WASHINGTON — United States President Barack Obama celebrated his hometown Chicago Blackhawks for winning another Stanley Cup on Thursday and joked about doing some gloating when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits Washington next month.

With the team huddled behind him at the White House, Obama mentioned the state visit on March 10 and quipped that they may just leave the Cup "in the middle of the room to gloat a little bit."

Trudeau replied on Twitter late Thursday:

Justin Trudeau on Twitter



Canada defeated the United States 5-2 in the gold medal final in Salt Lake City in 2002 and won gold again in 2010 in Vancouver when Sidney Crosby scored his "golden goal" to defeat the Americans 3-2 in overtime.

Obama took credit for the Blackhawks’ performance during the ceremony Thursday, noting the team had gone nearly a half century without winning the NHL trophy before he took office.

He said the Stanley Cup hat trick made it "pretty clear the kind of luck" he has brought to the team. Chicago won its third title in six seasons by defeating Tampa Bay last June. Its previous titles came in 2010 and 2013.

— with files from The Associated Press