A resolution honoring the Detroit Red Wings on winning the 2008 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Championship.

Mr. President, I am delighted to submit this resolution today, along with my Michigan colleague, Senator Stabenow, congratulating the Detroit Red Wings on a

hard-fought victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2008 Stanley Cup finals. Last Wednesday night, the Red Wings captured Lord Stanley's Cup for the fourth time in 11 years, marking the 11th Stanley Cup Championship in the Red Wings' storied 81-year history.

The 2008 Championship was secured through grit, and the strength of team work. As Kris Draper said after the series clinching win, ``Once again, our resolve came through.'' This resolve, and the winning tradition that spans every level of the Red Wings organization, has been fostered over the years by the Ilitch family, whose commitment to winning championships and to the Detroit community are second to none.

The Red Wings season was defined by a physically dominating team that was able to control play at both ends of the ice. After winning three difficult playoff series on the road, the Red Wings followed up a heart-wrenching, triple-overtime loss at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, with an equally epic 3-2 heart-stopping cup-clinching victory in Pittsburgh. Moments after cutting Detroit's lead in half with a power- play goal with just 1:27 remaining, Pittsburgh swiftly pushed the puck back deep into the Red Wings' zone. As time seemingly slowed, Red Wings fans tensely watched, hoping their team would be able to withstand this final onslaught. With the final seconds ticking away, a Pittsburgh player launched a backhander toward the goal, goalie Chris Osgood dove to the ice, stretching his pad to the post trying to block any rebound attempt. Another Penguin slapped at it, and almost unimaginably, the puck slithered all the way along the goal line, daring to throw the game into yet another overtime inferno. And with that, the horn sounded, giving Red Wings fans everywhere the sweet taste of victory. I immediately called my daughter Erica to share in her joy as a Red Wing fanatic. Knowing that for her, those last few seemed like an eternity.

This euphoria spilled out into the streets of Detroit last Friday, where over a million fans joined the Red Wings organization in celebration. Unfazed by the 92-degree heat, the Red Wings faithful flaunted their red and white, swelling with pride over victoriously navigating the difficult path to the cup.

Throughout the season, each member of the Red Wings organization worked tirelessly toward their ultimate goal to bring the Cup home to Hockeytown. The members of the 2008 Red Wings include Andrea Lilja, Kyle Quincey, Niklas Lidstrom, Justin Abdelkader, Dan Cleary, Pavel Datsyuk, Derek Meech, Dallas Drake, Kirk Maltby, Aaron Downey, Brett Lebda, Brad Stuart, Chris Chelios, Darren McCarty, Jiri Hudler, Brian Rafalski, Kris Draper, Mikael Samuelsson, Henrik Zetterberg, Mattias Ritola, Darren Helm, Mark Hartigan, Jakub Kindl, Valtteri Flippula, Jonathan Ericsson, Niklas Kronwall, Thomas Kopecky, Johan Franzen, Thomas Holmstrom, Chris Osgood, Jimmy Howard, Dominik Hasek, Head Coach Mike Babcock, and Assistant Coaches Paul McLean and Todd McLellan.

The Red Wings are one of the original six teams of the National Hockey League, and since their inception in 1926, have been a constant source of pride and inspiration for hockey fans throughout Michigan. The Red Wings have won the third most Stanley Cup Championships in the NHL, earning the distinction as one of the NHL's most successful franchises, and the most dominating over the past decade and a half. The Red Wings excellence, along with the undying love and support of the fans in Michigan and the enormous popularity of hockey in Michigan, make it clear why Detroit is widely known as Hockeytown, U.S.A.

Veterans such as Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Chelios, Darren McCarty, Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby have remained integral figures on the ice and positive role models in the community for many years. Dearborn native Brian Rafalski, and Northern Michigan Alum Dallas Drake further deepen the team's Michigan roots. Drake returned this year to the team that drafted him and can now add a Stanley Cup championship to the one he earned as a member of the 1991 Northern Michigan University NCAA hockey championship team.

While this is first and foremost a team accomplishment, I would be remiss not to highlight a couple of individuals who contributed mightily to the team's overall success. Henrick Zetterberg, the Conn Smythe trophy winner, set a Red Wings playoff record with 27 points, including a remarkable six goal effort in the finals, the last of which proved to be the series clincher. In addition, Captain Nicklas Lidstrom, with his calm demeanor and unshakable nerve, became the first European born player to captain an NHL team to a Stanley Cup championship.

The Red Wings continue to set the standard for championship-caliber hockey and teamwork. From long-time members of the Red Wings organization, to veteran additions to the roster, to new, young talent that helped to energize the team, the 2008 team united and won in classic Red Wings fashion. In doing so, the Red Wings have once again taken hockey fans across the country on a tremendous journey.

Let the record reflect a symbolic gesture as if to throw an octopus onto the floor of the Senate. Go Wings! I know my colleagues join me in congratulating the players, owners, and fans of the Detroit Red Wings on capturing the Stanley Cup once again.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 593, submitted earlier today by Senator Levin.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.