LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the New Hartford Spartans upon the
occasion of capturing the Division II New York State Public High School
Athletic Association Hockey Championship

WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be achieved
only through strenuous practice, team play and team spirit, nurtured by
dedicated coaching and strategic planning; and
WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical develop-
ment of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by
instilling in them the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of
healthy living, imparting a desire for success and developing a sense of
fair play and competition; and
WHEREAS, On Sunday, March 14, 2010, the Spartans of New Hartford High
School captured their second straight Division II New York State Public
High School Athletic Association Hockey Championship by defeating
Queensbury 5-2 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium; New Hartford is the
first Division II team to win back-to-back New York State titles since
2005-06; and
WHEREAS, The New Hartford Spartans advanced to the finals of the New
York State Hockey Championship with a 6-0 shutout win over Plattsburgh
of Section VII in the semifinals; earlier, New Hartford defeated Rome
Free Academy 7-3 in the Section III Division II semifinals before claim-
ing the sectional title over Cazenovia in a 3-2 overtime win; and
WHEREAS, One of the most respected hockey programs in New York State,
the New Hartford Spartans compiled an outstanding 21-4-1 record during
the 2009-2010 season; in addition to winning the Division II New York
State title, the Spartans repeated as League and Section III champions,
and recorded a signature win for the program over top-ranked Section V
powerhouse Webster Thomas in a memorable 5-4 triple overtime win in the
regional final; and
WHEREAS, The athletic talent displayed by this team is due in great
part to the efforts of Head Coach John Cunningham, and his talented
Assistant Coaches, Carson Cunningham and Jerry Malloy, skilled and
inspirational mentors, respected for their ability to develop potential
into excellence; they have done a superb job in guiding, molding and
inspiring the 2009-2010 New Hartford High School Hockey Team members
toward their goals; and
WHEREAS, In 2009-2010, Head Coach John Cunningham was named the OBSER-
VER-DISPATCH All-Mohawk Valley Ice Hockey Coach of the Year; during the
season, Coach Cunningham recorded his 300th career coaching victory; in
his 20 seasons as New Hartford's Head Coach his record is an outstanding
303-149-23; and
WHEREAS, In addition to being named the All-Mohawk Valley Ice Hockey
Coach of the Year, Coach John Cunningham was honored as the 2009-2010
New York State Division II Coach of the Year; during his coaching
tenure, his teams have won three state championships and five Section
III titles; and
WHEREAS, The 2009-2010 New Hartford High School Hockey Team's overall
record is outstanding, and the team members were loyally and enthusi-
astically supported by family, fans, friends and the community at large;
and
WHEREAS, The hallmarks of the 2009-2010 New Hartford High School Hock-
ey Team, from the opening game of the season to its participation in
league play and in the New York State Public High School Athletic Asso-
ciation championship tournaments, were a brotherhood of athletic abili-
ty, of good sportsmanship, of honor and of scholarship, demonstrating
that these team players are second to none; and

WHEREAS, Athletically and academically, the team members have proven
themselves to be an unbeatable combination of talents, reflecting favor-
ably on their school and community; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment; Head Coach John Cunningham, his coaching staff, and the
2009-2010 New Hartford High School Hockey Team's outstanding athletes
have clearly made a contribution to the spirit of excellence which is a
tradition of their school; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the 2009-2010 New Hartford High School Hockey Team; its
members: Joseph Betar, Michael Critelli, Peter Davidson, Nicholis
Decrisci, Eric Fitzgerald, Jason Fitzgerald, Alexander Fukes, Joseph
Holmes, Timothy Knaul, Tyler Kraft, Spencer Landry, Christopher Luker,
Kristofer Martinelli, Nicholas Mercurio, Greyden Nimey, Thomas Nitti,
Michael Rich, Daniel Sheets, Conrad Stafford, Nicholas Suits, Giovanni
Vitagliano, and Clayton Whittemore; Head Coach John Cunningham, and
Assistant Coaches Carson Cunningham and Jerry Malloy on their Division
II New York State Public High School Athletic Association Hockey Champi-
onship, their League and Section III championships, and their outstand-
ing season and overall team record; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the members and coaching staff of the 2009-2010 New Hartford
High School Hockey Team.