Politics

Durbin Hosts the Stanley Cup

Rose Harper, a student from Downers Grove North High School in Illinois, reacts to the Stanley Cup alongside her friend, Audrey McDaniel, second from right, as Durbin hosted the Cup. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call)
Rose Harper, a student from Downers Grove North High School in Illinois, reacts to the Stanley Cup alongside her friend, Audrey McDaniel, second from right, as Durbin hosted the Cup. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call)
By Alex Gangitano
Posted March 2, 2016 at 4:13pm

In hockey, only those who have won the Stanley Cup may touch it, or one may invite a curse. But that didn’t stop Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., from hosting the impressive trophy as part of its tour of Capitol Hill on Wednesday.  Back in June, Durbin’s team, the Chicago Blackhawks, beat the Tampa Bay Lightning for the NHL championship, securing the Cup for a year and handing Durbin a victory in a friendly bet he made with Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.  

Assistant Minority Leader Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., speaks with Gary Bettman, Commissioner of The National Hockey League, in his office on Capitol Hill, on Wednesday, March 2, 2016. The Stanley Cup visited the U.S. Capitol and visited Sen. Durbin's office after the Chicago Blackhawks won the 2015 Stanley Cup. (Photo By Al Drago/CQ Roll Call)
Durbin speaks with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in his office on Wednesday. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call)

The loser agreed to do as many pushups as the two teams scored in the finals, plus the customary food and beverage wager. In June, Nelson ended up doing 46 pushups , after the teams scored a combined 23 goals and the senators agreed to double it to forego the food and beer bet.  

Nelson, a former astronaut, cranked out 46 pushups after the Lightning lost. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Nelson, a former astronaut, cranked out 46 pushups after the Lightning lost. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The Blackhawks have won the Stanley Cup three times in six seasons and Durbin hosted the trophy in 2010 and 2013. In June, Durbin and Sen. Mark S. Kirk, R-Ill., introduced a resolution to congratulate the Blackhawks on winning the Stanley Cup.

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