Durbin, Kirk, Warren, and Cowan Place Friendly Wager on Blackhawks-Bruins Stanley Cup Final
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and William “Mo” Cowan (D-MA) today put home-state products on the line as they announced a friendly wager on the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Finals series between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins.
Senators Durbin and Kirk have wagered Chicago’s famous Eli’s cheesecake and 312 beer from Goose Island Brewery while Senators Warren and Cowan countered with Legal Seafood’s Chowder and Sam Adams beer.
“From the historic streak to begin the season to the double-overtime heroics in clinching the Western Conference Championship, the Blackhawks have captivated the city of Chicago,” Durbin said. “Patrick ‘Hat Trick’ Kane, Captain Jonathan Toews and coach Joel Quenneville want to bring the Stanley Cup home again. From the first notes of the Star-Spangled Banner to the final horn, I know Blackhawks fans will make the ‘Madhouse on Madison’ live up to its name.”
“The Bruins team has shown extraordinary grit and resolve throughout the season,” said Senator Warren. “I have faith they will show Boston's strength on the ice in the Stanley Cup Finals and they will bring home the Cup to Boston. When Senator Durbin from Illinois asked me what we should wager, I said he should put up whatever he was ready to lose.”
"The Blackhawks have won more games than any other team in the NHL this season, and I am confident they will notch four more victories in the final series to reclaim the Stanley Cup," Kirk said. "Chicago will cheer on its Hawks with pride all the way to the last winning goal."
“I am confident that our Bruins will continue to make us proud and return the Stanley Cup to Boston in just a few short weeks. With Tuukka Rask posted up in goal, and players like Brad Marchand, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, and our team’s veteran, Jaromir Jagr, on the ice, the Bruins will no doubt be an unstoppable force backed by fierce momentum and the incredible spirit of the people of the Commonwealth,” said Senator Cowan. “We are looking forward to seeing the incredible persistence and cohesion of the Bruins team, along with their remarkable talent, on full display tonight in Chicago and throughout the series.”
After defeating the Minnesota Wild in five games, the Blackhawks came back from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the rival Detroit Red Wings in seven games on a thrilling overtime goal by Brent Seabrook. The Hawks earned a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals by dethroning the defending champion Los Angeles Kings in five games—this time on a double-overtime strike by Kane. Boston came out on top in a seven-game battle with the Toronto Maple Leafs before trouncing the New York Rangers in five games and sweeping the Pittsburgh Penguins. Neither team is a stranger to the finals with the Blackhawks having won the Stanley Cup in 2010 and the Bruins doing the same in 2011.
The best-of-seven Stanley Cup Finals begin tonight in Chicago at 7:00 PM/8:00 PM ET.