Happy Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving Thursday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is November 24th, the 328th day of 2011. There are 37 days left in the year.

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NHL.com, NBCSports.com gear up for Showdown.

Crosby motivated by desire to return to previous level.

Visit the official league website, http://www.nhl.com.

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Today is Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day.

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Tampa, FL. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled forward Dana Tyrell from the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League today, Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced.

Read the rest here.

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Today is D.B. Cooper Day. (Linky Link)

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National Team Development Program Weekly Update

Under-18 Team Drops Two in USHL, Travel East to Face College Competition;
Under-17 Team Outscored by Waterloo in First USHL Contest Since October

U17 TEAM ENJOYS OFF WEEKEND: The U.S. National Under-17 Team enjoys a weekend off from competition before it gears up for a United States Hockey League road trip from Dec. 2-4. The Under-17 Team will play three games in three days starting on Friday (Dec. 2) against the Waterloo Black Hawks. On Saturday (Dec. 3) the squad travels to Des Moines to face the Buccaneers and the trip concludes Sunday (Dec. 4) versus the RoughRiders in Cedar Rapids.

U18'S TRAVEL EAST TO FACE COLLEGE COMPETITION: The U.S. National Under-18 Team heads east to the University of Maine the night before Thanksgiving (Nov. 23) for a 7:00 p.m. ET match-up against the Black Bears. The squad will next head to Colby College on Saturday (Nov. 26) for a 4:30 p.m. ET tilt at Alfond Rink and finish with Bowdoin College on Sunday (Nov. 27). Puck drop is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET at Sidney J. Watson Arena in Brunswick, Maine.

U18 TEAM DROPS TWO IN USHL: In its first game since capturing the 2011 Under-18 Four Nations Tournament title, Matt Grzelcyk (Charlestown, Mass.) and Miles Koules (Los Angeles, Calif.) each notched one goal, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team fell to the Green Bay Gamblers, 4-2, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube on Friday (Nov. 18). Collin Olson (Apple Valley, Minn.) made 27 saves in the loss for the U.S. The following night (Nov. 19), Frankie Vatrano (East Longmeadow, Mass.) netted the lone Team USA goal, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team was tripped up by the Tri-City Storm, 4-1, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.

U17 TEAM OUTSCORED BY WATERLOO: Forwards J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.), Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.) and Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich.) each recorded one goal and one assist, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team was outscored by Waterloo, 8-4, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube on Tuesday (Nov. 22). Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) and Curtis Frye (Northwood, N.H.) combined to make 21 saves in the loss for Team USA.

USA HOCKEY SUPPORTS TOYS FOR TOTS: WAAM Talk 1600 of Ann Arbor, Mich. and the Salvation Army are conducting its fifth annual toy drive now through December 12th. The goal is to collect 1600 toys for 1600 needy boys and girls in Washtenaw County. USA Hockey's National Team Development Program and the Ann Arbor Ice Cube will serve as a drop off location. Every year, WAAM collects thousands of toys for children in the local community.

THE USHL AND FASTHOCKEY: Catch all of Team USA's USHL action on FASTHockey.com, the premier online destination for ice hockey fanatics from around the world.

UNDER-18 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Stefan Matteau (Chicago, Ill.) leads the U.S. National Under-18 Team in points with five goals and eight assists in 19 games ... Nicolas Kerdiles (Irvine, Calif./9-3--12) and Riley Barber (Livonia, Mich./7-5--12) are tied for second while Frankie Vatrano (East Longmeadow, Mass./4-6--10) and Seth Jones (Plano, Texas/1-9--10) are tied for fourth with 10 points apiece ... Matthew Lane (Rochester, N.Y.) has committed to play collegiate hockey at Boston University. The forward will be joined at Boston University by current teammate and defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (Charlestown, Mass.) ... Defenseman Gavin Stoick (Portland, Ore.) has committed to Cornell University.

UNDER-17 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich.) leads the U.S. National Under-17 Team in scoring with 16 points (10-6) in 13 games. The forward is on a three-game point streak in the United States Hockey League, scoring three goals and adding two assists in that span ... J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.) is second with 15 points (7-8) in 15 games. Compher has four points (1-3) in his last two USHL games ... Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.) is currently riding a five-game USHL point (5-1) streak dating back to Oct. 7. His 12 points (10-2) are tied for third best on the squad along with Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass./7-5--12) ... Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.) leads all defensemen on the Under-17 Team with nine points (4-5) ... In goal for the Under-17 Team, Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) is 6-2-1 with a 2.65 goals-against-average and a 89.7 save percentage ... Curtis Frye (Northwood, N.H.) is 1-4-1 with a 4.43 goals-against-average and an 84.1 save percentage.

NTDP ALUMNI UPDATE: Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis./2003-05) added to his National Hockey League best in points (30) on Tuesday (Nov. 22). The Maple Leaf forward had one assist in a 7-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kessel also leads the league in goals scored with 16 ... Nashville defensemen Ryan Suter (Madison, Wis./2001-03) ranks third in the league in plus-minus (+15) ... Chicago's Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./2004-06) leads all U.S. forwards in plus-minus (+10). The Blackhawks forward also has 22 points (7-15) in 21 games. His 15 assists are tied for the most by a U.S. born player ... Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (Ogdensburg, N.Y./2001-02) is tied for the most shutouts (3) in the NHL. The netminder is also third in wins with 10 and fourth overall in goals-against-average (1.85) ... University of Notre Dame sophomore forward Bryan Rust (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./2008-10) scored the game-winning goal with 1.1 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Fighting Irish a 3-2 win over Boston College on Friday (Nov. 18).

