RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Manchester Monarchs, led by Team Captain Vincent LoVerde, a lifelong Chicagoan, recently won the Calder Cup for the first time in the team's history; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has been advised of the memorable achievement by the Honorable Matthew J. O'Shea, Alderman of the 19th Ward, and Honorable Patrick J. O'Connor, Alderman of the 40th Ward; and
WHEREAS, the American Hockey League is comprised of thirty teams across North America which are each affiliated with a National Hockey League Team; and
WHEREAS, the American Hockey League is considered the second best professional hockey league in the world, where last season 83% of the National Hockey League's players had played in the American Hockey League; and
WHEREAS, the Manchester Monarchs are the American Hockey League affiliate ofthe Los Angeles Kings and the Monarchs were a team that played with resilience, skill, toughness and most importantly a team first mentality all season long; and
WHEREAS, in the 2014-15 regular season the Monarchs, with 109 points, captured the Kilpatrick Trophy for the most points in the league; and
WHEREAS, on June 13, 2015 in game five of the League Championship finals, the Monarchs beat the Vancouver Canucks' affiliate the Utica Comets by a final score of 2-1 to capture their first Calder Cup Championship in team history; and
WHEREAS, Monarchs Defenseman and Team Captain Vincent LoVerde had 10 points and a plus/minus +13 to lead all defensemen in the playoffs; and
WHEREAS, Vincent scored the game winning goal in the final game and was presented with the Calder Cup Trophy on behalf of his team and organization: and
WHEREAS, Vincent will begin his fifth season as a professional hockey player after recently signing a two-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings; and
WHEREAS, prior to Vincent's professional hockey career, he was born and raised in Chicago's Beverly community, where he graduated from Saint Barnabas Catholic Grammar School, Saint Rita High School, and Miami University (OH) where he graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance; and
WHEREAS, Vincent LoVerde has inspired the next generation of Chicago hockey players not only through his championship play, but also his championship character and sportsmanship; now, therefore,
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BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, assembled here this 29th day of July, 2015, do hereby honor and congratulate the players, coaches and administration of Manchester Monarch's, the 2015 Calder Cup Champions, and especially team captain Vincent LoVerde; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that suitable copies ofthis Resolution be presented to the team, as a token of our esteem and appreciation.