Senate Resolution No. 1360

BY: Senator KENNEDY

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the
National Hockey League

WHEREAS, The great State of New York recognizes and appreciates the
importance of sports as a leisure activity, as an essential aspect of
our educational system, and as a profession, and applauds those who
devote themselves to training, often for many years, developing their
skills, honing their talents, and gaining mental acuity and a
well-earned sense of self-esteem; and

WHEREAS, New York State recognizes, as well, the great pleasure
sports bring to citizens all across the State as fans and spectators and
the enthusiasm, camaraderie and community spirit they engender, along
with a healthy competitive spirit; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the National Hockey League; and

WHEREAS, The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice
hockey league which is currently comprised of 30 clubs, 23 in the United
States, and seven in Canada; the 31st team, the 24th in the United
States, will begin to play in the fall of 2017; and

WHEREAS, Headquartered in Manhattan, New York, the NHL is considered
to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and one
of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and
Canada; the Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North
America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end
of each season; both the New York Rangers and the Islanders have each
won four Stanley Cups; and

WHEREAS, The National Hockey League was established on November 26,
1917, in Montreal, Quebec after the suspension of operations of its
predecessor organization, the National Hockey Association (NHA), which
had been founded in 1909 in Renfrew, Ontario; and

WHEREAS, The National Hockey League (NHL) was organized with six
original teams including the New York Rangers, which began playing in
1926, at Madison Square Garden in New York City; and

WHEREAS, Other New York teams included the Buffalo Sabres which
began to compete at the War Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York, in
1970, and the New York Islanders which entered the league in 1972,
playing in Long Island's Nassau Coliseum; and

WHEREAS, Each team has relocated to a new arena since its inception;
the Rangers moved to the new Madison Square Garden, the Islanders went
to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and the Sabres moved to
the KeyBank Center; and

WHEREAS, The New York professional hockey teams contribute a great
deal to New York's economy; a 2007 study done by St. John Fisher College

determined that the Buffalo Sabres bring in approximately $65 million to
the Buffalo economy every year, and according to the New York City
Economic Development Corporation, every Rangers playoff game nets local
businesses an extra $5.8 million; and

WHEREAS, Since purchasing the Buffalo Sabres in 2011, Terry Pegula
has been instrumental in building the HarborCenter, a multifaceted
complex containing two hockey rinks that has allowed Buffalo to host the
NHL Combine and the NHL Draft, bringing in millions of dollars to the
local economy; and

WHEREAS, During the 2016-2017 season, more than 1.7 million sports
enthusiasts attended an NHL hockey game in New York State; and

WHEREAS, In an effort to introduce the sport to more people, the
first NHL Winter Classic was held in Orchard Park, New York, at Ralph
Wilson Stadium on New Year's Day in 2008; four years later, the New York
Rangers participated in the 2012 NHL Winter Classic in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, The past and present members of the New York teams in the
NHL provide a legacy of commitment and excellence through their
purposeful lives and achievements, bringing them distinction as well as
serving as models of inspiration to all who would aspire to grow and
succeed; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the National Hockey League; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the National Hockey League.