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Stanley Cup Comes To Springfield

Brian Mackey/WUIS

The Stanley Cup made an appearance at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Monday morning,  just weeks after the Blackhawks won it for the second time in four seasons. There was an event for invited guests, including politicians and military personnel. Team chairman Rocky Wirtz was also on hand.

Rocky Wirtz
Credit Brian Mackey/WUIS
Rocky Wirtz, chairman of the Chicago Blackhawks, accompanied the Stanley Cup to a reception at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Monday's museum reception was invitation-only, but fans were given the chance to see the cup outside.

"The fans have been terrific," Wirtz says. "You realize that there is hockey south of I-80, and that's what's nice. It's nice to come down to the state capital. ... First time I've been to the museum, and I really enjoyed it."

Gov. Pat Quinn was at the event, as was state Sen. Bill Brady, the Bloomington Republican who's making a second run for the governor's office.

The public had a brief a chance to see the Cup and pose for pictures as it was taken out of the museum.

Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
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