By Serna                                               H.R. No. 678

         75R12344 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The inaugural season of the Western Professional

 1-2     Hockey League (WPHL) has been completed, and the El Paso Buzzards

 1-3     have captured the league's first championship; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, After defeating the Austin Ice Bats in the opening

 1-5     round of the playoffs, the Buzzards advanced to meet the West Texas

 1-6     Stampede in the finals; El Paso defeated West Texas four games to

 1-7     one in the best-of-seven series, winning the final game 5-2 in

 1-8     dramatic come-from-behind fashion; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, The Buzzards were seeded third entering the

1-10     playoffs, following a 22-3-1 surge to end the season, while the

1-11     rival Stampede held the fourth seed; West Texas displayed true grit

1-12     and determination in knocking off the top-ranked New Mexico

1-13     Scorpions, but the Buzzards and series Most Valuable Player Chris

1-14     MacKenzie proved too much for the Stampede; and

1-15           WHEREAS, The WPHL and its host of outstanding hockey players

1-16     have provided much excitement for the citizens of Texas, and the

1-17     success of the league's first season has whet the appetites of the

1-18     Lone Star State's many hockey fans while making converts of many

1-19     individuals previously unfamiliar with this fast-paced sport; and

1-20           WHEREAS, With the completion of the first season, Texans are

1-21     eagerly awaiting the 1997-1998 campaign and the chance to once

1-22     again cheer their favorite teams to victory; now, therefore, be it

1-23           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

1-24     Legislature hereby congratulate the El Paso Buzzards on winning the

 2-1     inaugural championship of the Western Professional Hockey League

 2-2     and extend to the members of this exemplary organization sincere

 2-3     best wishes for continued success in the years to come; and, be it

 2-4     further

 2-5           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 2-6     prepared for the members of the team and coaching staff as an

 2-7     expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.