Hawks excited for White House visit

WASHINGTON — Patrick Kane, despite being one of the few Americans on the Hawks, has never been to the White House.

So Kane was all smiles in anticipation of his meeting with President Obama at the White House today.

After all it was Kane who secured the Hawks’ date with Obama by scoring the game-winner in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

“It’s just exciting to go, especially for the players who part of the team last year,” said Kane, who spoke to Obama before the team’s parade through downtown Chicago in the summer.

“It gives us reminder of what went on and makes us even hungrier for the rest of the season to try and do it again.”

It’s already been a special time for the Hawks in Washington. Every player that spoke with the media Friday after practice said they were moved when they visited troops and their families at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Thursday.

“It is pretty special to meet some of the soldiers and everything you get to do here coming to the city of Washington,” captain Jonathan Toews said. “It’s special for Canadians as well to see all this. It’s a pretty big deal. I’ve gotten to meet Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, a couple timse, but it will pretty cool to see President Obama today.”

The Hawks will get a tour of the White House prior to being honored by Obama for winning the Stanley Cup. After the ceremony, they will partake in a hockey clinic on the South Lawn.

“It will be a fun day,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “It’s a privilege and an honor to have a chance to visit the White House and meet the President. We’re all looking forward to that.”