President excited to welcome hometown Blackhawks

The Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks walked up onto risers on the South Lawn at 2:50 p.m., closely followed by President Barack Obama.

The President fired off a number of quips, like so many Patrick Kane wrist shots:

"This one is a little sweeter. ... It's the first time during my presidency I get to welcome a world champion from my hometown, Chicago."

"We are proud to have members of Congress (from Illinois) here today. You guys had nothing to do with it ... but I know you are big fans."

"I want to congratulate all of the fans. We have a proud tradtion 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. (Laughter.) The waiting builds character. We have a lot of character. (More laughter.)

"Now, I have to say, even by Chicago standards, 49 years, that's a pretty long time. To put that in perspective, the last time the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, a movie cost 69 cents. JFK had just moved into the White House. I was still in diapers. And when the legendary Glenn Hall played goalie for the Hawks, he did it with a wooden stick and no mask."


"What the Hawks visited Wrigle Field during the Crosstown Classic, they did something even tougher than winning the Cup–they got 40,000 White Sox and Cubs fans to stand up and cheer at the same time. (Lots of laughs.). That's never happened before."

"It's getting close to the playoffs so I would like to wish the team best of luck. I don't want to jinx anything, but with the Blackhawks having won eight of the last 10, it's about time for Patrick Kane to start growing the playoff mullet. I thought that looked pretty sharp. Because I want to see you back here next year."

The President spoke to an appreciative crowd heavy on player's families and school kids here for the First Lady's "Let's Move" event that directly follows.