It's Wednesday

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

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Today is June 22nd, the 173rd day of 2011. There are 192 days left in the year.

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College coaches enjoy Bruins' Cup run.

Thomas trades whiskers for charity.

Star-studded treatment for NHL's best at Awards.

NHL Board unanimous on Winnipeg sale, relocation.

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Todays Birthdays: Actor/singer Kris Kristofferson is 75; actress Meryl Streep is 62; actor Bruce Campbell (Burn Notice) is 53; author Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code) is 47; TV personality Carson Daly is 38.

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U.S. Inline National Team Defeats Canada, 6-3,
at 2011 IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship
Team USA Advances to Quarterfinals as Top Seed in Group A

PARDUBICE, Czech Republic – Goalie Troy Redmann (Brea, Calif.) allowed no second-half goals and just three goals overall, as the U.S. Inline National Team topped Canada, 6-3, in its third and final preliminary-round game of the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation InLine Hockey World Championship.

With the victory, Team USA improved to 3-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) overall, and claimed the top seed in Group A. The U.S. will face Germany Thursday (June 23) at 2 p.m. EDT in the quarterfinal round.

“I thought we did a great job in the second half of locking down on our opponent," said Rob Chornomud, head coach of the U.S. Inline National Team. "Moving into the quarterfinals, we need to continue to play solid defense and not turn the puck over.”

After surrendering the lone first-period goal, Team USA jumped out to a 4-1 lead with four goals in the first five minutes of the second. C.J. Yoder (Hershey, Pa.) started the scoring spree with a power-play goal just 12 seconds into the frame. Itan Chavira (Upland, Calif.), who assisted on Yoder's tally, notched a goal of his own two minutes later to give the U.S. its first lead of the game.

Shawn Gawrys (St. Louis, Mo.) helped extend Team USA's lead to three goals, scoring at the 3:25 mark of the second period and then assisting on a goal by Rafael Rodriguez (Oceanside, Calif.) just one minute later. But Canada scored twice more to close out the period and reduce the United States' halftime advantage to 4-3.

In the game's second half, Redmann and the U.S defense were strong. Team USA allowed only six shots on goal in the final two periods and denied Canada any chance for a comeback. Chavira's power-play goal midway through the fourth period gave Team USA a two-goal cushion, while Kyle Kraemer's (St. Charles, Mo.) last-minute empty-net tally put the contest out of reach.

NOTES: Team USA was whistled for only one penalty in the game. The U.S. went 2-for-6 on the power play, while Canada scored on its lone man-advantage situation ... Rob Chornomud is serving as head coach of the U.S. InLine National Team for the third consecutive year, while former U.S. Inline National Team member Josh Milewski is the assistant coach for the second straight year … In the 14-year history of the IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship, the United States has earned gold medals in 1996, 1997, 2004, 2006 and 2010; silver medals in 1998, 2001 and 2009; and bronze medals at the 2000, 2003 and 2005 tournaments. There was no tournament played in 1999.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 0 4 0 2 -- 6
CAN 1 2 0 0 -- 3

First Period - Scoring: 1, CAN, Foote (unassisted), 4:54. Penalties: CAN, Ross (tripping), 0:26; CAN, French (charging), 1:44; CAN, Carter (hooking), 11:48.

Second Period -Scoring: 2, USA, Yoder (Chavira), 0:12 (pp); 3, USA, Chavira (Cadiz), 2:22; 4, USA, Gawrys (Walser, Yoder), 3:25; 5, USA, Rodriguez (Gawrys), 4:44; 6, CAN, Hammond (Grassi), 7:50 (pp); 7, CAN, Henderson (Nowakowski), 8:44. Penalties: USA, Kraemer (slashing), 6:32.

Third Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: CAN, Carter (hooking), 2:35; CAN, Hammond (tripping), 10:10.

Fourth Period -Scoring: 8, USA, Chavira (Beilsten), 6:37 (pp); 9, USA, Kraemer (unassisted), 11:44 (en). Penalties: CAN, Grassi (slashing), 5:59.

Shots by Period
1 2 3 4 Total
USA 9 8 8 4 29
CAN 3 7 3 3 16

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 4 Total
USA, Redmann, 48:00 3-2 7-5 3-3 3-3 16-13
CAN, Leggat, 47:21 9-9 8-4 8-8 3-2 28-23

Power Play: USA 2-6; CAN 1-1
Penalties: USA 1-1.5; CAN 6-9

Team USA 2011 IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship Schedule
June 19-June 25 • Pardubice, Czech Republic

Date Opponent Time (Local/EDT)
Sun., June 19 Slovakia W, 12-3
Mon., June 20 Slovenia W, 4-2
Tues., June 21 Canada W, 6-3
Thurs., June 23 Germany (QF) 8 p.m./2 p.m.
Fri., June 24 Semifinal Round TBD
Sat., June 25 Medal Round TBD

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Today is National Onion Ring Day.

