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2009 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 876
Commending the Richmond Royals Bantam A youth ice hockey team.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 10, 2009
Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 2009

 

WHEREAS, the Richmond Royals were formed in 1995 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering both Select and Travel amateur ice hockey programs for young men and women in the greater Richmond area; and

WHEREAS, the Richmond Royals field 10 competitive teams comprised of 170 youth players in the Capital Beltway Hockey League (CBHL); and

WHEREAS, the Richmond Royals Bantam A is currently in first place in the Bantam Patrick Upper division of the CBHL, a league sanctioned by the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association (PVAHA) and the Tier II program in USA Hockey’s Southeast Region; and

WHEREAS, in November 2008, the Richmond Royals Bantam A team was a finalist in the Eastern Regional Silver Stick Tournament, held over the Thanksgiving weekend in Laurel, Maryland, losing in a tough, physical match to the New Jersey Bandits in the championship game; and

WHEREAS, as tournament finalists, the Royals Bantam A team qualified to represent the Eastern Region and the CBHL in the 2009 International Silver Stick “C” Finals Tournament, in Forest, Ontario, Canada, against regional finalists from throughout the United States and Canada; and

WHEREAS, since its founding in 1958 in Richmond, Ontario, the mission of the International Silver Stick Hockey Association has been to promote citizenship and international goodwill and to foster sportsmanship through international competition for youth of all nations; and

WHEREAS, the Royal Bantam A team made a strong showing in the tournament, defeating their first opponent, the Ilderton Jets from Ilderton, Ontario, by a score of 4 - 1; and

WHEREAS, despite a close loss in their second game against the Monarchs of Mildmay, Ontario, the Royals rallied to dominate and win their third game against the Omemee, Ontario, Sharks by a score of 6 - 2; and

WHEREAS, the Royals Bantam A team was seeded second in their division going into the semi-finals, where they faced the Rangers of Belmont, Ontario, and despite a gutsy display of physical courage, penalty-killing, and stick handling, were defeated by a score of 4 - 2, earning the admiration of the Canadian players and fans, and confirming for our friends to the north that youth ice hockey is alive and strong in Richmond, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, by advancing to the semi-finals game of the International Silver Stick Tournament, the Bantam A team advanced further than any other Royals team in the 17-year history of Richmond youth ice hockey; and

WHEREAS, the success of the Royal Bantam A team was achieved by a collective effort of unselfish team play, hard work, and disciplined adherence to its offensive and defensive systems by every player on the team; and

WHEREAS, Ryan Barnard (10), Jonathan Barni (92), Michael Blackwell (99), Sarah Clark (12), Daniel Dolliver (60), Kyle Festa (20), Ben Foley (48), Mike Gefell (42), Logan Gruhl (24), Robert Janis (2), Chris May (26), Kevin McCollum (9), Brendan Myers (40), Nick Pierce (88), Tyler Valasek (66), Alex Vela (17), David Walsh (77), Brendan Williams (67), and Joey Zielinski (14) are exemplary goodwill ambassadors of the community and the Commonwealth throughout the United States and Canada; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend and congratulate the Richmond Royals Bantam A youth ice hockey team for reaching the semi-finals of the International Silver Stick "C" Finals Tournament in Forest, Ontario; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Bantam A Head Coach Scott Gruhl and Richmond Royals President Jeff Finch as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the Royals’ great success.