly likely that 
you'll keep them happy again this year too. After your win against the 
Senators last night, I know you're number one in the NHL again.
    Now I'd like to introduce the commissioner of the National Hockey 
League, Gary Bettman, to continue the program.

Note: The President spoke at 3:34 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Charlie Lyons, chairman, and Joe 
Sakic, center, Colorado Avalanche.

 

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