It's Wednesday

It's Wednesday. Here's what's happening today....

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Today is March 2nd, the 61st day of 2011. There are 304 days left in the year.

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Boyes helps Sabres inch closer to playoff spot.

Caps beat Isles in OT.

Hurricanes hold off Panthers.

Canadiens hold off Thrashers.

Bruins blank Senators.

Flames take care of Blues.

Stars stun Coyotes.

Oilers top Predators in shootout.

Canucks top Blue Jackets in shootout.

Sharks top Avalanche in shootout.

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Today's birthdays: Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev is 80; author Tom Wolfe is 80; rocker Jon Bon Jovi is 49; actor Daniel Craig (Defiance, Cowboys & Aliens, James Bond films) is 43; singer Chris Martin (Coldplay, married to Gwyneth Paltrow) is 34; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is 29.

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Pack the House a six-figure success.

Lumberjacks not alone in having big crowds last weekend.

Sioux City blanks Storm.

Kuhn earns CCHA goalie of week award.

Former rivals Kohls, Taft tandem well.

USHL Honors - Week #22.

Omaha, Cedar Rapids down Black Hawks.

New role, new level of success for Niagra's Haczyk.

Gamblers defeat Black Hawks.

Donovan stands tall on Pioneers blue line.

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Today is Read Across America Day.

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Phil Kessel Makes Donation
to USA Hockey Foundation for Brendan Burke Internship


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Phil Kessel, a forward on the National Hockey League's Toronto Maple Leafs and member of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, has donated $5,000 to the USA Hockey Foundation in support of the Brendan Burke Internship.

The Brendan Burke Internship is an annual 12-month internship for a recent college graduate interested in pursuing hockey operations as a career. The internship was established in memory of the late Brendan Burke who passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 5, 2010, at age 21. Brendan, the son of Brian Burke, general manager of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, was a student at Miami University and served as a hockey operations assistant with Miami's men's ice hockey team.

Funding for Kessel's gift came from the NHL Foundation and NHL Player's Association Goals and Dreams, which awarded him $20,000 to donate to charities of his choosing as part of the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend in Raleigh, N.C.


2010-11 U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team
to Compete at Florida Spring Sled Hockey Showcase
Team USA to Face Club Teams in Three-Day Event

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The 2010-11 U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team will take part in a three-day sled hockey exhibition this weekend at the Florida Spring Sled Hockey Showcase in Ft. Myers, Fla. The event marks Team USA's final gathering for the 2010-11 season.

The U.S. will take on the Buffalo Sabres Sled Hockey and Northeast Passage/University of New Hampshire Wildcats club sled hockey teams in round-robin play from March 4-6 at the Ft. Myers Skatium. The event will also include Team USA practices and a sled hockey clinic for fans in attendance.

In addition, Team USA will skate during the second intermission of an ECHL game between the Florida Everblades and the South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday night (March 5) at the Germain Arena in Estero, Fla.

A full schedule can be found below.

NOTES: The U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team was formerly known as the U.S. National Junior Sled Hockey Team ... The 2010-11 U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team includes seven returning members from last year's squad, including goaltender Danny Hefley (Wexford, Pa.); defensemen Tyler Anderson (Jenison, Mich.), John Mollica (The Plains, Ohio) and Mason Newbold (Lockport, N.Y.); and forwards Raymond Beck (Sicklerville, N.J.), Connor Fee (Spotswood, N.J.) and Ryan Pelletier (Columbia, Conn.) ... Beck and Bryan Genovese (Oceanside, N.Y.) have each spent time with the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team this season as well, and will join U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team teammate Justin Kreger (Waterford, Wis.) on Team USA at the 2011 Japan Para Ice Sledge Hockey Championships from March 10-14 in Nagano, Japan ... Head Coach Gregg Marinari served as the assistant coach of the 2009-10 U.S. National Junior Sled Hockey Team ... Assistant Coach Kip St. Germaine is a three-time U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team member (1998, 2002, 2006) and most recently skated with the 2009-10 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team.

2011 Florida Spring Sled Hockey Showcase
March 4-6 • Ft. Myers, Fla. • Ft. Myers Skatium

Date Event Time (EST)
Thurs., March 3 Team USA Practice 8-9:30 p.m.
Fri., March 4 Team USA Practice 12-1 p.m.
Team USA vs. Buffalo 8-10 p.m.
Sat., March 5 Team USA vs. UNH 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Team USA vs. Buffalo 3-5 p.m.
Florida Everblades Intermission 7 p.m.
UNH vs. Buffalo 8-10 p.m.
Sun., March 6 Team USA vs. UNH 8-9 a.m.
Sled Hockey Clinic 10:30-11:30 a.m.
UNH vs. Buffalo 3-5 p.m.

