| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The Texas Stars reached the pinnacle of success by |
|
|
winning the 2014 Calder Cup Championship, securing the title with a |
|
|
4-3 overtime victory in Game 5 of the American Hockey League Finals |
|
|
on June 17; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The cup victory closed out an unforgettable year in |
|
|
which the Stars won the AHL West Division and compiled a league-best |
|
|
record of 48 wins, 18 losses, and 3 ties; entering the postseason as |
|
|
the No. 1 seed, Texas quickly dispatched the Oklahoma City Barons |
|
|
in a three-game sweep before defeating the Grand Rapids Griffins in |
|
|
the Western Conference semifinals; the squad then took on the |
|
|
Toronto Marlies in the conference finals, where they emerged |
|
|
victorious after a hard-fought, seven-game series to earn a spot in |
|
|
the Calder Cup Finals; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Facing off against the St. John's IceCaps, the Stars |
|
|
won three of the first four games in the series, with exciting |
|
|
overtime victories coming in Games 3 and 4; in the deciding contest, |
|
|
Texas jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period after |
|
|
goals by Mike Hedden and Brett Ritchie; the IceCaps rallied to take |
|
|
the lead in the third frame, but the Stars responded with a tying |
|
|
goal to send the game into overtime; there, Texas goalkeeper |
|
|
Cristopher Nilstorp kept the Stars alive with several key saves |
|
|
before defenseman Patrik Nemeth clinched the championship with a |
|
|
backhand shot into the goal with 5:30 remaining in overtime; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Under the skilled guidance of head coach Willie |
|
|
Desjardins and with additional support from general manager Scott |
|
|
White, the Stars benefited from clutch performances from each |
|
|
member of the roster during the team's exemplary 2013-2014 |
|
|
campaign; in recognition of his exceptional efforts, Texas center |
|
|
Travis Morin won the AHL most valuable player award as well as the |
|
|
Calder Cup Playoffs MVP honor; moreover, left winger Curtis |
|
|
McKenzie was honored for his impressive debut season with the Stars |
|
|
by being named the winner of the league's outstanding rookie award; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, By capturing the first AHL championship in the |
|
|
history of the franchise, the Texas Stars have won the hearts of |
|
|
their many loyal fans in the Central Texas area and beyond, and the |
|
|
team's players and staff may take great pride in their remarkable |
|
|
accomplishments on the ice; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby congratulate the Texas Stars on winning the 2014 |
|
|
AHL Calder Cup Championship and extend sincere best wishes to all |
|
|
those who shared in the thrill of the team's title-winning season; |
|
|
and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |