Whereas, Michigan has nearly 70,000 registered hockey players, coaches, and officials, and nearly 5,000 registered teams, more than any other state in the nation; and,
Whereas, The Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League, with 15,000 players, and 850 teams, is the largest hockey league in America; and,
Whereas, Michigan has celebrated 10 Stanley Cup championships won by the Detroit Red Wings, more than any state in our nation, and the University of Michigan has captured 9 NCAA national championships, more than any school in the nation; and,
Whereas, Michigan is also home to six other professional hockey teams, nine Division I college teams, and over 200 sanctioned boys' and girls' high school teams; and,
Whereas, The man universally recognized as "Mr. Hockey," Gordie Howe, permanently resides in Metro Detroit, otherwise known as "Hockeytown"; and,
Whereas, Chris Conner of Westland became the most recent Michigander to ascend to the NHL when he debuted for the Dallas Stars on December 8, 2006, and scored his first NHL goal on December 27, 2006; and,
Whereas, The world record attendance at a hockey game, 75,544, was set in East Lansing, Michigan, at a match between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, on October 6, 2001; and,
Whereas, More people watch hockey on television in Michigan than any other state; and now therefore be it,
Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim February 10, 2007, as Hockey Day in Michigan.