The Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s hockey team toured the nation’s capital all day Monday and their trip culminated when they were honored at the White House by President Barack Obama.
The Gophers, along with 18 other championship winning teams from 2012-13, were recognized by the president. Minnesota finished last season with a perfect record and a second consecutive NCAA National Championship.
FOX 9 says Obama singled out the Gophers in his seven-minute address, “including a few who played in Sochi.”
“I’m proud of the young women here,” Obama said. “There was a time when college women were relegated to second status. All of you here show incredible strides. It means Malia, Sasha, my nieces all know how important athletics is in their lives.”
Earlier in the day, the team met with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in her office.
This year’s team might be invited back to the White House next year if they continue playing the way they are. They are once again the No. 1-ranked team in the country with a 36-1-1 record, and they hold the top-seed in the NCAA Tournament, with a first-round game against Boston University set for March 15.
Waiting for the President… pic.twitter.com/YLZJIBZ1Al
— Brad Frost (@FrostBrad) March 10, 2014
Watch the president’s remarks.
