President Obama acknowledged he cannot play hockey Wednesday in remarks to a St. Paul, Minnesota crowd.
The president attributed his lack of skills to growing up in Hawaii, where he said "there is no hockey":
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Now, like millions of Americans, I've spent some time with Minnesotans lately because I was watching the Olympics. (Laughter.) Minnesota sent 19 athletes to the games. (Cheers, applause.) That's tied for second-most of any state, and they did us all proud. It is not shocking that Minnesotans might be pretty good at the Winter Olympics. (Laughter.) What is particularly interesting is that once again the tiny town of Warroad -- (cheers, applause) -- proved that it really is Hockeytown USA, thanks to T.J. Oshie and Gigi Marvin, who, you know, we're just so proud of. And T.J.'s shoot-out performance against the Russians I must say I enjoyed a lot. (Cheers, applause.) I tweeted at them about it. So we've spent some time over the last few weeks on hockey, but I'm not here to talk about hockey. By the way, I cannot play hockey. (Laughter.) I -- I grew up in Hawaii; we do not have hockey in Hawaii. (Laughter.)
However, a Washington Free Beacon investigation suggests growing up in Hawaii may not totally explain the president's inability in the rink: