Blackhawks Visit President Obama, White House For 3rd Time

(CBS) President Barack Obama welcomed the Blackhawks to the White House on Thursday for the third time since he took office, honoring them for their Stanley Cup championship in 2015.

A Chicago native, Obama seemed at times to be catching up with old friends, growing familiar with the Blackhawks' brass.

"For the third time in my presidency -- I almost got ahead of myself and said the fourth -- give it up for the Stanley Cup champions, from my hometown, the Chicago Blackhawks," Obama said in his opening remarks.

In speaking to the crowd, Obama spoke of the Cup, which he sees as the best trophy in sports. He then singled out the success of coach Joel Quenneville, who's now second on the NHL's all-time wins list. He also pointed to the stories of "unsung heroes" Kimmo Timonen and Scott Darling.

During a recent trip to Arizona, Darling helped a man down on his luck by paying for his hotel for a month. While Darling didn't want the story to go public, it did, even reaching the White House.

"A champion reached out to help somebody who could use a hand, even though he didn't have to, even though nobody was looking, even though he wasn't asking for credit," Obama said of Darling. "I'd like to think that reflect something about our city, about Chicago. It's a very American thing to do."

Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz presented Obama with a team jersey with his name and the number 15 on the back, a replica Stanley Cup trophy, and what he called the greatest gift he ever received as president, a parking pass for the United Center, good for any game or event at the stadium.

"This is the best gift I've ever gotten at the White House. This is really cool," Obama said. "I might sell this on eBay."

To close, the president said he hopes the Blackhawks are able to win one more Stanley Cup before his second term is up.

"It'd be nice to have; just squeeze one more in there before I leave, because then I definitely will take credit for this amazing championship run. I haven't given up hope on the Bulls, or the White Sox, or the Bears. Heck, I'd even take the Cubs, but in the meantime let's give it up again for the Chicago Blackhawks," he said.

In:
• NHL
• White House
• Barack Obama