Champions Descend on White House With Stanley Cup and Obama (#44) Jersey
In a brief ceremony in the East Room of the White House, President Obama honored members of the 2009 Stanley Cup champions.
"This is by far the most fun thing that I'm doing today", said the president.
With the members of the Pittsburgh Penguins joined on stage, along with coach Dan Bylsma, president Obama congratulated the team for their hard work, and community service.
"It takes a group of players who can persevere through injuries and pain and setbacks and seven game series. Above all, it takes a team that is willing to stick together, because nobody wins the Stanley Cup on their own."
Earlier in the day the Penguins held a youth camp at Fort Dupont Ice Arena as part of the 'United We Serve' summer of service where the team stressed the importance of staying in school and leading active and healthy lifestyles.
"Service is a way of life for these players back in Pittsburgh. That's what the Stanley Cup is all about -- not just having your names engraved alongside the best players in history, but also giving back to others along the way. And this spirit of service helps to strengthen our communities, it strengthens our country -- and I know this team gets a lot in return for it as well."
Among the participants on the day, Mr. Willie O'Ree, one of the first African American hockey players to play in the NHL. O'Ree helped engage the youth in hockey moves and a few plays.
"Willie is a hockey pioneer in his own right, who has worked tirelessly to make sure kids from every background can learn the lessons that hockey has to offer", added the president.
Not forgetting our own Capitals, who played like champions in the NHL playoffs against the Penguins, Obama said, "The last time this team was here was during the playoffs against the Washington Capitals. It was a hard fought series, but it showed everybody how enthusiastic our hockey fans are also here in the Nation's Capital."
A hard fought series indeed. One that had Penguins' captain, Sidney Crosby, at odds with Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin. The Penguins eliminated the Capitals, 6-2, in Game 7 of the NHL playoffs.
We asked Crosby what his relationship with Ovechkin is like these days.
"We cross paths when we have to play each other, but other than that, we don't really keep in touch."
At the time of this article's publication, the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers won their 7th straight season opener - this time against the Tennessee Titans, 13-10, in overtime.
"With the Steelers and the Penguins, I guess it's a good time to be a sports fan in Pittsburgh", joked President Obama.
View the festivities here.
Above: Members of Hockey In the Hood, a youth hockey group from Pittsburgh led by coach Howard Smith introduces minority and low income children to the sport of hockey.
Above: Youth from the Fort Dupont Ice Arena . The FDIA is an ice skating program for children ages 5 to 18 years old, offering free lessons (with all equipment provided) in skating, intermediate and advanced figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, as well as schools and fitness skating camps.
Also in attendance: Penguins' owner, Mario Lemieux; Pittsburgh Mayor, Luke Ravenstahl; Senator Arlen Specter, and Agricultural Secretary, Tom Vilsack, who grew up in Pittsburgh.
Outside the White House were several Pittsburgh Penguin fans, many who live locally, but hail from the Pittsburg areas.
Even the two year old knew the Penguins won the Stanley Cup.
Above: Fans wait outside the White House for any glimpse of the reigning Pittsburgh Penguins.
[All photos: CD Brown/DC UrbanSports]
In a brief ceremony in the East Room of the White House, President Obama honored members of the 2009 Stanley Cup champions.
"This is by far the most fun thing that I'm doing today", said the president.
With the members of the Pittsburgh Penguins joined on stage, along with coach Dan Bylsma, president Obama congratulated the team for their hard work, and community service.
"It takes a group of players who can persevere through injuries and pain and setbacks and seven game series. Above all, it takes a team that is willing to stick together, because nobody wins the Stanley Cup on their own."
Earlier in the day the Penguins held a youth camp at Fort Dupont Ice Arena as part of the 'United We Serve' summer of service where the team stressed the importance of staying in school and leading active and healthy lifestyles.
"Service is a way of life for these players back in Pittsburgh. That's what the Stanley Cup is all about -- not just having your names engraved alongside the best players in history, but also giving back to others along the way. And this spirit of service helps to strengthen our communities, it strengthens our country -- and I know this team gets a lot in return for it as well."
Among the participants on the day, Mr. Willie O'Ree, one of the first African American hockey players to play in the NHL. O'Ree helped engage the youth in hockey moves and a few plays."Willie is a hockey pioneer in his own right, who has worked tirelessly to make sure kids from every background can learn the lessons that hockey has to offer", added the president.
Not forgetting our own Capitals, who played like champions in the NHL playoffs against the Penguins, Obama said, "The last time this team was here was during the playoffs against the Washington Capitals. It was a hard fought series, but it showed everybody how enthusiastic our hockey fans are also here in the Nation's Capital."
A hard fought series indeed. One that had Penguins' captain, Sidney Crosby, at odds with Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin. The Penguins eliminated the Capitals, 6-2, in Game 7 of the NHL playoffs. We asked Crosby what his relationship with Ovechkin is like these days.
"We cross paths when we have to play each other, but other than that, we don't really keep in touch."
At the time of this article's publication, the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers won their 7th straight season opener - this time against the Tennessee Titans, 13-10, in overtime.
"With the Steelers and the Penguins, I guess it's a good time to be a sports fan in Pittsburgh", joked President Obama.
View the festivities here.
Above: Members of Hockey In the Hood, a youth hockey group from Pittsburgh led by coach Howard Smith introduces minority and low income children to the sport of hockey.
Above: Youth from the Fort Dupont Ice Arena . The FDIA is an ice skating program for children ages 5 to 18 years old, offering free lessons (with all equipment provided) in skating, intermediate and advanced figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, as well as schools and fitness skating camps. Also in attendance: Penguins' owner, Mario Lemieux; Pittsburgh Mayor, Luke Ravenstahl; Senator Arlen Specter, and Agricultural Secretary, Tom Vilsack, who grew up in Pittsburgh.
Outside the White House were several Pittsburgh Penguin fans, many who live locally, but hail from the Pittsburg areas.
Even the two year old knew the Penguins won the Stanley Cup.
Above: Fans wait outside the White House for any glimpse of the reigning Pittsburgh Penguins.
[All photos: CD Brown/DC UrbanSports]
Comments
We want a winning team, and we got found them in Pittsburgh.