Los Angeles Kings take to White House for meeting with Obama

The Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings were in Washington on Monday ahead of their Tuesday night clash with the Capitals and, as is tradition, the reigning champions visited the White House and President Barack Obama.

During the brief ceremony, which was a joint celebration as Obama also honored the MLS Cup winning Los Angeles Galaxy, Obama touched on everything from the play of Jonathan Quick and Dustin Brown at the Sochi Olympics to the beauty of Jeff Carter’s “hockey smile.”

Obama also took the opportunity to take a few light jabs at the Kings for downing his hometown Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final. Obama also made sure to point out that, by winning a pair of Stanley Cups in the past three seasons, the Kings have turned a team in a non-traditional hockey market into one of the most successful in the present-day NHL.

Following the President’s speech, the Kings and coach Darryl Sutter presented Obama with a silver stick commemorating their visit.

Recently demoted center Mike Richards, who scored three goals and 10 points during the Kings’ Cup run, did not join the team at the White House. He is currently playing with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs.