September 6, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 142 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





             RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF NEAL HENDERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 6, 2019

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in congratulating Coach Neal Henderson on 
his induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Over the past 40 
years, Coach Henderson has led the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club, known 
as the Cannons.
  Henderson fell in love with hockey at a young age when his father, a 
Merchant Marine, was stationed in St. Catharines, Ontario during World 
War II. After moving back to the U.S., he settled in the District of 
Columbia in the 1960s with his family. He shared his love of hockey 
with those willing to learn and soon recognized interest in the game 
far exceeded the narrow streets of the District where he taught 
neighborhood kids.
  To meet the demand, Henderson started renting ice space at the Fort 
Dupont Ice Arena and, in 1978, he established the Cannons with his high 
school classmate, Betty Dean. For the next 40 years, he coached the 
Cannons at Fort Dupont Ice Arena and continues to be a community icon. 
Coach Henderson saw hockey as an opportunity to give youth from 
predominantly low-income communities a chance to play and develop 
greater connections through the game. Henderson's Fort Dupont Ice 
Hockey Club is a developmental program that provides local and inner-
city youth with the opportunity to participate in an organized ice 
hockey program. The team colors are black, gold and white, symbolic of 
African-American history in the District--black soldiers, brass buttons 
and white officers.
  The Cannons is one of the oldest minority hockey club in North 
America. The team is made up of 50 players between the ages of 8-18 
predominantly from Southwest and Northwest D.C. neighborhoods and has 
been recognized by the Washington Capitals. Henderson and his players 
had the unique opportunity to touch the Stanley Cup in June 2018 when 
the Capitals came to Fort Dupont.
  Henderson's organization has supported over 1,000 children since its 
inception in 1978 and encourages students to succeed beyond the rink. 
Coach Henderson's program has an 85% high school graduation rate, and 
he incorporates educational activities, such as visits to museums and 
colleges, when the team travels for tournaments.
  Henderson embodies the best values of the District of Columbia and 
its residents. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to 
join me in recognizing Neal Henderson for his achievements and 
contributions to the District of Columbia and its children, and for his 
well-deserved induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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