HR0477 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On June 24, 2013, the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League's Western Conference, won the Stanley Cup Championship by defeating the Boston Bruins to claim their second title since 2010 and the team's fifth title overall; and

WHEREAS, The Blackhawks started the shortened season by setting a new NHL record by earning a point in 24 consecutive games to start the season, 21 of which were wins, giving them a lead in the Western Conference that was never overtaken; and

WHEREAS, With a record of 36-7-5, the Blackhawks won the President's Trophy for the second time in franchise history, for the best regular season record in the league and earned home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs; and

WHEREAS, The Blackhawks defeated the Minnesota Wild in 5 games in the first round of the playoffs; and

WHEREAS, In the second round of the playoffs, the Blackhawks faced longtime rivals, the Detroit Redwings; they trailed the Redwings 3 games to one before completing a historic comeback with an overtime win in game 7 of the series; and

WHEREAS, The Blackhawks completed their quest to reach the Stanley Cup Finals by defeating the Los Angeles Kings in 5 games; in the finals, they faced the Boston Bruins for the first "Original Six" match-up since 1979; and

WHEREAS, Game one of the Stanley Cup Finals was the fifth longest in Finals history; in the third overtime period a goal by Andrew Shaw gave the Blackhawks a 4-3 win to put them up 1-0 overall in the Finals; and

WHEREAS, The Blackhawks played a second consecutive overtime game in game 2, losing to the Bruins by a 2-1 score; they fell to the Bruins in game 3, 2-0; and

WHEREAS, Game 4 was dominated by offense; the Blackhawks were forced into their third overtime game of the Finals; Brent Seabrook scored on a slap-shot giving the Blackhawks a 6-5 victory and tying the series at 2-2 overall; and

WHEREAS, The Blackhawks dominated Game 5 by outskating, outshooting, and outscoring the Bruins; the Blackhawks won 3-1 and took a 3-2 overall series lead and returned to Boston for Game 6; and

WHEREAS, In an exciting Game 6, the Blackhawks trailed 1-0 after the first period; in the second period, Captain Jonathan Toews tied the game; another goal was not scored until after the 12 minute mark of the third period to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead; and

WHEREAS, With one minute and 16 seconds remaining in game 6, the Blackhawks' Bryan Bickell scored the game tying goal; 17 seconds later Dave Bolland scored the game winning goal, clinching the Stanley Cup for the Blackhawks and ending one of the most exciting finals series in the history of the NHL; and

WHEREAS, A Stanley Cup victory takes dedication from all members of the active roster; and

WHEREAS, The men who make up the Chicago Blackhawks team are to be commended for their unity and team strength, allowing them to bring the Stanley Cup back to Chicago; and

WHEREAS, The Blackhawks forwards include Bryan Bickell, Dave Bolland, Brandon Bollig, Daniel Carcillo, Michael Frolik, Michal Handzus, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Marcus Kruger, Jamal Mayers, Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp, Andrew Shaw, Ben Smith, Viktor Stalberg, and Jonathan Toews; and

WHEREAS, The Blackhawks defenders include Sheldon Brookbank, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Duncan Keith, Nick Leddy, Johnny Oduya, Michal Rozsival, Brent Seabrook, and Ryan Stanton; and

WHEREAS, The Blackhawks defenders include goalies Corey Crawford, Ray Emery, and Henrik Karlsson; and

WHEREAS, The Blackhawks are coached by Joel Quenneville; Coach Quenneville has registered a regular-season points percentage of .634, the best in franchise history, while his .577 postseason winning percentage is the highest for a Blackhawks coach since 1940; Coach Quenneville, in 2013, was assisted by Mike Kitchen, Jamie Kompon, Stephane Waite, Paul Goodman, and Time Campbell; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend and applaud the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks for their accomplishments during the 2013 season, for their talent and teamwork displayed on the ice, for their excellence and humility off the ice, for the outstanding coaching staff leading the team, and for the brilliant ownership and management that crafted and built the 2013 Blackhawks; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to each member of the Blackhawks executive board, to each member of the coaching staff and management of the 2013 Blackhawks organization, and to every player on the 2013 roster of the Chicago Blackhawks.