The Capitals made their long overdue visit to the White House, where they celebrated their 2018 Stanley Cup championship with President Trump on Monday.
It looks like all but Braden Holtby and Brett Connolly were in attendance, both of whom announced last week, citing their own personal reasons, they would not make the trip.
Hanging out in the Roosevelt Room, waiting to head into the oval office. #stanleycup @NHL @WhiteHouse @HockeyHallFame @Capitals 0 pic.twitter.com/ut0vfjVwwz
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) March 25, 2019A great team smile #StanleyCup @Capitals @WhiteHouse @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/9QYjcyvdNT
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) March 25, 2019Captain Alex Ovechkin spoke for the team, telling the president, "We're going to try to do it again."
A dapper Alex Ovechkin in the Oval Office to President Trump when invited to speak: "It's a huge honor for us to be here. We're going to try to do it again. Same team. experienced team. We're going to try to do it again..."
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) March 25, 2019.@ovi8 delivered a speech next to his teammates, the Stanley Cup, and @realDonaldTrump in the Oval Office pic.twitter.com/JTfgrYDVmd
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) March 25, 2019A dapper Alex Ovechkin in the Oval Office to President Trump when invited to speak: "It's a huge honor for us to be here. We're going to try to do it again. Same team. experienced team. We're going to try to do it again..."
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) March 25, 2019President Trump indeed has high hopes for the Caps, who are "winners," to repeat in 2019.
Per @colvinj, Donald Trump said about #Caps "They’re winners. They know how to win."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) March 25, 2019President Trump to the #Caps in the Oval Office: "We welcome most importantly the entire Capitals team. They're winners and they know how to win. I think you’ll see that again in a little while."
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) March 25, 2019A bit of news we can glean from photos of the event is that defenseman Michal Kempny, whose "long-term injury" is somewhat shrouded in mystery, was seen walking around on crutches.
That Reuters photo of #Caps in the Oval Office shows defenseman Michal Kempny on crutches. Todd Reirden told reporters today Kempny is out "long term".
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) March 25, 2019President Trump with the 2018 Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals pic.twitter.com/vQ33tYGfoD
— Steve Holland (@steveholland1) March 25, 2019Every player and staff member here got an individual pic with the President. #Caps did a 45-minute tour of the White House and waited in the Roosevelt Room as a group before President Trump invited them into the Oval Office.
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) March 25, 2019White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway was seen donning a Caps' championship cap.
Rudy Guiliani is among those here in Oval Office as Trump recognizes the Washington Capitals. pic.twitter.com/u9cN4Ar2Di
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) March 25, 2019Rudy Giuliani was also spotted in the background, presumably bitter his Rangers are the second-worst team in the Metro.
Standing at the back of the Oval Office as the president celebrates the Capitols... pic.twitter.com/Dx1I5is76W
— Jill Colvin (@colvinj) March 25, 2019The president got a little hung up on the pronunciation of 'Evgeny Kuznetsov,' but fortunately had Caps owner Ted Leonsis by his side to correct him, more than once.
President Trump had a little trouble with ‘Evgeny Kuznetsov’ -- pic.twitter.com/GhYW0G3qxl
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) March 25, 2019Lastly, no hamberders for the defending champs.
And no, you silly gooses, the President did not feed the #Caps Chick-fil-A or Wendy's. No food at today's event. Hard-hitting journalism up in here.
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) March 25, 2019Amazing day today at the White House. Thank you for this great opportunity - it was a memorable experience for everyone involved.#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/p4XVzSex2z
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 25, 2019Follow @ChrisLingebach and @1067TheFan on Twitter