Greg Scott Named Winner of 2011 Positive Coaching Alliance Double-Goal Coach Award, Presented by Liberty Mutual Insurance
Sled Hockey Coach One of 20 Recipients

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Greg Scott, a USA Hockey certified coach and head coach of the Pennsylvania Center-Pedes club sled hockey team, was named a winner of the 2011 Positive Coaching Alliance Double-Goal Coach Award, presented by Liberty Mutual Insurance.

Scott, a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach, was one of 20 award recipients who are being honored for their efforts to create a positive, character-building youth sports environment with a focus on teaching life lessons through sports.

“All of the winners of this prestigious award exemplify responsibility, which is the characteristic we at Liberty Mutual value most,” said Greg Gordon, Liberty Mutual’s senior vice president of consumer marketing. "That’s why we are committed to supporting PCA’s Double-Goal Coach Awards program. It is tremendously important that these fine coaches be held up as examples to be emulated.”

The Pennsylvania Center-Pedes are one of the top sled hockey club teams in the country, with current U.S. National Sled Hockey Team members Jimmy Connelly (Galloway, N.J.), Tim Jones (Mt. Ephraim, N.J.) and Danny McDevitt (Abington, Pa.) on its roster.

NOTES: Liberty Mutual and PCA have also partnered to help youth sports coaches and parents, through the Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports program. Founded in 2007, the program serves as a means to highlight the positive impact that everyday, responsible actions can have on our youth ... Liberty Mutual is the Official Insurance Company Partner of USA Hockey.

University of Wisconsin Unanimous No. 1
in USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Wisconsin is the unanimous No. 1 in this week's USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll following a weekend sweep of St. Cloud State University in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association tournament. The Badgers, who boast a 32-2-2 record, accumulated 190 points and all 19 first-place votes to earn the top spot for the ninth week in a row.

Cornell University remains at No. 2 with 171 points after twice defeating Rensselaer in the ECAC Hockey tournament, while Mercyhurst College (139) sits in the No. 3 spot following a win over Robert Morris University. The idle Boston University (136) claims the No. 4 spot, while the University of Minnesota (122) rounds out the top five after earning two victories over The Ohio State University in the WCHA tournament.

Highlighting this weekend's games are three top-10 match-ups, including two WCHA semifinals between No. 1 University of Wisconsin and No. 8 University of North Dakota, and No. 5 University of Minnesota and No. 6 University of Minnesota Duluth. Meanwhile, No. 7 Boston College will face off against No. 9 Providence College in the Hockey East semifinals. The College Hockey America and WCHA championships will take place on Saturday (March 5), while the ECAC Hockey and Hockey East championships will be played on Sunday (March 6).

NOTES: Nominees for the 2011 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey, were announced on Feb. 21. The top-10 finalists will be announced on Thursday (March 3), while the top-three finalists will be announced on March 10. Visit PattyKaz.com for the list of nominated players ... The WCHA leads all conferences in this week's poll with four ranked programs, while Hockey East boasts three, ECAC Hockey has two ranked teams and CHA has one ... A total of 12 teams received votes ... Only three polls remain this season, as the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women’s College Hockey Poll will conclude on Tuesday, March 22, following the NCAA Women's Frozen Four.

ABOUT THE POLL: The 14th annual USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women’s College Hockey Poll is conducted each week in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the four NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the AHCA and USA Hockey Magazine, the most widely distributed hockey magazine in the world.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine
Women's College Hockey Poll - #21
(first-place votes in parentheses)

Rank School Last Week's Ranking 2010-11 Record Weeks in Top 10
1 University of Wisconsin, 190 (19) 1 32-2-2 21
2 Cornell University, 171 2 28-2-1 21
3 Mercyhurst College, 139 3 27-5-0 21
4 Boston University, 136 4 25-5-4 21
5 University of Minnesota, 122 5 25-8-2 20
6 University of Minnesota Duluth, 97 6 22-7-3 21
7 Boston College, 74 7 21-6-6 21
8 University of North Dakota, 53 8 20-12-3 21
9 Providence College, 28 10 22-11-1 11
10 Dartmouth College, 21 9 21-10-0 5

Others receiving votes: Harvard University, 8; Quinnipiac University, 6.




