It's Saturday

It's Saturday. Here's what's happening....

************************************************

Today is January 29th, the 29th day of 2011. There are 336 days left in the year.

************************************************

 

 

 

Staal has Carolina on his mind at ASG Draft.

Kessel okay with being last in line.

Opening day of Fan Fair attracts legions to Raleigh.

************************************************

John Gay's The Beggar's Opera was first performed at Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre, London on this date in 1728.

************************************************

U.S. Women's National Team Preliminary Roster Set


Selection/Training Camp to Take Place in Ann Arbor, Mich., April 4-12; Includes Two Pre-World Championship Games Against Canada

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Thirty players were selected to the preliminary roster for the U.S. Women's National Team that will play in the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship, as announced today by USA Hockey. The athletes will take part in a selection/training camp in Ann Arbor, Mich., from April 4-12, with the final 21-player roster set to be announced on April 9.

The camp will take place at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, home to USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, and will feature two pre-world championship games against Canada on April 7 and 8.

The U.S. squad will depart on April 12 for the 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship, which runs from April 16-25 in Zurich and Winterthur, Switzerland. There, the Americans will be looking to defend their back-to-back world titles from 2008 and 2009 (a world championship was not held in 2010 due to the Olympic Winter Games).

The preliminary roster includes 27 skaters (18 forwards, nine defensemen) and three goaltenders. The roster will be reduced by nine skaters to form the final 21-player squad.

Sixteen members of the U.S. Women's National Team that competed in the 2010 Women's Four Nations Cup in November are vying for roster spots. There are a total of 16 Olympians on the preliminary list, including 15 who captured the world title with Team USA in 2009. Four players on the roster are coming off a gold-medal performance at the 2011 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship earlier this month, while a total of 12 have won gold medals with the U18 team.

Preliminary Roster Highlights

16 Olympians
15 World Champions
12 World U18 Champions
15 players from the 2009 World Women's Championship (gold)
16 players from the 2010 Four Nations Cup (second place)
9 Canadian Women's Hockey Leage/Western Women's Hockey League players
15 NCAA Division I players
5 prep/high school players

NOTES: Click here for the full preliminary roster ... Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass.) is the youngest player on the roster. She is the daughter of U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Carpenter, has played in the last two IIHF World Women's U18 Championships and is still eligible for the World U18 Championship in 2012 ... All 30 players have skated in at least one international event for Team USA. The only two who have not competed in either an Olympics, World Championship or World U18 Championship are Josephine Pucci (Pearl River, N.Y.), who skated in the 2010 Women's Four Nations Cup, and Jen Schoullis (Erie, Pa.), who played in the 2010 Under-22 Series. Nine players have not yet seen action at the senior level, including Blake Bolden (Stow, Ohio), Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.), Carpenter, Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.), Amanda Pelkey (Montpelier, Vt.), Schoullis, Kelley Steadman (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) and Taylor Wasylk (Port Huron, Mich.). Kessel was named to the U.S. Women's National Team for the 2010 Women's Four Nations Cup, but missed the tournament due to injury ... Team USA has won three gold medals and nine silvers in the 12 previous IIHF World Women’s Championships. The U.S. has won three of the last four world championships (2005, 2008, 2009) … As previously announced, Harvard University's Katey Stone will serve as the head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team. Joining Stone as assistant coaches will be Mark Hudak, head women's ice hockey coach at Dartmouth College, and Hilary Witt, assistant women's ice hockey coach at Northeastern University. Stone, Hudak and Witt were all behind the bench for the U.S. at the 2010 Women's Four Nations Cup.

Team USA 2011 IIHF World Women’s Championship Schedule
April 16-25 • Zurich & Winterthur, Switzerland

Date Opponent Location Time (Local/EST)
Sun., April 17 Slovakia Hallenstadion 12 p.m./6 a.m.
Mon., April 18 Russia Hallenstadion 4 p.m./10 a.m.
Wed., April 20 Sweden Deutweg Rink 8 p.m./2 p.m.
Fri., April 22 Quarterfinals Hallenstadion TBA
Sat., April 23 Semifinals Hallenstadion TBA
Mon., April 25 Bronze-Medal Game Hallenstadion 4 p.m./10 a.m.
Gold-Medal Game Hallenstadion 8 p.m./2 p.m.

First Lady Michelle Obama Teams with USA Hockey, NHL on Hockey-Focused "Let's Move" PSA

Thirty-Second Spot is First Step in Youth-Oriented Joint Venture, Will Debut on Versus during 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- First lady Michelle Obama has teamed up with USA Hockey and the National Hockey League to produce a public service announcement as part of her “Let’s Move!” initiative that encourages children to become and stay active by playing hockey, as announced today by the White House, USA Hockey and the NHL.

The 30-second spot, which was shot in the White House, features the first lady detailing the many virtues and health benefits of playing hockey – including its ability to get the heart pumping, build lean muscle and teach teamwork – all while children are having fun. Scenes of boys and girls throughout the country playing the game in all its forms and in various settings show the myriad ways hockey can be enjoyed.

