The Knights turn the White House Golden! Las Vegas’ hockey team gift President Biden a jersey and stick as they celebrate their Stanley Cup triumph in Washington DC
- The Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers
- President Biden honored the Golden Knights ownership, staff, fans and players
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
President Joe Biden honored the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in a ceremony at the White House on Monday, marking the return of an NHL tradition.
The Golden Knights are the first team to visit Biden at the White House since the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022, when they celebrated back-to-back titles won during the pandemic in 2020 and ’21.
The 2022 champion Colorado Avalanche were unable to make a visit last season due to scheduling conflicts.
The Golden Knights’ visit came as President Biden deals with the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and before he heads to San Francisco later this week to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Golden Knights presented President Biden with a hockey stick and a gold home jersey with his last name and the number 46 on the back to commemorate their visit.
President Joe Biden welcomed Stanley Cup winners Vegas Golden Knights to the White House
The Golden Knights presented President Biden with a custom gold home jersey and a hockey stick
President Biden congratulated NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on his 30th year in office before addressing Golden Knights owner Bill Foley.
“Team owner Bill Foley and the entire organization you built on an ice rink in the middle of the desert,” Biden joked. “Who says you can’t get anything done?”
President Biden then congratulated coach Bruce Cassidy, Golden Knights fans and players with a special mention for captain Mark Stone.
“Mark is my kind of guy,” President Biden said.
“Two back surgeries in one year, misses the second half of the season, returns for Game 1 of the Playoffs and scores a hat trick in Game 5 to win the Stanley Cup.”
Golden Knights captain Mark Stone scored a hat trick in Game 5 to take home the Stanley Cup
The Golden Knights appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals after their inaugural season in 2017, but lost to the Washington Capitals in five games.
In their seven years as an organization, the Golden Knights made five playoff appearances, including four trips to the Western Conference finals.
In 2023, the Knights captured their first Stanley Cup by defeating the Florida Panthers in five games. Left winger Jonathan Marchessault was named MVP in the final.
“You’re proving that Vegas Sports is one of the best shows in town,” Biden said.
The Golden Knights are the second Las Vegas team to win a championship this year, after the Las Vegas Aces captured their second straight WNBA title.