John Kerry drops the puck (Photo via @washcaps)
Secretary of State John Kerry attended Thursday’s Washington Capitals-Winnipeg Jets game to participate in an Olympic send-off event for the players who will be heading off to Sochi this weekend.
Kerry met with the Capitals prior to the game, receiving a jersey with his name on the back. Afterward, he dropped the ceremonial puck between Americans John Carlson of the Caps and Blake Wheeler of the Jets, with the six other Olympians standing nearby. They included Washington’s Alex Ovechkin (Russia), Nicklas Backstrom (Sweden), Martin Erat (Czech Republic), Winnipeg’s Michael Frolik and Ondrej Pavelec (Czech Republic), and Olli Jokinen (Finland).
A hockey fan himself, Kerry has been spotted at Caps games before his Secretary of State days, and was even injured a couple of years ago during a pick-up hockey game.
Did Kerry give any words of wisdom to his team? Oates wasn’t sure. “I wasn’t in there when he was in there. That’s their moment.”
“I had a good talk with him,” Oates added. “Great man. I know him from my Boston days. We have a little bit of history but obviously he;s a very busy man and comes in with his entourage.”
“It’s always cool to see those people you see on TV all the time,” said John Carlson, who got an ovation from the fans when introduced as an Olympian. “The ceremony in general was pretty cool.”
Tom Wilson spoke to him just briefly since it was pretty close to game time.
Wishing all of our #TeamUSA athletes the best of luck in #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/Gy2whRe1zN
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) February 7, 2014
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets @JohnCarlson74 before #CapsJets and wishes him well in Sochi! pic.twitter.com/MR5qdViLZs — Washington Capitals (@washcaps) February 6, 2014
Great pic RT @washcaps: Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Adam Oates before the #CapsJets game in Washington. pic.twitter.com/cWYJ1XIkwz — John Walton (@WaltonCaps) February 6, 2014
Just a couple of Johns from Massachusetts. pic.twitter.com/Zd4e9cFgGh — Pace Sagester (@PaceSagester) February 6, 2014
MSE founder, owner, chairman and CEO @TedLeonsis gives U.S. Sec. of State John Kerry a personalized #Caps jersey. pic.twitter.com/cokSV6CLCz — Washington Capitals (@washcaps) February 6, 2014
Elliot Segal with Kerry
Secretary of State @JohnKerry speaking with @EITMonline before #CapsJets tonight pic.twitter.com/HeFygZOrVO
— Monumental Network (@MonumentalNtwrk) February 6, 2014