The PSA will debut on Versus’ nationwide coverage of the 2011 NHL SuperSkills on Saturday, Jan. 29, beginning at 7 p.m. ET, and run during Versus’ coverage of the 58th NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, Jan. 30. It will also air throughout the remainder of the 2010-11 NHL season and 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs on all NHL media platforms and during games broadcast by League rightsholders.

First lady Michelle Obama launched Let's Move to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. To extend the reach of messages and information about healthy eating and regular physical activities, USA Hockey and the NHL will team up to help promote the goals of the Let's Move! initiative and the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award through the sport of hockey.

For more information about the Let’s Move! initiative and the ways in which USA Hockey and the NHL are collaborating with the White House to promote healthier lifestyles for American children, visit letsmove.gov, USAHockey.com and nhl.com.

************************************************

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" was published for the first time in the "New York Evening Mirror" on this date in 1845.

************************************************









Fighting Saints weekend forecheck.

Muskegon Lumberjack Chris Lochner: A perfect gentleman on the ice.

Morris latest Saint to go D1.

When Tarasov joins top line, Ice surge into contention.

Lancers weekend.

Musketeers ready to find win column.

UND recruit has 615 penalty minutes in USHL.

USHL reviews mega-brawl, suspends Paulides, Belonger.

Hot goalie helps Herd hold off Storm.

USHL Alumni update.

Saints goaltender commits to Maine.

Lincoln Stars update: Berge, Quick out for season.

************************************************

Greenwich Mean Time was adopted by Scotland on this date in 1848.

************************************************

Confidant Calvillo re-signs with Larks.

MacDermott in as Riders shape coaching staff.

Donate to the Tony Proudfoot Fund.

Visit the league's official website, cfl.ca.

************************************************

On this date in 1850, Henry Clay introduced in the Senate a compromise bill on slavery that included the admission of California into the Union as a free state.

************************************************

Mommy corrals Mr. Wiggily Toddler.

************************************************

Here's the NFL Wild Card Round schedule:

At Seattle Seahawks 41, New Orleans Saints 36

New York Jets 17 at Indianapolis Colts 16

Baltimore Ravens 30 at Kansas City Chiefs 7

Green Bay Packers 21 at Philadelphia Eagles 16

Here's the NFL Divisional Round Schedule:

At Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Baltimore Ravens 24

Green Bay Packers 48 at Atlanta Falcons 21

At Chicago Bears 35, Seattle Seahawks 24

New York Jets 28 at New England Patriots 21

Here's the NFL Championship Round Schedule:

Green Bay Packers 21 at Chicago Bears 14

At Pittsburgh Steelers 24, New York Jets 19

Super Bowl XLV:

Sunday, February 6th 6:30pm Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers at Cowboys Stadium

************************************************

Kansas became the 34th state of the Union on this date in 1861.

************************************************

Today in Elvis History:

1966 - Elvis Presley's "Tell Me Why" reached #33 in the U.S.

************************************************

It's Saturday. And be glad it's winter and the grass is dormant fellas, or we'd all have to mow the lawn today, instead of stretching out on the couch watching TV.

************************************************

Today in Beatles History:

1992 - George Harrison's "Dark Horse" was released on compact disc. The album was originally released on December 9, 1974.

************************************************

Today is Curmudgeon's Day.

************************************************

Today in Sports History:

1936 - The first members of major league baseball's Hall of Fame were named in Cooperstown, NY. They were Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson.

1963 - The first members to the NFL's Hall of Fame were named in Canton, OH. The list included Sammy Baugh, Johnny Blood, Dutch Clark, Red Grange, Mel Hein, Pete Henry, Cal Hubbard, Don Hutson, Bronko Nagurski, Ernie Nevers, Jim Thorpe, Bert Bell, Joe Carr, George Halas, Curly Lambeau, Tim Mara, and George Preston Marshall.

1985 - Jari Kurri (Edmonton Oilers) set an NHL record when he scored his 100th point in the 39th game of the season.

1989 - Billy Joel sang the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XXIII.

1995 - The San Francisco 49ers became the first team in National Football League (NFL) history to win five Super Bowl titles. The 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers 49-26 in Super Bowl XXIX. San Francisco quarterback Steve Young threw six touchdown passes in the game.

2004 - Major League Baseball owners approved the $430 million sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers from News Corp. to Frank McCourt.

************************************************

Today is Free Thinkers Day.

************************************************

Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Sunday --

Nothin' Doin'

Monday --

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Philadelphia Flyers 7:30pm EST

Wednesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals 7:30pm EST

Saturday --

SEJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 3:30pm EST

MJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 8:00pm EST

Sunday --

SEJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 10:30am EST

MJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 10:30am EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs St. Louis Blues 3:00pm EST

************************************************

That's all for today. See you again tomorrow.