Chicago sports is hitting our nation's capital in a big way this week, and fans of the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls have plenty to be excited about. First, as we reported this past Thursday, President Obama will host a ceremony honoring the Blackhawks for their Stanley Cup championship win this Friday, March 11, at 3 PM Eastern time. But that isn't the only hockey-themed event going on in the coming days.
Tomorrow -- Thursday, March 10 -- U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) will jointly host a briefing with Congressman Lee Terry (NE-3) to discuss the state of hockey in America. The gathering, to be held between 11 am and 12 pm Eastern time at the 2226 Rayburn House Office Building, will focus particularly on "the link between active, healthy children and educational achievement," according to a press release.
Quigley will be joined by a number hockey community luminaries, including Dave Ogrean (Executive Director of USA Hockey), Hall-of-Famer Pat LaFontaine, Prof. Michael Kanters, Sgt. First Class (Ret.) Joe Bowser (USA Hockey Wounded Warriors) and Kirk Bauer (President of Disabled Sports USA). The briefing is sponsored by the Congressional Hockey Caucus, a bipartisan group of Members of Congress that's "dedicated to advocating for the expansion of hockey programs in America, with special attention to programs for disadvantaged and disabled youth who might not otherwise be able to participate in the sport." Check out the group's Facebook page here.
There's also one other Chicago-sports-related shindig goin' down in D.C. And it happens tonight. According to a White House press release from this morning, President Obama will host a Bulls vs. Charlotte Bobcats viewing party tonight at the White House. Invitees include "a group of bipartisan members of Congress representing Chicago and Charlotte." The event is closed to the press. Aw, c'mon, can't we give Stacey King the night off and fly him up to D.C.? "C'mon, Barack, gimme some of that hot sauce!"