President Barack Obama saluted the NHL's Boston Bruins for their 2011 Stanley Cup championship on Monday, citing the city's run of professional team championships in recent years.

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

There was a notable no-show. Goalie Tim Thomas, who was the playoff MVP last year, chose not to attend the event due to political differences with Obama.

Thomas, a Flint, Mich., native and one of only two American players on the Bruins' Stanley Cup roster last season, was the only Boston player to decline the invitation.

"I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People," Thomas said in a statement.

"This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government," he wrote.

"Because I believe this, today (Monday) I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL."


Thomas, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in last year's playoffs, is known to be a political conservative.

In brief remarks, President Obama noted Thomas' stellar play on the title run, even though the netminder appears unlikely to return the compliment.

"This Stanley Cup was won by defense as much as by offense," Obama said. "Tim Thomas posted two shutouts in the Stanley Cup Finals and set an all-time record for saves in the postseason and he also earned the honor of being only the second American ever to be recognized as the Stanley Cup playoffs MVP."

Bruins president Cam Neely said the team was disappointed with the move by Thomas, and that his views do not reflect those of the Bruins organization.

''We are disappointed that Thomas chose not to join us,'' Neely said, adding that the team would have no further comment on the matter.

http://mingle2.com/topic/show/319735

Crap my bad.

Beat ya to it

Oh yeah Thomas is a jerk. Just go to the white house for 40 minutes shut up and be with your teammates.

Why can't he stand up for his beliefs? He didn't try to talk his teammates and coaching staff out of not going. Why should he go if he doesn't support this president and his policies? I would have gone simply because it could very well be the only time I would be invited inside.

He is the best player in the league right now. The NHL needs all the good press it can get.

This doesn't reflect on the NHL, if the NHL forced him to go that would be bad.

I dunno the president welcomes you to The White House to congratulate on winning the Stanley Cup. It should be an honor not a way to get your ego out there.

I wouldn't necessarily look at it as ego but as someone making a choice based on their beliefs.