State of Vermont
Senate Chamber
Montpelier, Vermont
Joint Senate Resolution
www.leg.state.vt.us
By Senators Costes and Kittell,
J.R.S. 124. Joint resolution congratulating the Bellows Free Academy-St. Albans Comets' 2002 state championship girls' ice hockey team.
Whereas, throughout the 2001-2002 season, the reigning state champion Bellows Free Academy-St. Albans girls’ ice hockey team faced off against their competitors skillfully and enthusiastically, and
Whereas, these talented young ladies from St. Albans and surrounding communities were determined, for a second consecutive year, to emerge victorious as the state champions, and
Whereas, the second-seeded Comets earned a well-deserved championship contest berth, and faced off for the divisional title against the Hartford High School Hurricanes at Norwich University’s Kreitzburg Arena, and
Whereas, while the Hurricanes scored the opening goal, the Comets quickly rebounded as senior Meredith Johnson, with welcomed support from linemates Erin Guertin and Sara Choiniere, scored with 2:40 remaining in the first period, and
Whereas, after a scoreless second period, in which the Comets’ goalie Amanda Gage’s agile defensive skill was prominently displayed, the Comets and Hurricanes remained tied at 1-all, and
Whereas, when the Hurricanes scored with 5:32 1eft in the third period, and assumed a 2-1 lead, the Comets’ victory prospects appeared in peril, and
Whereas, the evening’s true excitement began when Comets Coach Luke Cioffi decided to liberate goalie Amanda Gage from her usual post to join the offense with just over a minute remaining in regulation play, and
Whereas, with her team’s truly full on-ice support, ninth grader Ashley
Whitehouse tied the game as she scored only 43.7 seconds before the third period’s final whistle, and
Whereas, magic was truly an essential ingredient in the Comets’ victory as senior Kristine Dodd, who, despite having arthritis and a heart condition, is her team’s leading scorer, scored the winning goal with one minute and 41 seconds to go in the overtime period, and
Whereas, everyone on this storybook team’s entire roster, including Jenna Bushey, Jenna Stanley, Caitlin Malboeuf, Sara Choiniere, Renee Boudreau, Caroline Robertson, Emmy Handy, Kiley Manahan, Amanda Gage, Angela Palmer, Ellen Sargent, Meghan Heald, Melissa Bocash, Amanda Thomas, Kristine Dodd, Erin Guertin, Ashley Whitehouse, Betsy Viens, Meredith Johnson and Kate Greenwood, and valued team manager Aimee Beaupre, each contributed to the Comets’ championship victory and outstanding 16-5-1 season record, and
Whereas, the Comets’ superb coaching staff, consisting of Head Coach Luke Cioffi and Assistant Coaches Jeff Rouleau and Jeff Moulton, were wonderful leaders, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly congratulates the Bellows Free Academy Comets’ 2002 state championship girls’ ice hockey team, and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Luke Cioffi at Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans.
www.leg.state.vt.us
______ATTESTED TO:
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
______
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES David A. Gibson
Secretary of the Senate
www.leg.state.vt.us