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Blackhawks visit to the White House sees President Obama laud his hometown team

Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks Visit The White House

<> on March 11, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Mark Wilson

The Blackhawks stormed the White House in Washington today as President Barack Obama met with the team and congratulated them for winning the Stanley Cup last season. With Obama being a former U.S. Senator from Illinois and growing up in Chicago, welcoming the Blackhawks to the White House was extra special for the Commander In Chief.

Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago was there with the team today and found out that President Obama was a big fan of how the Hawks were able to unite Chicago behind a common cause in rooting for the team to win their first Stanley Cup since 1966.

“During the playoffs, even the Michael Jordan statue had a Blackhawks uniform on. And when the Hawks visited Wrigley Field during the Crosstown Classic, they did something even tougher than winning the Cup -- they got 40,000 Sox fans and Cubs fans to stand up and cheer at the same team,” Obama said. “(That’s) never happened before.”

White Sox and Cubs fans living together... Mass hysteria!

The President was also able to make a nice impression on Team USA star Patrick Kane both with his play on the ice and his sweet mullet in the playoffs. Obama said of Kane’s ‘do: “I thought it was pretty sharp.”

As for Kane, he was excited to just be there.

“I was happy with his speech. I got mentioned three times in his speech,” Kane said laughing, as he played hockey with kids on the south lawn. “I don’t know who was counting but somebody told me.”

The Blackhawks overdue White House trip was made easier by them being in town to play the Capitals on Sunday. Having a few days off helped free up their schedule and now they’ll gear up for their Sunday showdown in NBC’s Game of the Week at 12:30 p.m. ET against the Caps.