(NECN: Greg Wayland) - President Obama welcomed the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins to the White House Monday to honor the team's accomplishment.
The only Bruin not in attendance was popular goaltender Tim Thomas.
Instead, Thomas chose to issue a statement that evening as to why he chose not to attend.
“I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People.
This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government.
Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.
“This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT”
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He was mum during an open skate in Washington, D.C. Tuesday afternoon, but some of his fellow Bruins weighed in.
"I still believe that he's gonna play the way he always plays," said Milan Lucic. "As long as he stops pucks, that's him doing his job."
"We all had a great time going there, seeing the White House," said Steven Kampfer. "I know for myself, it was a dream come true because I studied it in school. I was a political science major, so to get to go to the White House and shake the President's hand was was awesome. That's something that you'll never forget. It was exciting."
