Lawmakers from Florida and Illinois are betting their states' NHL team will win the Stanley Cup. | Courtesy of quigley.house.gov
Lawmakers from Florida and Illinois are betting their states' NHL team will win the Stanley Cup. | Courtesy of quigley.house.gov
U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley, Randy Hultgren, Rodney Davis and Danny Davis, all from Illinois, made a friendly bet on the Stanley Cup this week with home state goods against their colleagues from Florida: David Jolly, Dennis A Ross and Gus Bilirakis.
Now the representatives will wait for the results of the NHL championships as the Chicago Blackhawks face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the best-of-7 final series.
“I’m looking forward to an exciting Stanley Cup Final series,” Quigley said. “Tampa Bay has a great team, and we Chicagoans respect the proud tradition of the Lightning being one of the NHL's original 30. But I'm calling the Hawks in 6 and looking forward to eating a delicious grouper sandwich from Congressman Jolly when it happens.”
The Blackhawks currently lead the series, having beat Tampa 2-1 on Wednesday.
“The Chicago Blackhawks are on the verge of winning three Stanley Cups in six years, dominating the NHL,” Hultgren said. “In a friendly wager, I’m willing to offer up Portillo’s Italian Beef and Graham’s Chocolate in full confidence our Hawks will emerge victorious over Tampa Bay. May the best team win. Go Hawks!”
Among the other homegrown goodies being wagered were Chicago deep-dish pizza and fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice.
“I have confidence the Lightning will win in 6 games; so much so that I will wager authentic Tarpon Springs Sponges and baklava,” Bilirakis said. “I am looking forward to celebrating the Bolts’ victory by sinking my teeth into a juicy sandwich from Portillo’s.”
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