White House spokesman Robert Gibbs was a good sport today as he modeled a Team Canada hockey jersey at his briefing, paying off a bet placed on the Olympic gold medal hockey game last month.

Gibbs joked his attire "does signal casual Friday" at the White House, before turning around to show his last name and the No. 39 on the back of the red-and-white jersey featuring an iconic maple leaf.

To recap the wager: Gibbs said he'd wear a Canadian jersey to a news briefing if the Canadians won, and counterpart Dmitri Soudas, spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, would wear the U.S. jersey if the Americans won. Sadly, Team USA lost, but the Americans did have an impressive, record-setting medal haul at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Gibbs said he wanted to wear the No. 39 in honor of Ryan Miller, the U.S. team goalie and Buffalo Sabres star who was named Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.

The surprise for the assembled reporters -- and those watching on cable and the Internet -- was when Gibbs took off his Canadian jersey to display a blue Team USA jersey hidden underneath. The U.S. jersey bore the number 10, which Gibbs said was in honor of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Gibbs took most of his questions today wearing the U.S. jersey.

By the way, Gibbs said President Obama will pay off his own Olympic bet with Harper. One case each of Molson, Canada's favorite brew, and Yuengling, from America's oldest brewery in Pottsville, Pa., will be delivered to Harper. Gibbs joked that Soudas might be drinking the beer himself.

(Posted by Catalina Camia)