LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Adam Graves on his celebrated career
with the New York Rangers upon the occasion of the retirement of his
jersey, number 9, on February 3, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
outstanding athletes who distinguish themselves through their excep-
tional performance, attaining unprecedented success and the highest
level of personal achievement and provides selfless service to New York
charities and children in need; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to recognize and
commend Adam Graves as his celebrated career is honored by the New York
Rangers and the National Hockey League (NHL); and
WHEREAS,Today, on Tuesday, February 3, 2009, in an on-ice ceremony
prior to the Rangers-Atlanta Thrashers game at Madison Square Garden,
the New York Rangers will retire Adam Graves's jersey, number 9; and
WHEREAS, Adam Graves's trade from the Rangers in 2001 and his depar-
ture from the game in 2003 have done little to diminish his stature in
his adopted city of New York; as a player and now as a member of the
Rangers' scouting staff, he fully gives of himself to charities, the
community and children; and
WHEREAS, Adam Graves leapt into the Rangers' community-relations
efforts with such enthusiasm, he will be lauded as much for that as for
his great moments in the game; and
WHEREAS, A native of Toronto, Ontario, Adam Graves mentioned that
giving back to the community was not a conscious decision, just a deri-
vation of growing up in his close-knit family; he followed the example
of his father, a police officer, and his mother, who instilled good
morals and values into the family; and
WHEREAS, Forty year-old Adam Graves's on-ice career spanned 16 seasons
and included 329 goals, countless memorable hits and on-ice alterca-
tions, and a Stanley Cup, with the Rangers in 1994; those facts alone,
though, are not the only reason the Rangers decided to retire his jersey
along with his fellow 1994 teammates Mark Messier, Mike Richter and
Brian Leetch; and
WHEREAS, Being one of the most celebrated players in hockey, Rangers
fans came to know that while Adam Graves was fierce on the ice, he was
among the toughest power forwards in the game, yet he was equally gentle
away from the game; his teammates described him as someone who would
pull younger players aside to assist or provide advice, a role Mark
Messier called invaluable to him as a captain; and
WHEREAS, Adam Graves mentioned that when he came into the N.H.L. in
1987, he recognized that he was not a slick puck handler or a natural
scorer, so he set out to make a difference in front of the net and in
the corners; many of his goals came on deflections or rebounds, always
battling defensemen for position; this proved to be a winning formula
for him; in the 1993-1994 season, he scored 52 goals, which was a
Rangers record until Jaromir Jagr broke it with 54 in 2004-2005; and
WHEREAS, A model for all professional athletes, Adam Graves is a true
asset to society; with his success on the ice and his involvement in the
community, he has brought enduring honor to himself, the New York
Rangers, the game of hockey, and his teammates, as well as the City and
State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
note Adam Graves's worthy accomplishments and to inscribe upon its book
of records this tribute to Adam Graves that future generations may know
the respect and esteem in which he was held during his distinguished
career with the New York Rangers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Adam Graves.