Washington, DC - President Donald Trump welcomed the Florida Panthers to commend their historic Stanley Cup victory at the White House on Monday.
During the ceremony, President Trump praised head coach Paul Maurice's leadership and lauded captain Aleksander Barkov's outstanding performance throughout the season.
He also highlighted goalie Sergei Bobrovsky's crucial role in securing the championship.
The team presented the President with personalized "Trump" jerseys and a gold hockey stick as tokens of appreciation.
The Panthers' visit marks the first time a professional sports team has met with President Trump at the White House since he returned to office.
The tradition of championship teams visiting the White House has been a longstanding one, spanning several decades.
In June 2024, the Florida Panthers clinched their first-ever Stanley Cup title by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in a thrilling seven-game series.
After taking an initial 3-0 lead, the Panthers faced a formidable comeback from the Oilers, who tied the series.
However, Florida triumphed in the decisive Game 7, winning 2-1 and securing the championship.
Reflecting on the intense series, President Trump remarked, "I watched those games and I was a little bit worried. They lost three and I said, 'ooh, this is gonna be a tough loss.' That would have been bad but you, that's real champions can pull it out."
The last South Florida team to visit the White House was the Miami Heat, who met with President Barack Obama in January 2014 after winning the 2013 NBA Finals.
The Panthers' remarkable journey to their first Stanley Cup championship has been a source of pride for Florida and the broader hockey community.