Three of New York State's most powerful politicians aren't giving up on getting Union and Clarkson their day at the White House for winning their respective NCAA Division I hockey championships in 2014.
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| Union celebrates its NCAA title on April 12, 2014 in Philadelphia, PA. photo credit: Union College |
The decision was a break from tradition as championship teams in NCAA men's and women's hockey are routinely honored at the White House. The Yale men's team and Minnesota women's team were honored after their 2013 titles.
The letter that Schumer, Gillibrand and Tonko sent to President Barack Obama is below in its entirety:
"Dear Mr. President,
We write to urge the White House to reconsider its recent decision to forego an official ceremony congratulating the Union College Dutchmen as the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey National Champions, and the Clarkson University Golden Knights as the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey National Champions.
Union’s journey to the 2014 Frozen Four was a historic one, ending in an overwhelming upset victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, a traditional college hockey powerhouse, by a score of 7-4. The Dutchmen’s storybook season and unlikely path to collegiate hockey’s top prize is just one of many reasons for the White House to avoid breaking with tradition and honor coach Rick Bennett and his team, as it has done with previous champions in years past, including Yale, Boston College, and Minnesota.
To win the 2014 National Championship, Clarkson University defeated the University of Minnesota 5–4 in the national championship game, in the process becoming the fourth school to have won a National Collegiate championship. This championship was the first by a team not from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as well as the first by a team from the Eastern United States.
The opportunity to meet the President of the United States in a ceremony that honors our nation’s student athletes who reach the pinnacle of their sport is a time honored tradition. We are joined by Union College President, Stephen Ainlay and Clarkson University President Tony Collins, in respectfully asking you to bestow this honor on the 2014 Union College men’s and Clarkson University women’s hockey teams, and we thank you very much for your consideration."
The letter that Schumer, Gillibrand and Tonko sent to President Barack Obama is below in its entirety:
"Dear Mr. President,
We write to urge the White House to reconsider its recent decision to forego an official ceremony congratulating the Union College Dutchmen as the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey National Champions, and the Clarkson University Golden Knights as the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey National Champions.
Union’s journey to the 2014 Frozen Four was a historic one, ending in an overwhelming upset victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, a traditional college hockey powerhouse, by a score of 7-4. The Dutchmen’s storybook season and unlikely path to collegiate hockey’s top prize is just one of many reasons for the White House to avoid breaking with tradition and honor coach Rick Bennett and his team, as it has done with previous champions in years past, including Yale, Boston College, and Minnesota.
To win the 2014 National Championship, Clarkson University defeated the University of Minnesota 5–4 in the national championship game, in the process becoming the fourth school to have won a National Collegiate championship. This championship was the first by a team not from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as well as the first by a team from the Eastern United States.
The opportunity to meet the President of the United States in a ceremony that honors our nation’s student athletes who reach the pinnacle of their sport is a time honored tradition. We are joined by Union College President, Stephen Ainlay and Clarkson University President Tony Collins, in respectfully asking you to bestow this honor on the 2014 Union College men’s and Clarkson University women’s hockey teams, and we thank you very much for your consideration."
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