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UND Hockey at the White House

11/30/2003:

Three years ago today, eight members of the UND hockey team and their coach visited President Bill Clinton in Washington, D.C. The Sioux had won their 7th NCAA National Championship, and Senator Dorgan said, "It seems to me that it is major league, at least in my heart, when UND wins a Division I National Championship.” So he, Senator Conrad, and Representative Pomeroy, helped them celebrate by setting up an invitation to the White House.

President Clinton only rarely invited sports teams to the White House, but he received the group in the Oval Office and was described as “warm, humorous, and thoughtful as could be.” The team presented him with a UND jersey and had their picture taken with him. Then, the president surprised them by hanging out and exchanging stories with them for almost an hour.

At one point, Clinton talked about what he might do after leaving the White House, and one of the UND delegates said, "We may have an opening in our political science department." Now there’s a thought...

Dakota Datebook written by Merry Helm