Florida Panthers centre and Waterdown native Carter Verhaeghe was praised by U.S. President Donald Trump during the team’s visit to the White House on Monday, Feb. 3.
The Panthers, dressed in Trump's signature look in dark blue suits and red ties, visited the White House following their Stanley Cup win last season, beating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.
“The title couldn’t have been won if you didn’t have a man named Carter Verhaeghe,” Trump said. “I heard that name so much. A scoring champion, the opening goal of that game was very important. Get the butterflies out a little bit.”
Trump also said Verhaeghe has a nice head of hair, while the two shook hands on stage.
“Carter skilfully directed a shot past the Oilers goalie and gave the Panthers your first lead in the series since game three,” Trump said. “Not to forget Sam Reinhart who had a legendary shot in game seven, that certainly was a legendary shot, one that’s not going to be forgotten. After securing the puck from Carter, Sam carried the puck down the ice and flicked a wrist shot – very much like I would do it if I played – right past the Oilers goalie beating him on the glove side.”
Trump was presented with a custom Florida Panthers jersey with the number 47 and a gold hockey stick by team captain Aleksander Barkov and one of the few Americans on the roster, Matthew Tkachuk.
The Panthers stuck around D.C. after the visit, and take on the Washington Capitals tonight.
