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Trump gets golden hockey stick as Stanley Cup champs visit White House: ‘I’m so proud to be an American’

January 16, 2026 | | Print Article

President Donald J. Trump scored some Stanley Cup swag, including a golden hockey stick, when the two-time National Hockey League (NHL) champion Florida Panthers visited the White House on Thursday.

Like the president, the Panthers were the beasts of the east again last year, riding a physical style of play that dominated opponents all the way until they hoisted the cup again after thumping the Edmonton Oilers in the finals for the second year in a row, inflicting another wound on Canada’s already battered national psyche.

“It’s an honor to welcome to the White House the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. Unbelievable team, unbelievable athletes, players. These men are responsible for the greatest feats in Panthers franchise history,” Trump said.

Lord Stanley was in attendance along with the repeat champs for the traditional ceremony to honor the best in sports, with Trump being given the golden stick, rings and a red Panthers jersey with the number “47” on it, more bling for his own trophy case.

“Good for slashing,” Trump joked as he brandished the new gift.

Star Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk spoke of how proud he was to be an American and proud to be honored by Trump at the White House.

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“I just want to say on behalf of the whole organization and mainly the players, we’re so honored to be here,” Tkachuk said. “Being an American, I know I said it last year, I mean nothing beats this. I’m so proud to be an American and so proud be here with you and everybody else.”

Tkachuk’s lethal combination of skill and bone-crushing toughness has sparked the team’s run of dominance after he was acquired in a blockbuster 2022 trade with the Calgary Flames.

During his honoring of pro hockey’s best, Trump couldn’t resist getting in a dig mocking the nation’s northern neighbor.

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While praising the team for its accomplishment, he told them, “you denied Canada the Stanley Cup for the 32nd straight year.”

The authoritarian country whose national sport is hockey last won the cup when the Montreal Canadiens took home the hardware at the end of the 1993 season, besting Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings four games to one.

“We’re doing much better than Canada, but that’s okay,” Trump said. “We want them to do well, and they’re going to do well.”

Perpetually miserable leftists whined about the visiting team, once again showing why they need to be permanently sent to the nation’s political penalty box.

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The Panthers’ White House visit came on an off day for the team before it made the trip to Raleigh, North Carolina, for a Friday game against the Carolina Hurricanes, as it hopes to climb the standings in the next few months to position itself for a three-peat.

“We hope to be here next year. So, that’s the plan,” Tkachuk said.

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The team was last honored at the White House on Feb. 3, 2025, for the team’s last championship, the first in franchise history.

Chris Donaldson
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