South Lawn
2:16 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: (Applause.) Clapping for you guys. (Removes sunglasses.) I'm going to put them back on. (Puts sunglasses back on.) (Laughs.)
Hello, everyone. Welcome. Welcome to the White House. I see a couple of future All-Americans right there in the front row.
You know, if there's a little extra excitement around the White House today, it's probably because the Cup is in the building. (Applause.)
And we're here today to congratulate and welcome to the White House the Stanley Cup Champion, Tampa Bay Lightning. (Applause.)
To the players and coaches; and to the owner, Jeff; everyone involved in this team: It's an honor to have you all here. And it's great to see Congresswoman Castor. There she is. I know. She's holding — you think I didn't see you holding up that sign? (Laughter.) You know, and Mayor Jane Castor. And they're not related. (Laughter.) I tell you. (Laughs.)
Anyway, I want to thank Commissioner Gary Bettman and — for being here as well.
And at the risk of stating the obvious here, it's a pretty good time to be a sports fan in Tampa. (Applause.) I don't know what the hell you have in the water down there — (laughter) — but, over the last — please, have a seat. Don't stand because of me. I am so sorry. See, the congresswoman knew to sit down immediately. (Laughter.)
You know, the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl, the Rays won the pennant, and these guys behind me became back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions. (Applause.) And they may be here next year. Who knows?
Well, I don't know — I don't know why they keep moving everything so quickly here, but with your — (laughter) — you all saw that, right?
PARTICIPANT: We can't keep up either.
THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible.) They're seeing if I'm on my toes (inaudible). (Laughter.)
But I really did worry about whether you got something in the water down there. It's — with your victory last season, this team joined rare company. One of only eight teams over the last century to win two Stanley Cups in a row. In the last century. And I know that those two championships were very different.
In 2020, your fans watched you win from thousands of miles away as you competed in "The Bubble" in Edmonton due to the pandemic.
But this past season, you got to deliver something truly special: hosting the Cup in your — on your home ice in front of the Tampa faithful.
And don't underestimate what that feeling meant to so many fans, especially kids, and lifelong memories you created for countless families.
Folks, the victory capped off an incredible run by one of the most well-rounded teams in recent memory, with outstanding players at every level, led by your captain, the Lightning stalwart of 14 seasons. Steve, 14 seasons?
MR. STAMKOS: Yep.
THE PRESIDENT: You're getting old, man. (Laughter.) I don't know.
I — I got to get some advice from Steve about this. (Laughter.)
Of course — (laughs) — you accomplished this victory not as an individual, but as a team — pulling together when it mattered most. And now the names of every single one of you will be engraved on the Stanley Cup for all time. And that is a big deal where I come from.
And this team didn't just step up on the ice, you stepped up in the community as well.
You know, through your Lightning Community Hero program, you've delivered more than $25 million in critical causes to the reg- — for critical causes in the region. (Applause.) Provided food and clothing for the families in need. Supported early education for youth mentorship programs. Lifting up local non-profits. Donating to veterans' hospitals, community colleges, and other vital institutions all across Western Florida, along with hundreds of other initiatives you engaged in.
And last year, your home arena also became a lifeline for families in Tampa.
Look, I'm not saying that the First Lady being there at your arena during the playoffs is why you won — (laughter) — but just saying that she was there during the election season as well. (Laughter.) She seems to show up when people win. And just something to think about.
So thank you all for the great work you're doing in the community. And congratulations again for all the great work you've done on the ice.
And I want to wish you good luck in the upcoming playoffs. Who knows, as I said, you may be here next year if you're willing to come back. But — but for now, let's bring up Jeff to say a few words.
Jeff, the podium is yours. (Applause.)
There you are. I got to find my blue dot.
MR. VINIK: Yeah, you do.
THE PRESIDENT: It's right over here. Okay.
MR. VINIK: Thank you, Mr. — thank you, Mr. President. Now, we don't get to hear — to be here very often, so you can stand up for me. (Laughter.) I told you I'd use one joke. Anyway. (Laughter.)
So, Mr. President, on behalf of myself, the Tampa Bay Lightning players, coaches, staff, and all at Bolts Natsi- — Nation watching across — in Tampa, across North America, and around the world, we would like to thank you for hosting us today. It's a tremendous honor to be here — tremendous — at the White House celebrating our back-to-back Stanley Cups.
It's been a long time coming for the lighthouse — the "lighthouse" — (laughter) — the Lightning after three championships.
THE PRESIDENT: That's how I felt. (Laughter.)
