Today, U.S. Reps. Stephen Lynch (D-Boston Bruins) and Mike Quigley (D-Chicago Blackhawks) faced off on the Capitol steps in advance of their hometown teams meeting in Game 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight at the United Center in Chicago.

“Anyone who is a fan of hockey has to be looking forward to this incredible matchup between two Original Six teams,” said Rep. Quigley. “The optimist in me says Chicago takes it in five and Blackhawks fans will see the Cup raised on home ice. I’m looking forward to celebrating our win with a big bowl of Legal Sea Foods chowder and a Harpoon beer and only feel slightly bad that Mr. Lynch won’t have the chance to try Eli’s Cheesecake and Nuts on Clark. Go Hawks!”

"I seem to recall that the folks from Pittsburgh had similar predictions of how they would do against our Bruins. Let me just say that I think this team has shown great character and determination in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup. They continue to make us proud.  This should be a great series and I am looking forward to enjoying some Eli’s Cheesecake and Nuts on Clark during the Duck Boat parade. Go Bruins, Boston Strong,” Rep. Lynch said.  

The Congressman whose team wins the Stanley Cup will receive local goods from the opposing Member’s district, with Rep. Quigley putting up Eli’s Cheesecake and Nuts on Clark and Rep. Lynch offering Legal Sea Foods clam chowder and a case of Harpoon beer. Both Congressmen are members of the Congressional Hockey Caucus, a bipartisan group of Members of Congress dedicated to advocating for the expansion of hockey programs in America.

Rep. Quigley, a co-Chair of the Caucus, began playing hockey when he was six years old and still plays regularly when he is back home in the District. An avid Chicago Blackhawks fan, he has worked with the team to expand access to floor hockey programs to youth at the Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club in Chicago and to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community through Center on Halsted.

Rep. Lynch, born and raised in South Boston, is a life-long Bruins fan. In 1999, as a state senator, Lynch sponsored legislation creating a new license plate to help raise money for youth hockey in Massachusetts. Today, the Boston Bruins "Invest in Youth Hockey" license plate has raised over $850,000 for youth hockey programs throughout the state.