Obama welcomes Blackhawks: ‘Championships belong in Chicago’

President Obama urged Chicago’s other teams to hurry up and join the Blackhawks in coming to the White House as reigning champs in their sport.

“To the Bulls, Bears, Cubs, White Sox— I am term-limited, so you guys have got to get moving,” he said Monday at an event at the White House honoring the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup victory.

{mosads}”I need to see you here soon. Championships belong in Chicago.”

It was the second trip to the White House for the Blackhawks, as Obama happily noted.

“Since I’ve been president, only one team has brought a world championship to my hometown of Chicago. And now the Blackhawks have done it twice.”

Several fellow Illinoisans were in the audience to cheer their team: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), House Hockey Caucus co-chairman Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker. Gov. Pat Quinn (D-Ill.) couldn’t make it but sent two Iraqi war vets to represent him.

The team presented the president with a jersey and Coach Joel Quenneville joked of his players: “They are gifted athletes who not only win championships, but go a long way in breaking gridlock if you allow them into Congress.”

Obama laughed and said: “That’s true. I should try a hockey stick during the shutdown — see how that worked.”

Read more on The Hill.