Trump welcomes NHL's Washington Capitals to White House

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Alex Ovechkin and the reigning NHL champion Washington Capitals to the Oval Office on Monday to congratulate them for winning the Stanley Cup in June.

Two players on the current roster, Canadians Braden Holtby and Brett Connolly, and Devante Smith-Pelly, who is in the minors, did not visit the White House. Smith-Pelly in June cited Trump's rhetoric, and Holtby last week said he had to stay true to his values and respectfully decline.

Trump said it was an honour to host the team because he is a hockey fan and a Capitals fan. The president called the Capitals "winners" and said there is "an awfully good chance" they will repeat this season.

"You brought the Stanley Cup home," Trump said. "Thousands of adoring fans greeted you. They were all over the place. And I have a feeling you're going to be doing it again. You're champions. You have a champion's heart."

Players, coaches and staff members took a private 45-minute tour of the White House and met with Trump in what was a last chance to be around hockey's sacred trophy as defending champions.

"It's a good reminder of the special things that our group did," coach Todd Reirden said after practice earlier Monday. "That will kind of put a wrap on it and the final chapter of that moving forward into finishing up the regular season here and moving some of that success into playoffs this year."

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