MR. VINIK: And, by the way, our playoffs start in a week. The First Lady is welcome back. You've already told us she's good luck. I don't know about you, yet, but we're happy to have her come back. (Laughter.)
So after the three championships, the first one of which was about 18 years ago, we're extremely excited to finally make our first appearance here on Pennsylvania Avenue after missing out in previous years due to a bunch of different circumstances.
The Lightning's 2020 Stanley Cup championship was one defined by the extraordinary time of sacrifice — on and off the ice — with many of these gentlemen behind me spending 65 days isolated in a bubble, away from their family and friends, in order to capture the ultimate prize. It was a true test of both physical and mental endurance.
This last season, we're proud to say we returned to home ice. And after starting the season with no fans, we capped it off with our second consecutive Stanley Cup championship in front of a roaring capacity crowd at AMALIE Arena. (Applause.)
As we head back in the playoffs — exactly one week from now, we expect to start — we know exactly why the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in sports. Hopefully, we'll get — hopefully, we'll be back here again. We've already been invited. So, hopefully, we'll be back here next season. Maybe we can get — well, I did write down here we could get you down to Tampa. Oh, so the First Lady is invited for the games. You're invited, though.
THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible.)
MR. VINIK: You're invited, Mr. President, for one of — for one of our one-of-a-kind championship boat parades, and they are fun. (Applause.) They're fun to do.
You can come for the games, too. You're welcome.
You know what? We have a no talking rule in our suite. When the puck is in play, nobody is allowed to talk. I'll make an exception for you. (Laughter.)
In closing, thank you for your hospitality and the honor of coming here to be part of this storied tradition.
It's now my pleasure to introduce our defenseman — our defenseman and two-time Stanley Cup champion, a native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Alternate Captain Ryan McDonagh. (Applause.)
MR. MCDONAGH: Thanks, Mr. Vinik.
Mr. President, on behalf of all the players, coaches, and staff from the Tampa Bay Lightning, we'd like to extend a huge thank you for the invitation and hospitality here today.
This is a huge honor to come here to the White House. Like it's been talked about, it's been an incredible two years for everybody down there in Tampa Bay. I'm so proud to be standing up here beside all these guys and everything we've accomplished, and also to the guys that couldn't make it here today, too.
It's been a historic run. Like it's been said, it's only been done twice in this century: back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.
Both came in very different fashions. The first one coming in a bubble in Canada for 65 days, isolated away from our family, playing in arenas with no fans, and having to deal with strict restrictions and daily COVID testing. But our group embraced it. We embraced the challenge and, boy, did it pay off.
For almost all of us, it was the first time we got to hoist the Stanley Cup — an unbelievable feeling that no one can take away from us.
The second championship run also had its challenges. We still had to abide by some restrictions while traveling from city to city playing and also started the year with no fans in the buildings.
But at the very end, we found ourselves at Amalie Arena with a chance to win the Stanley Cup not only in front of family friends, but in front of a packed arena filled with Bolts Nation fans — an unbelievable memory that's something you can only dream about as a young kid learning and playing the sport of hockey.
Like Mr. Vinik said, in a week from now, we'll get to start another journey and, hopefully, chase down a third consecutive Stanley Cup.
Although we know the difficulties ahead of us, we feel we have a great group intact that's going to battle hard for one another and leave it all on the ice. The quest for a third cup is not out of reach. We'll do whatever we can, Bolts Nation.
Like I said, Mr. President, it's an honor to be here. As an American and someone who hails from St. Paul, Minnesota, I never thought I'd be standing here at the White House next to you. So, it's been a surreal experience and something I think all of us will remember for a long time.
So, thank you for having us. And appreciate it again.
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks, pal. (Applause.)
MR. MCDONAGH: I think Victor and Steven have some gifts for you now. We all like gifts, right? (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible.) I got to report every one. But — (laughter).
(The President is presented with a jersey and hockey stick.)
THE PRESIDENT: All right.
MR. HEDMAN: Now you've got this nice stick.
MR. STAMKOS: Walk over to the Cup a little bit so you can —
THE PRESIDENT: Walk over to the Cup a little bit.
MR. STAMKOS: Yeah, so you can —
THE PRESIDENT: Okay.
MR. STAMKOS: Yeah, let's to do that.
THE PRESIDENT: All right.
MR. HEDMAN: Here you go. The stick.
MR. STAMKOS: Want to hold the stick? It's heavy.
THE PRESIDENT: Whoa. (Laughter.) No wonder you guys win. (Laughter.)
Well, thank you very, very much.
2:29 P.M. EDT
