The National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Playoffs begin this week, and the cities hosting the 2008 Republican and Democratic National Conventions will be watching the games closely when the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche face off. The two leaders planning the political conventions agreed to a friendly wager on the series.

Republican National Convention President and CEO Maria Cino and Democratic National Convention Committee (DCCC) CEO Leah Daughtry agreed to the stakes. The losing city's convention team will send a "taste" of that city's local delicacy for the winning city's convention staff to enjoy. If the Wild win, the DNCC will send the Republican National Convention staff a selection of Colorado-raised beef steaks. If the Avalanche win, the Republican team will send the DNCC staff an assortment of walleye from the lakes of Minnesota.

"Minnesota is the 'State of Hockey,' and I am proud that we have become part of the 'Team of 18,000," Cino said, using the term the Wild coined to describe its consistent sellout crowds. "It is only fitting that we stand with our new community in Minneapolis-Saint Paul and enter into this friendly wager with my friend in Denver, where she and her staff are working equally as hard.

"Our staff in Minneapolis-Saint Paul is pretty excited that the roads to the White House and the Stanley Cup Championship will both lead through the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul," Cino added.

"To my friend Maria and her fine team in Minnesota: get ready to be buried by our Avalanche," said Daughtry. "Denver has welcomed us with open arms, and I'm now proud to ante up on behalf of the hometown team. Fortunately for me, the Avs know what it takes to win a championship. Soon enough, the Pepsi Center will be home to the Stanley Cup once again. And just five months from now, it'll play host to another winner - our nominee for President of the United States."

The Northwest Division Champion Wild play at the Xcel Energy Center, which is also home of the 2008 Republican National Convention. The Avalanche makes its home at the Pepsi Center in Denver - site of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, to be held August 25-28.

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