WASHINGTON--In the wake of the Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory, President Obama on Thursday called Head Coach Joel Quenneville to congratulate him and invite the team to the White House. Obama asked Quenneville to "let team owner Rocky Wirtz and President John McDonough know how impressed he was with their ability to turn the team around so quickly."
Obama watched some of the playoffs, I was told. The Blackhawks bested the Philadelphia Flyers; Obama and Quenneville joked that Obama has some "bragging rights" over Vice President Biden, a Flyers fan.
Here's the briefing about the phone call I just got from the White House:
President Obama today called Chicago Blackhawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville to congratulate him on the team's Stanley Cup victory. The President asked Coach Quenneville to pass onto the team his congratulations and that, as a Chicagoan, he was proud of them. The pair joked that the President would now have bragging rights over Vice President Biden, a Philadelphia Flyers fan. President Obama also asked Coach Quenneville to let team owner Rocky Wirtz and President John McDonough know how impressed he was with their ability to turn the team around so quickly. He reiterated that the Blackhawks' victory was great for the city of Chicago and said he looked forward to welcoming the team at the White House.
Lynn Sweet is a columnist and the Washington Bureau Chief for the 
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I look forward to the day that the president calls L. Smith and invites the Bears to the White House, with Dan LeFevour as the team's starting quarterback.
Good on the President for calling Quenville. Hockey tends to be "an afterthought" to far too many Americans, but the Hawks deserve all of the praise they are getting for that run, even from this Leafs fan. Plus the chiding of Biden over the Flyers is brilliant! :) Congrats Hawks! Maybe my Leafs can be next?