Report: Penguins to visit White House Oct. 10, mayor won't join team
The Pittsburgh Penguins will reportedly visit the White House on Oct. 10 to celebrate its 2017 Stanley Cup win, according to Adam Smeltz of the Post-Gazette.
The team announced the acceptance of an invitation from the White House on Sept. 24, and it was later confirmed via Twitter by President Donald Trump amid a bevy of protests taking place around the NFL.
Please to inform that the Champion Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL will be joining me at the White House for Ceremony. Great team!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017
Pittsburgh mayor Bill Peduto won't join the team, despite making the trip after the 2016 Cup win, Smeltz adds:
This time around, Mr. Peduto "doesn’t feel the time is right" for him to visit the executive mansion under President Donald Trump, mayoral spokesman Timothy McNulty said. He said the team invited Mr. Peduto over the weekend.
"Given the president’s comments over the past week and the way in which sports are now becoming a politically divisive issue, he felt the timing is not right," Mr. McNulty said.
The Penguins are off that day, and will play the Capitals in Washington the following night.