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President Obama reminds us all that Phil Kessel is a Stanley Cup champion

Sean Leahy
·Contributing writer
AP16280611193195

The Pittsburgh Penguins were the first Stanley Cup winning team to visit the White House and President Barack Obama after he took office in 2008. On Thursday, they became the last NHL team to visit him as they celebrated the fourth championship in franchise history.

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The team did the usual White House tour while learning some history along the way before entering the East Room to meet with POTUS; and President Obama came in hot with a reminder to everyone.

“We are here to celebrate an extraordinary achievement,” Obama began. “Phil Kessel is a Stanley Cup champion!”

Sadly, POTUS didn’t wonder aloud why Kessel was left off the initial U.S. World Cup of Hockey roster.

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The speech included the usual corny jokes (“I’m going to need you to explain to me how something called the Presidents’ Trophy is not the highest award a team can win.”) as well as call outs to specific players like Sidney Crosby, Matt Murray and the HBK line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Kessel.

“So this is a nice bookend to my presidency because the first year you guys won the Cup and now you’re coming back for my final year. A lot has changed during the interim. Back in 2009 my hair matched the color of the puck more than the ice,” Obama joked.

POTUS also reminded everyone about Evgeni Malkin’s flip phone picture taking during their 2009 visit.

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As previous champions have done, the Penguins brought some gifts, handing Obama a second No. 44 jersey as well as a mini Stanley Cup.

Now that POTUS will have some free time on his hands in a few months, maybe he can finally get himself to a hockey game; maybe even one featuring his hometown Chicago Blackhawks. He does have a free parking pass after all.

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!