LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Union College Men's Hockey
Team and Coach Rick Bennett upon the occasion of capturing the NCAA
Division 1 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, The Union College Men's Hockey Team are the NCAA Division 1
Champions; they defeated Minnesota with an impressive 7-4 victory before
a crowd of 18,742, on Saturday, April 12, 2014, at the Wells Fargo
Center in Philadelphia; this championship earned Union College its first
NCAA Division 1 Championship in any sport; and
WHEREAS, The Union Dutchmen Hockey Team advanced to the championship
game after defeating Boston College 5-4 on Thursday, April 10, 2014,
before more than 17,000 spectators; and
WHEREAS, Loyally and enthusiastically supported by family, fans,
friends and the community at large, the Dutchmen finished their
outstanding season with a record of 32-6-4, the most wins in the 71-sea-
son history of Union Hockey; in addition, they captured the ECAC regular
season title as well as the ECAC hockey championship; and
WHEREAS, Four members of this extraordinary team received AHCA/CCM
All-America Honors, they are: Mat Bodie and Shayne Gostisbehere, named
to the East First Team, and Daniel Carr and Colin Stevens, named to the
East Second Team; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1795, Union College, located in Schenectady, New
York, is a small liberal arts institution with an enrollment of approxi-
mately 2,100 full-time students; and
WHEREAS, The athletic talent displayed by this team is due in great
part to the efforts of Coach Rick Bennett, a skilled and inspirational
tutor, respected for his ability to develop potential into excellence;
and
WHEREAS, The hallmarks of the Union College Men's Hockey Team, from
the opening game of the season to participation in the championship,
were a brotherhood of athletic ability, of good sportsmanship, of honor
and of scholarship, demonstrating that these team players are second to
none; and
WHEREAS, Athletically and academically, the Union team members have
proven themselves to be an unbeatable combination of talents, reflecting
favorably on their school; they are true role models for all collegiate
athletic teams across the Nation; and
WHEREAS, Coach Rick Bennett, along with Assistant Coaches Joe Dumais
and Jason Tapp, and Volunteer Assistant Coach John Ronan, have done a
superb job in guiding, molding and inspiring the team members toward
their goals; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and Coach Rick Bennett and the 27 outstanding athletes
have clearly made a contribution to the spirit of excellence which is a
tradition of their school; this impressive achievement is a source of
considerable pride for the College, the City and County of Schenectady,
and the entire State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the Union College Men's Hockey Team; its members: Mark

Bennett, Mat Bodie, Daniel Carr, Daniel Ciampini, Sam Coatta, Nick
Cruice, Theo DiPauli, Sebastien Gingras, Alex Gonye, Shayne Gostisbeh-
ere, Matt Hatch, Noah Henry, Cole Ikkala, Matt Krug, Eli Lichtenwald,
Griffyn Martin, Max Novak, Dillon Pieri, Michael Pontarelli, David Roy,
Alex Sakellaropoulos, Colin Stevens, Kevin Sullivan, Jeff Taylor, Char-
lie Vasaturo, Mike Vecchione, and Matt Wilkins; Coach Rick Bennett,
Assistant Coaches Joe Dumais and Jason Tapp, and Volunteer Assistant
Coach John Ronan on their outstanding season and overall team record;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Union College Men's Hockey Team and Coach Rick Bennett.