Boston Bruins goalie skips WH event in protest

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama saluted the NHL's Boston Bruins for their 2011 Stanley Cup championship on Monday, but one key member of the team skipped the White House visit in protest.

"I believe the federal government has grown out of control, threatening the rights, liberties, and property of the people," Goalie Tim Thomas said in a statement. The decision to stay away, Thomas said, "was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country."

Even though Thomas, winner of the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender in the regular season and the playoff MVP, skipped the event, many of the Bruins made it to the White House.

The Bruins won their first Stanley Cup title in 39 years last June after a bruising seven-game final series against the Vancouver Canucks.

It was the latest in a string of Boston sports championships, including the Celtics in 2008, the Red Sox in 2007 and the New England Patriots in 2005. The Patriots play in next month's Super Bowl.

"The Bruins, the Sox, the Celtics, now the Patriots. Enough already, Boston," Obama said during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. "What's going on, huh?"

Obama also jokingly invoked some New England slang in welcoming the Bruins, along with the Stanley Cup, to the White House.

"I know you are all wicked happy to be here," he said.

The president said there was no better image of the Bruins' dominance than when Zdeno Chara, the team's 6-foot-9 defenseman, hoisted the Stanley Cup above his head in Vancouver in celebration last spring.

"Which is, I'm sure, the highest that the Stanley Cup had ever been," he said.

Obama drew laughter from the crowd when he cited the scrappy play of Bruins forward Brad Marchand, who emerged as a star with five goals in the last five games of the finals against Vancouver.

"'The `Little Ball of Hate' shrugged off the rookie jitters," said Obama, adding "What's up with that nickname, man?"

Obama praised the teamwork of the six-time champions.

"Together, these players proved that teamwork is everything," he said. "It can overcome injuries, it can overcome long odds."

Obama praised the team for its work off the ice as well, noting the Boston Bruins Foundation has donated more than $7 million to charities in New England.

President Barack Obama honors the 2010-2011 Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins hockey team, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, in the East Room of the White House in Washington.

(Credit: AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

[Rick03466]

I appreciate both his principals and the fact that he took the time to note that this is not about either party but about the intrusion of the federal government into the lives of the individual. The polemic idiots on both sides are attacking him, I admire him!

[unclebernies]

This guy is a fool. You can't come out and say it's not a political statement and then make a political statement by protesting. What a moron.

[unclebernies]

That explains it all. Someone that has been hit the head with hockey pucks his whole life is a tea bagger.

[esq777]

What a fool. Spewing paranoid nonsense about nonexistent "threats" to "liberty" and "property" while at the same time raking in millions playing a sport. This guy is literally one of the most fortunate people on earth and yet he's still complaining. Idiot.

[Montana5]

Tim who? The White House should ignore professional hockey. I can't think of anyone who would give a rats. Send them to Quebec.

[fiberglass3]

Goalie Tim Thomas has started "Occupy the NHL"

Good to see he is for the 99% !

[tiredofeverything]

Make no mistake ... while he may say 'both parties' Tim Thomas is a known right wing tea bagger who donates money to Freedomworks.

That aside, he used an occasion the rest of his TEAM attended to steal attention away from it and focus everything on him.

A classless act by a classless person.
Typical right winger.
F U Tim Thomas

[longtree-2009]

whether anyone agrees with him or not, the man has principles. not many people today have principles much less stand by them under pressure, stress, or bribery. hockey is a sport loved by millions as is baseball, track and field, skiing, swimming, football, soccer, water polo, wrestling, boxing, mma, and so forth. there is huge envy on the part of many who don't play any sport for a living especially sports that pay extremely well. the same goes for comedians, actors, singers. this man has principles.

[irreverentasever]

Just like I feel about seeing professional hockey. It's not worth wasting my time.

[cockroachcrusher]

It is big, greedy corporate America, the welfare queens, who go us into this mess along with the idiot Republicans/Conservatives and now madhatters. Think Gen. Motors, health insurance sleaze ball AIG, mortgage companies, banks and all the working slobs voting against their own interests each time they vote for the 3-Ring Circus called the Republican/Conservative/madhatter party. This anti-American hockey puck Tim Thomas needs to go live in Singapore, Saudi Arabia or Paraguay.