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The U.S. has branded Moamer Gaddafi "delusional". (First the guy refuses to leave Libya, now he's saying Charlie Sheen deserves more money for "Two and a Half Men".)

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Faibish: Cats ready to evaluate prospects.

Ti-Cats release Cobb and Floyd.

Riders re-sign All-star safety Patrick.

Lions lock up Banks through 2012.

2011 CFL Schedule is here.

Donate to the Tony Proudfoot Fund.

Visit the leagues' official website, http://www.cfl.ca/.

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Takin' it easy.






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Stay positive, friend. A new study shows that optimists live longer after major surgery.


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Today in Elvis History:

1957 - Elvis Presley's "Too Much" hit #2 in the U.S.

1960 - Elvis Presley left Germany after serving two years in the U.S. Army.

1988 - Elvis Presley's song "Hound Dog" was inducted into the NARAS Hall of Fame at the 30th annual Grammy Awards.

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Want happier kids? Eat dinner with them. Children who grow up in a traditional two-parent family and regularly eat an evening meal with their parents are more likely to be happy with their lives.

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Today in Beatles History:

1964 - "Twist and Shout" by the Beatles was released in the U.S.

1964 - George Harrison and Pattie Boyd met each other for the first time.

1964 - The Beatles began their first film, "A Hard Day's Night."

1967 - The Beatles won two awards at the ninth annual Grammy Awards.

1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono performed at a jazz festival in Cambridge, England. At the show they recorded "Let's Go On Flying," "Snow Is Falling All the Time," "Don't Worry Kyoko," "Song for John," and "Cambridge 1969." It was the first time a Beatle performed solo.

1973 - A judge granted Yoko One permanent residency in the U.S. The same judge also ruled that John Lennon would have to leave the country in the next 60 days or be deported.

1975 - Linda McCartney was arrested for personal possession of marijuana. Paul was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident but was not charged.

2003 - "The Beatles - Now and Then, Photographs by Harry Benson" exhibit ended at the Albany Institute of History & Art. The exhibit featured approximately 80 of Benson's classic images of the Beatles.

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A driver told Quincy, Illinois, police he passed out at the wheel of his truck before he hit a traffic sign, a bush and finally a house. The guy had just had his tongue pierced. You'd think someone would drive a guy home after that.

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Today in Sports History:

1904 - The "Official Playing Rules of Professional Base Ball Clubs" were adopted.

1918 - Joe Malone (Toronto Arenas) became the first scoring leader in the NHL. He had scored 44 goals in 22 games in the first NHL season. His record stood until 1944-45 when 50 goals were scored by Maurice "The Rocket" Richard.

1922 - The Toronto St. Patricks and the Vancouver Millionaires played the final professional hockey game that featured seven players on each side.

1927 - Babe Ruth signed a 3-year contract with the New York Yankees worth $70,000 a year.

1929 - George Hainsworth (Montreal Canadiens) recorded his 20th shutout of the season. He ended the season with a total of 22.

1929 - The Chicago Blackhawks were shut out for the eighth consecutive game.

1940 - The first televised intercollegiate track meet was seen on TV in New York City on W2XBS. The game presented live from Madison Square Garden. New York University won the meet.

1962 - Wilt 'The Stilt' Chamberlain scored 100 points against the New York Knicks. The final score was 169-147. Chamberlain broke several NBA records in the game.

1966 - Bobby Hull (Chicago Blackhawks) became the first NHL player to score 50 goals in two seasons.

1969 - Phil Esposito (Boston Bruins) became the first player in the NHL to score 100 points in a season. Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe also crossed the 100 mark during the same season.

1984 - John Long (Detroit) began a free throw streak of 51 NBA games.

1992 - Ryne Sandberg signed a 5-year contract with the Chicago Cubs worth $30.5 million.

2000 - Team New Zealand (Kiwis) retained yachting's America's Cup. It was the first time that a non-American syndicate had successfully defended the Cup.

2004 - The Pittsburgh Penguins ended their NHL record 14-game home losing streak when they tied the New York Islanders 3-3.

2004 - The Indianapolis Colts signed Peyton Manning to a seven-year, $98 million deal with a $34.5 million signing bonus. It was the largest package to date in the NFL.

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American Idol is 90 minutes tonight. The top 12 girls perform for America's votes.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils 7:00pm EST

Thursday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins 7:00pm EST

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens 7:00pm EST

Sunday --

Nothin' Doin'

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That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow.