OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
June 25, 2014
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a congratulatory resolution concerning the RIC Blackhawk Sled Hockey Team.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Mayor
Very truly yours,
H resolution
adopud by Tlie Gity Gouncil pf the Qity of Gkicago, Illinois
presented by MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL QM JUNE 25, 2014
^QllBtBClS Two members of Chicago's own RIC Blackhawk Sled Hockey Team, Kevin McKee and Brody Roybal, earned the honor of being selected to represent the United States at the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia; and
WHEREAS, On Saturday, March 15th, 2014, the U.S. team won the gold medal by defeating the home team in a 1 -0 thriller; and
WHEREAS, With this victory over Russia, the United States became the first nation to win back-to-back Paralympic gold medals in sled hockey; and
WHEREAS, On April 3rd, 2014, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the U.S. Paralympic Team at the White House, celebrating the sled hockey team's historic gold-medal performance; and
WHEREAS, Sled hockey provides athletes with physical disabilities such as lost limbs, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and stroke-induced paralysis the opportunity to participate in high-intensity team competition; and
WHEREAS, The RIC Blackhawks Sled Hockey Team, a partnership between the Chicago Park District and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago that is funded, in part, by Blackhawks Charities, includes a core group of players from Chicagoland, as well as independent players from different parts of the country, and competes in the United States Sled Hockey Association; and
WHEREAS, The RIC Blackhawks's Kevin McKee, who has played on the national sled hockey team since 2010, made his Paralympic debut in Sochi; and
WHEREAS, The RIC Blackhawks's Brody Roybal, who, at 15 years old, is the youngest player on the U.S. national team, also made his Paralympic debut this year, scoring two goals in the team's qualifying-round game against Italy; and
WHEREAS, McKee and Roybal's journey to Paralympic gold is a testament to the dedication of Daniel Tun, their coach on RIC Blackhawks for the past four years; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here on this twenty-fifth day of June, 2014, do hereby join all Chicagoans in congratulating RIC Blackhawks Sled Hockey Team members Kevin McKee and Brody Roybal, and their coach, Dan Tun, for their contributions to the United States Paralympic movement and for their commitment to sportsmanship that breaks barriers and serves to inspire us all; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be prepared and presented to Kevin McKee, Brody Roybal, and Dan Tun as a sign of our pride and good wishes.