The White House: Justin Williams

How much different was this White House visit to your trip six years ago with Carolina?
“It’s all pretty similar. I think we were in the same room, same area, obviously with a little bit less people than we have now. And I think George Bush had a tough time pronouncing Rod Brind’Amour’s name when he came out, too. It’s good to have a president who’s actually a sports fan. You could see that he’s actually into it, and he’s honored to have us there.”

What is the feeling when the standing U.S. President walks into a room you’re in?
“You see the most powerful man in the world walk in, and he just seems to command respect and your attention when he walks in the room. It’s nice to see. I don’t know. He commands a room and obviously speaks very well. There’s a reason why he is where he is.”

Are you a history aficionado at all?
“No, not at all. When you’re in school in Canada, you learn about American history a lot, but [I’m] not really a history buff, no.”

What of the overall experience do you see enduring?
“I don’t know if anyone was taking a picture when he was shaking our hands, but I think that’s a cool memento to have, shaking hands with the President. And it does, in effect, give you a sense of accomplishment knowing that you’re here for a reason, knowing that the best teams every year come here. It’s special, and I’m glad we got to do it.”