NHL's Kings share White House visit with soccer's Galaxy

The Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings of professional hockey are going to the White House — with a soccer team.

The White House announced Thursday that President Obama will host the Kings and the Major League Soccer Champion Los Angeles Galaxy on March 26.

Trips to the White House are the norm for teams that win their sport’s championship, but it’s unusual to see two teams from different sports share the spotlight.

It could also be interpreted as a slight for either NHL or MLS fans. Both hockey and soccer fans often complain their sports aren't given equal standing to pastimes like football, baseball and basketball.

Hockey, in particular, likes to see itself as the nation’s fourth major team sport, but the National Hockey League’s popularity has sagged over the last decade amidst two major work stoppages.

The Boston Bruins — the 2011 Stanley Cup champion — were invited to their own ceremony in January. So were the Galaxy in 2011, when they also won the MLS championship.

The Kings and Galaxy are both owned by sports conglomerate Anschutz Entertainment Group, which could be a reason they’re traveling to the White House at the same time.

The pair of teams will join Michelle Obama March 26 in hosting a youth sports clinic on the South Lawn of the White House as part of the first lady's "Let's Move" initiative. The children participating in the clinic will come from the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Soccer for Success program and the NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone program.

The White House did not immediately return a request for comment.

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