    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [September 29, 2003]
    [Pages 1207-1208]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Honoring the 2003 Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils
    September 29, 2003

        Thank you all for being here. Please be seated. It's my honor to
    welcome to the Rose Garden the Stanley Cup champs. Congratulations. It's
    a--I had the honor of meeting your captain. I saw a quote; he said,
    ``It's an awesome experience,'' talked about winning, what it's like to
    win as a team. And I want to congratulate the team that is with us
    today.
        I want to thank Peter Simon, who is the
    chairman. I appreciate Lou Lamoriello,
    who is the general manager and the president and CEO of the New Jersey
    Devils. I want to congratulate Pat Burns, the Jack
    Adams Award winner, which I guess means he's a really good coach. Gary
    Bettman, the commissioner, is with us. Mr.
    Commissioner, good to see you.
        They tell me this cup is 110 years old. That makes it older than the
    Oval Office. [Laughter] I see it's got all the names of the players who
    have won it, and now your names are on it. It's a fantastic legacy to
    athleticism and desire and drive, a couple of cuts here and there--
    [laughter]--maybe a missed tooth or two. [Laughter]
        The concept of a team is just really important. I have a chance to
    welcome champs to the White House on a regular basis, and it seems to be
    a common ingredient, where people are willing to put something above
    individual achievement, called the team. They kind of work together for
    something bigger than self-glory. It's the common ingredient of all the
    champs that come here, and it's been the common ingredient of this team,
    led by a very capable captain and great players.
        One of the things that's interesting about the Stanley Cup is that
    each player gets to spend time with it. It must be pretty neat. The cup
    has traveled throughout North America and Europe. It's been to some
    famous sites recently. It was at the McDonald's drive-through in New
    Glasgow, Nova Scotia. [Laughter] It must have been

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    a pretty interesting moment for that burger-flipper. [Laughter] Fill her
    up. [Laughter] It showed up at the Bob Evans restaurant in Brunswick,
    Ohio. It went to Filthy McNasty's Bar and Grill in Toronto. [Laughter] I
    don't know who took it there, but--[laughter]--I bet you're pretty happy
    the cup can't talk--[laughter]--if you know what I mean.
        Most important, though, these players took it to hospitals and
    schools, to senior centers, and to a home for neglected and abused
    children. They took it to fire and police crews that are working long
    hours to keep their communities safe. They took it to the people in our
    Armed Forces. In other words, this cup helped inspire people, helped
    lift up lives.
        When I met Scott Stevens, he wasn't out
    there as a great hockey player. He was out there at the airport in
    Newark because he works for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newark,
    participates in after-school programs to help kids make healthy choices
    in their life. He was involved with the Hockey Fights Cancer campaign.
        What I'm telling you about is that champs are people who serve their
    community--off the ice, in this case. Champs are people who not only
    serve something greater than themself, called their team, but their
    community. Champs are people who understand that when you're the
    champion, somebody looks at you. They wonder, ``What is it like to be a
    champ?'' So when you make right choices, set out the right examples, hug
    somebody who hurts, you're really helping our country. And if you're
    from Canada or other countries, you're helping your country too. I'm
    most appreciative--the thing I'm most appreciative about, I love your
    athletic skill, but I love the fact that you're compassionate people as
    well.
        So it's my honor to welcome you to the Rose Garden as the great
    champs of the National Hockey League. Congratulations. Welcome.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:04 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Peter Simon, chairman, Louis A.
    Lamoriello, chief executive officer, president, and general manager, Pat
    Burns, head coach, and Scott Stevens, captain, New Jersey Devils; and
    Gary B. Bettman, commissioner, National Hockey League. Following his
    remarks, the President was presented with a New Jersey Devils jersey.