Perhaps it’s not typical for hockey fans to see a BigLaw partner pin down a congressman on the ice. But it was one of those moments that happen inside the Beltway, where lobbyists mingle with politicians and staffers—even at rinks—and it seems like practically everyone is a lawyer.
And it was one of many K Street encounters at the 2026 Congressional Hockey Challenge, held March 26 at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia. The event was peak D.C. fervor, filled with friendly chirping, an enthusiastic bipartisan crowd and a “historic” overtime shootout to break a 3-3 tie.
The annual game pits a team of lobbyists, including lawyers from Holland & Knight and Steptoe, against a team of lawmakers, featuring FBI Director Kash Patel, also a lawyer, playing defense. Michelle MacGregor, a senior strategist for global law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, made the deciding goal in favor of Team Lobbyists.
“This is the best event of the year,” says Matthew J. Flynn, a partner at Steptoe who played for Team Lobbyists. “It’s the only game in town where I can be checked into the boards by the FBI director, fight for a loose puck with the deputy secretary of the interior and then end up falling on top of congressional leadership when driving the net.”
The first game took place 17 years ago. The event raises money for charities that strengthen hockey in underserved communities. This year, more than $150,000 was raised, says Nick Lewis, co-founder and president of the Congressional Hockey Challenge and president of the Matador Group, which handles federal government relations.
“Thanks to the recent USA Hockey hat trick of three Olympic gold medals, there is currently unprecedented interest and excitement around ice hockey,” Lewis says. “We had our best fundraising year ever, allowing us to increase and expand our straightforward mission to grow this great game for women and girls, our nation’s veterans and underserved communities.”
The proceeds go to several charities, including the NHL Foundation and the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program for individuals wounded in defense of the United States.
Both on the ice and in the stands, the mood was congenial—particularly for hockey—with only a few scuffles and some scattered penalties that intensified toward the end of the game.
In addition to Patel, whose love of hockey has become local and not-so-local legend, Team Lawmakers featured Deputy Secretary of the Interior Kate MacGregor; House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota; Rep. George Whitesides, a Democrat from California; and 2018 Olympic gold medalist Haley Skarupa. In opposition were lobbyists representing law firms, including Akin Gump; and companies, including JetBlue, eBay and UPS.
While Team Lawmakers lost to Team Lobbyists for the second year in a row, the crowd, some still dressed in their suits and ties, cheered for every goal, with only an occasional call for a fight and some periodic friendly heckling.
One fan held up a sign that said, “The puck stops here.” Another fan called out an insult that only people in the District would get: “Hit him! He’s not even registered!”
Rob Wagener played for Team Lawmakers. He is the chief of staff for Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, a Republican from Wisconsin. Wagener's been skating with a stick since he was 6 years old and still plays recreationally at D.C. area rinks.
Wagener says the event is a “great way to bring people together who care about the game.”
“At my age, we don’t get a chance to play in front of a crowd anymore, so it’s nice to have some fans in the stands rather than empty seats on a random weeknight,” Wagener says.
Flynn says that he finds the fundraiser “refreshing” because of its bipartisan vibe. Flynn, who has also played hockey since childhood, says that “as the world has become polarized, the ice is the great equalizer.”
“There’s this level of friendship and trust that has developed that doesn’t always exist in Washington,” Flynn says. “Sports bring people together.”
