[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 40 (Monday, October 6, 2003)]
[Pages 1279-1280]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

[[Page 1280]]

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 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.