White House welcomes Blackhawks
WASHINGTON — As overwhelmed as the Blackhawks were after winning the Stanley Cup last June, a similar feeling washed over them again Friday when they met President Barack Obama at the White House.
The President and first lady Michelle Obama honored the Hawks for their 2010 Stanley Cup championship in a ceremony on the South Lawn.
Before being saluted, the Hawks toured the White House and had a private 20-minute meet-and-greet session with the President.
“It was awesome,” Patrick Kane said. “I think when it's happening it's kind of surreal that it's really going on and you don't really believe you're meeting the President. I think a lot of us when it was happening were thinking this is probably one of the cooler things we've done.”
President Obama gave an entertaining speech, mentioning Kane's playoff mullet and the seven teeth Duncan Keith lost on the ice during the Western Conference finals against San Jose. He also singled out the leadership of coach Joel Quenneville and captain Jonathan Toews.
“It was a team built around people like Coach Q, who brought years of experience and focus to the bench — players like 22-year-old captain Jonathan Toews, who lit up the ice on his way to being named playoff MVP,” the President said.
“There's Patrick Kane, who scored the biggest goal in franchise history in the overtime to win the Cup. And when Duncan Keith had seven of his teeth knocked out by a puck — seven — some of you guys there, you're missing a few, he's missing seven at one time. But he bit down on some gauze, took a shot of Novocain, and headed right back out onto the ice.
“They did all this for their fans. And along the way, they helped Chicago become a hockey town again.”
The President mentioned how he plays host to various sports championship teams during the course of a year but that having the Hawks at the White House meant a little more to him.
“Now, we have hosted a lot of teams at the White House over the last two years, but this one is a little sweeter,” the President said. “It's pretty special. That's because it is the first time as President I get to say congratulations on bringing a world championship to my hometown, the city of Chicago.
“We have a proud tradition in Chicago of believing that no matter how long it takes, how much we have to endure, it's only a matter of time before our team finally wins it all. The waiting builds character. We have a lot of character.
“This was the kind of tough, talented, selfless team that Chicago had been waiting for.”
President Obama greeted each player and front office person, including chairman Rocky Wirtz and team president John McDonough, individually before the ceremony.
“He's a very charismatic guy,” Kane said. “That's probably one of the reasons he's got the job he does. From what I hear he's never been to a hockey game, but surprisingly enough he seemed to know a lot at about it.”
Quenneville said the President seemed to enjoy being around a hockey team.
“He seemed really genuine, a regular guy, bubbly and enjoyed meeting all the guys,” Quenneville said. “Going through and meeting all the players, we had some guys who were bandaged up, some guys missing teeth — we had a tough looking group.”
McDonough presented the President with a red Blackhawks No. 44 jersey and Toews gave him a miniature Stanley Cup. One of the Hawks let the commander in chief try on his $30,000 Stanley Cup ring.
“That's what you call some bling right there,” the President said before telling the Hawks he wanted to see them back next year.
“Because it's almost playoff time again, I want to wish these guys the best of luck going into the postseason,” the President said. “I don't want to jinx anything, but after winning eight of their last 10 games, I think it might be time for Patrick to start growing that playoff mullet again. I thought it was pretty sharp.
“And let me, yes, just say to all the Bears fans, Bulls fans, White Sox fans ... and Cubs fans, I want to see all of you sometime soon, as well.”
Patrick Sharp called it a special day, but he didn't think it was something the Hawks needed to finally bring closure to last season's championship run.
“To be honest with you, I think a lot of guys have turned the page on the celebrating and talking about last year,” Sharp said. “It was a great day to meet the President, but we're focused on playing our best hockey right now and know how important the last stretch of games are.”