WASHINGTON — The most coveted trophy in sports, the iconic Stanley Cup, handed to the winner of the NHL Championship series was in the Nation’s capital Thursday, as members of the World Champion Pittsburgh Penguins visited the White House.
The President welcomed the Pens, who in one week will host the rivals Capitals in Pittsburgh for both teams’ regular season opener, where the Penguins will raise their championship banner, in front of the team that was heavily favored to win it all last season.
The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Caps lost in six games to the eventual Stanley Cup-winning Penguins in the second round of the 2015-16 playoffs. Two former Capitals — Washington’s first-round draft pick in 2003 Eric Fehr, and Steven Olesky — were with the Washington franchise in 2015. On Thursday the team visited the White House, where the Penguins became the very first NHL team to visit Pennsylvania Avenue back in 1991, after defeating the Minnesota North Stars in 6 games.
The President noted he has welcomed eight NHL champion teams during his presidency, also stating he had welcomed the Penguins as champions in his first year in the White House, and a lot has changed since then.
“Back in 2009, my hair matched the color of the puck more than the ice,” said Obama.
The Penguins were also recognized, as all teams that visit the White House are, for their charitable efforts to the community. The team was honored for Project PowerPlay, an initiative that introduces members of the Pittsburgh community to the sport of Hockey.
Pittsburgh has won the Stanley Cup four times in five trips to the NHL Finals and will celebrate its 50th season in the league this year at newly named PPG Paints Arena, (formerly known as Consol Energy Center) which opened in 2010.
The Capitals, who begin their 43rd season in the NHL, will hold their Annual Media Luncheon next Tuesday, and will play their final preseason game this Sunday at 5 p.m. at Verizon Center. Washington will host the Penguins twice this season, Nov. 16 and Jan. 11, and will travel to Pittsburgh for next Thursday’s season opener and again on Jan. 16. The Caps home opener will be on Oct. 15 against the N.Y. Islanders