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The Saskatchewan Roughriders play their second and final game of the 2011 CFL pre-season tonight, on the road against the BC Lions. Kickoff on 620 CKRM and the Rider Radio Network, with Rod Pedersen and Carm Carteri calling all the action, is at 10:00pm EDT.

Nye: Tough decisions ahead for Rider brass.

Visit the team's official website at http://www.riderville.com/.

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Fast-food chain Jack in the Box has pulled toys from its kids' meals. The move comes as fast-food companies are under pressure to stop using toys to market children's meals that are high in calories, sugar, fat and salt.

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CFL back on NFL Network for 2011.

Faibish: Competition remains high in Steeltown.

Officiating improvements on and off the field.

2011 CFL Schedule is here.

Donate to the Tony Proudfoot Fund.

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

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Blogger is not letting me add my daily Jimmy picture. Sorry everybody.

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A recent study by Texas researchers proves what single men have known for a long time: Chicks dig hot cars. Men who wear expensive clothes and drive flashy cars are more successful at having flings and staying single than their financially conservative counterparts.

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ST PETERSBURG --  Most Rays fans would concede that the bullpen has been the biggest surprise thus far in the season.

After last year's bullpen pretty much went elsewhere, Tampa Bay's management cobbled together a reconstructed group and the finished product has been a strength for the team.

Unfortunately, the group's body of work this week in Milwaukee has not lived up to the standard they have set. Had the bullpen been able to shut down the Brewers Tuesday night, the Rays might have been able to steal one. Instead, they lost, 5-1, with 40,079 watching at Miller Park.

Read the rest here.

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A new study suggests that humans may have a sixth sense, the ability to sense magnetic fields. (Then how come I keep tripping over electrical cords?)

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SAN FRANCISCO --   This was a one-punch fight. No, make that eight punches.

The Minnesota Twins stunned Madison Bumgarner and the Giants by rapping eight consecutive hits to christen Tuesday night's Interleague series opener and amassing eight first-inning runs, an outburst from which San Francisco never recovered in a 9-2 loss.

Read the rest here.

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Today in Elvis History:

1964 - Principal photography began on the Elvis Presley movie "Girl Happy" at MGM Studios. Visitors to the set included George Hamilton and his then girlfriend Lynda Bird Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon Johnson.

2004 - The "Elvis: '68 Comeback Special - Deluxe Edition DVD" and "Elvis, Aloha from Hawaii - Deluxe Edition DVD" sets were released in North America.

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President Obama will address the nation tonight (8p ET) about his plans for a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

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Today in Beatles History:

1981 - Mark David Chapman pled guilty to killing John Lennon.

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Harry Potter fans will find out tomorrow (Thursday) what Pottermore.com is. The Internet is crazy with rumors.

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Today in Sports History:

1939 - The first U.S. water-ski tournament was held at Jones Beach, on Long Island, New York.

1939 - Joe Louis defeated Max Schmeling in 124 seconds.

1979 - Former WHA teams the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets joined the NHL. The NHL had expanded to 21 teams.

1979 - Troy Archer (New York Giants) died in a traffic accident.

1990 - Billy Joel became the first rock artist to perform at Yankee Stadium.

1991 - Eric Lindros was selected first overall by the Quebec Nordiques at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.

2002 - Darryl Kile (St. Louis Cardinals) was found dead in his hotel room.

2003 - Michelle Wie won her first USGA title at the age of 13. She was the youngest person to win any adult USGA event.

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English explorer Henry Hudson, his son and several other people were set adrift in present-day Hudson Bay by mutineers on this date in 1611.

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Coming Up: 

Tonight --

MLB - Tampa Bay Rays at Milwaukee Brewers 2:10pm EDT

CFL Football -- Saskatchewan Roughriders at BC Lions 10:00pm EDT

MLB - San Francisco Giants vs Minnesota Twins 10:15pm EDT

Thursday --

MLB - San Francisco Giants vs Minnesota Twins 3:45pm EDT

Friday --

MLB - Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros 8:05pm EDT

MLB - San Francisco Giants vs Cleveland Indians 10:15pm EDT

Saturday --

MLB - San Francisco Giants vs Cleveland Indians 4:10pm EDT

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Bucyrus 200 at Road America 5:30pm EDT

MLB - Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros 7:05pm EDT

Indy Car Series -- Iowa Corn 250 at Iowa Speedway 8:00pm EDT

Sunday --

MLB - Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros 2:05pm EDT

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway 3:00pm EDT

MLB - San Francisco Giants vs Cleveland Indians 8:05pm EDT

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That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, be sure to tell your friends about this blog. See you tomorrow.