Quigley, Murphy Face-Off Day Before Hawks-Flyers Playoff Game
Speaker Pelosi drops puck on Capitol steps
WASHINGTON -- This morning, U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-Chicago Blackhawks) and Patrick Murphy (D-Philadelphia Flyers) faced off on the Capitol steps in advance of their hometown teams meeting in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs tomorrow night.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi officiated the meeting and dropped the puck between the two hockey-playing Congressmen.
"We may work together on legislative issues, but when it comes to this series, there's no 'brotherly love.' I don't know how Mr. Murphy feels about wearing a Hawks jersey on the House floor, but I don't plan on celebrating this win quietly."
Each wanting to clinch the Stanley Cup on home ice, in video of the event, Quigley predicts "Hawks in 5, while Murphy offers "Flyers in 6. Speaker Pelosi, who represents California's 8th district, stayed out of the fray, saying she had been rooting for the San Jose Sharks.
After the puck drop, Quigley cracks wise about Philadelphia in this additional video. [Rep. Kirk: "Hey Quigley, can't we all just get along? Rep. Quigley: "No, this is hockey¦]
Quigley was joined by colleagues from Illinois, including Reps. Melissa Bean, Mark Kirk, Dan Lipinski, and Peter Roskam.
Rep. Bob Brady of Philadelphia also attended, at one point trying to pull Quigley's jersey over his face. No penalty was called.
High resolution versions of the photos above are available upon request. Additional photos are available here.
Quigley also submitted the following statement into the Congressional Record:
"Madam Speaker, I rise today because the Roar is back on Madison."
My Chicago Blackhawks are Western Conference champions and just a day away from Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals. Diehard Hawks fans have been waiting since 1961 for the Cup to come home to the Windy City. And it's on behalf of every last one of them that I want to thank the brain trust that has made this all possible.
In just three years, Rocky Wirtz, Dale Tallon, John McDonough, Stan Bowman, and Jay Blunk have resurrected a franchise and reminded Chicago that it has always been a hockey town.
Tomorrow night, the United Center will be bathed in red and rocking so loud folks might just mistake it for the old Chicago Stadium. As I've said here before, I look forward to coming back this summer with Lord Stanley's Cup freshly engraved with names like Toews, Kane, Byfuglien, and Niemi.
We're just four wins away.
Quigley still plays hockey regularly in Chicago and Washington. He recently played in a charity game at the United Center against the Blackhawks alumni, as well as a "Lawmakers vs. Lobbyists match-up in Washington. He is a co-chair of the Congressional Hockey Caucus, a bipartisan group dedicated to combating childhood obesity while promoting exercise, teamwork, discipline, and commitment through hockey. Quigley plans to attend every game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to cheer on our Blackhawks.
Links
Puck Drop(s): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czFVsRO4pks
Wisecracks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3-BZZOjil8