For the complete weekly update, click here.

ABOUT THE NTDP: In 1996, USA Hockey launched a revolutionary new initiative called the National Team Development Program, based in Ann Arbor, Mich. Celebrating its 15th season of play in 2011-12, the goal of this full-time development program is to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. National Teams and success in their future hockey careers. Its efforts focus not only on high-caliber participation on the ice, but creating well-rounded individuals off the ice.

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The National Rifle Association was incorporated in the U.S. on this date in 1871.

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Landry: Palardy welcomes pristine conditions.

Cauz: The Grey Cup and the joys of sports hate.

Kornegay relishes another run at the Cup.

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

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I had a brush with "fame" yesterday. I was in our local Wal*Mart, wearing my Riders t-shirt when a tall guy approached me and asked me if I was Canadian. I said I wasn't and we made some small talk. When I asked his name, he said: "B.J. Hall." Yup, Argos back-up QB B.J. Hall was shopping in my local Wal*Mart. Pretty cool, huh?

He seemed like a really nice guy. Picks Winnipeg to win the Grey Cup and asked if I know who Darian Durant was.

My first brush with fame since I met former NHL official Mark Faucett last winter.

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Beavers in the NFL: Week 11.

Visit the official football website by clicking here.

Visit the school's official athletics website by clicking here.

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Joseph F. Glidden was granted a patent for a barbed fencing material on this date in 1874.

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The 2011 NFL season is underway. Here's the week eleven results:

Week 11

Thursday, November 17th

At Denver 17, NY Jets 13

Sunday, November 20th

At Green Bay 35, Tampa Bay 26
At Detroit 49, Carolina 35
At Cleveland 14 Jacksonville 10
Oakland 27 at Minnesota 21
At Miami 35, Buffalo 8
Dallas 27 at Washington 24 (OT)
At Baltimore 31, Cincinnati 24
At San Francisco 23, Arizona 7
Seattle 24 at St. Louis 7
At Atlanta 23, Tennessee 17
At Chicago 31, San Diego 20
Philadelphia 17 at NY Giants 10

Monday, November 21st

Kansas City at New England 8:30 PM

·Bye: Indianapolis, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Houston

Week 12

All Times Eastern
Thursday, November 24th

Green Bay at Detroit 12:30 PM
Miami at Dallas 4:15 PM
San Francisco at Baltimore 8:20 PM

Sunday, November 27th

Houston at Jacksonville 1:00 PM
Buffalo at NY Jets 1:00 PM
Cleveland at Cincinnati 1:00 PM
Minnesota at Atlanta 1:00 PM
Arizona at St. Louis 1:00 PM
Carolina at Indianapolis 1:00 PM
Tampa Bay at Tennessee 1:00 PM
Chicago at Oakland 4:05 PM
Washington at Seattle 4:05 PM
Denver at San Diego 4:15 PM
New England at Philadelphia 4:15 PM
Pittsburgh at Kansas City 8:20 PM

Monday, November 28th

NY Giants at New Orleans 8:30 PM

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Clyde J. Coleman received the patent for an electric self-starter for an automobile on this date in 1903.

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Jimmy gets a good view of the fire trucks.

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John Steinbeck's novel "The Pearl" was published for the first time on this date in 1947.

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Today in Elvis History:

1964 - Production ended on the Elvis Presley film "Tickle Me."

1964 - The Elvis Presley film "Harum Scarum" opened.

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Apollo 12 landed safely in the Pacific Ocean on this date in 1969, bringing an end to the second manned mission to the moon.

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Today in Beatles History:

1941 - Randolph Peter Best was born. In 1960, he became the drummer for the Beatles.

1986 - Paul McCartney took part in the annual "Royal Variety Performance" at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

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On this date in 1987, the U.S. and the Soviet Union agreed to scrap short- and medium-range missiles. It was the first superpower treaty to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons.

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Today in Sports History:

1960 - Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) set an NBA record with 55 rebounds against the Boston Celtics.

1991 - Monica Seals set a female tennis record by winning $2,457,758 in a year.

1996 - Barry Sanders (Detroit Lions) set an NFL record when he recorded his eighth straight 1,000-yard season.

1996 - Rusty Wallace won the first NASCAR event to be held in Japan.

1996 - Clyde Drexler (Houston Rockets) became the 24th NBA player to record 20,000 career points.

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Today, I'm thankful for my big screen tv, new car and bright sunny day. But what I'm really most thankful for, is my wife, my son, our dogs, good health, friends and a roof over my head.

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Coming up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers 7:30 EST

Saturday --

College Football -- Oregon State Beavers at Oregon Ducks 3:30pm EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers 7:00pm EST

Sunday --

NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tennessee Titans 1:00pm EST

CFL Football -- 99th Grey Cup Game, Winnipeg vs BC at Vancouver, B.C. 6:30pm EST

Monday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Minnesota Wild 7:30pm EST

Tuesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Wednesday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lighting at Detroit Red Wings 7:30pm EST

Thursday --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

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

EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 6:15pm EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs New York Rangers 7:00pm EST

Sunday --

Empire South Hockey - Tampa Bay Juniors vs Florida Eels 12:15pm EST

NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers 1:00pm EST

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That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by, I hope that you'll do so again tomorrow. Thanks again!