Honor Sweet Home Hockey Champions

Senate Resolution No. 4447 BY: Senator RANZENHOFER CONGRATULATING the Sweet Home High School Boys Ice Hockey Team and Head Coach Dave Gerspach upon the occasion of capturing the NYSPHSAA Division 2 Championship on March 11, 2018 WHEREAS, Individual and team championships are highly sought after in high school sports; this Legislative Body commends rare athletic achievements and pays special recognition to those who pursue such excellence and become examples for the youth of this great Empire State; and WHEREAS, Athletic competition helps to enhance both the moral and physical development of young athletes, preparing them for the future by instilling in them the importance of teamwork, encouraging a standard of healthy living, and developing a sense of fair play and competition; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate the Sweet Home High School Boys Ice Hockey Team and Head Coach Dave Gerspach upon the occasion of capturing the NYSPHSAA Division 2 Championship; to the praise and applause of their excited fans, the Panthers defeated West Seneca West in an exciting 7-5 victory to capture the Championship on Sunday, March 11, 2018, at the HarborCenter in Buffalo, New York; and WHEREAS, This monumental win marked the Sweet Home High School Boys Ice Hockey Team's first Division 2 title, as well as the first in the school's history; after a slow start, the Panthers rebounded with six unanswered goals; five of the team's seven goals came on a power play; and WHEREAS, Proudly donning the school's colors of navy and old gold, family, friends, and the community at large loyally and enthusiastically supported the Panthers throughout their journey as they ended their season with an impressive 21-4-1 overall record; and WHEREAS, In a sport such as ice hockey, which demands athletic prowess, speed and agility, Head Coach Dave Gerspach and Assistant Coach Brian Turner worked hard to hone the skills of this championship team, teaching these outstanding athletes lessons which will prove invaluable both on and off the ice; and WHEREAS, Head Coach Dave Gerspach and all of the outstanding athletes on the Sweet Home High School Boys Ice Hockey Team have clearly utilized dedication, determination and teamwork in providing a lasting 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 members of the Sweet Home High School Boys Ice Hockey Team: Ian Burgess, Edward Gould, Tyler Turner, Joseph Torrillo, David Gardner, Andrew Czyz, Daniel Lund, Cole Feldmann, Alex Farkas, Patrick Derisley, Blake Russo, Tyler Edholm, Kyle Neudorf, Eric Abbate, Ryan Corrigan, Ryan Edholm, Colin Regian, Liam Kennedy, Anthony Genau, Collin Coogan, and Michael Lisman; Head Coach Dave Gerspach; and Assistant Coach Brian Turner upon the occasion of capturing the NYSPHSAA Division