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

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Today is November 12th, the 316th day of 2011. There are 49 days left in the year.

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Report: Gretzky warming to Classic Alumni game.

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

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Andrew Ellicott Douglass witnesses the Leonids meteor shower from a ship off the Florida Keys on this date in 1799.

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Tampa, FL. -- Here's a preview of tonight's Lightning at St. Louis game.

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The first flying trapeze act was performed by Jules Leotard at Cirque Napoleon in Paris, France on this date in 1859. He was also the designer of the garment that is named after him.

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U.S. Men's Select Team Falls to Slovakia, 2-0,
in 2011 Deutschland Cup Tournament

Curry Makes 29 Saves in Loss


MUNICH, GERMANY - Goalie John Curry (Shorewood, Minn.) stopped 29 of 31 shots faced, but the U.S. Men's Select Team lost to Slovakia, 2-0, in its first game of the 2011 Deutschland Cup Tournament.

"I thought we played hard and skated well," said Don Waddell, head coach of the U.S. Men's Select Team. "We had some unbelievable scoring chances, but were unable to bury it. We'll regroup and be ready for tomorrow's game."

Team USA had it's best scoring opportunity of the game near the eight minute mark of the first period. Corey Elkins (West Bloomfield, Mich.) received a pass from Sergio Somma (Pittsburgh, Pa.), but the puck jumped over his stick before he was able to capitalize with a vacant net. Slovakia scored the first goal of the game two minutes later, at 9:56, and the U.S. went into the first intermission trailing, 1-0.

Team USA outshot Slovakia, 10-5, in the second frame, but neither team was able to light the lamp. Slovakia opened up a two-goal lead at 8:38 of the third period and, despite a late power-play opportunity, the U.S. was unable to mount a comeback.

The U.S. Men's Select Team will continue tournament play against Switzerland tomorrow (Nov. 12) at 12:15 p.m. EST. A full schedule is below.

NOTES: Marty Sertich (Roseville, Minn.) was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... The U.S. went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Slovakia went 0-for-3 with the man advantage ...For Team USA's full roster, click here ... The Deutschland Cup has been held every year since 1987 and will feature teams from Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United States ... Team USA has participated in the Deutschland Cup on six occasions (2002-05, 2007, 2009). The U.S. won the tournament in 2003 and 2004, garnered second-place finishes in 2007 and 2009 and finished third in 2005 ... Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, will serve as general manager of the team. Don Waddell, long-time head coach and general manager in the National Hockey League and International Hockey League, will serve as head coach with Chris Chelios, advisor to hockey operations of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, and Bill Guerin, player development coach of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, serving as assistant coaches ... Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament. Scores will be designated with #DeutschCup.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

SVK 1 - 0 - 1 - 2
USA 0 - 0 - 0 - 0

First Period – Scoring: 1, SVK, Miklik (unassisted), 9:56. Penalties: SVK, Sersen (hooking), 2:09; USA, Somma (delaying-the-game), 11:22; USA, Collins (slashing), 15:37.

Second Period – Scoring: None. Penalties: SVK, Lusnak (holding), 12:05.

Third Period - Scoring: 2, SVK, Miklik (Bliznak, Sersen), 8:39; Penalties: USA, Tallackson (high-sticking); SVK, Baranka (tripping); SVK, Miklik (high-sticking), 19:05.

Shots by Period
1 2 3 Total
SVK 14 5 12 31
USA 10 10 6 26

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
SVK, Hamerlik, 60:00 10/10 10/10 6/6 26/26
USA, Curry, 57:57 14/13 5/5 12/11 31/29

Power Play: SVK 0-3; USA 0-4
Penalties: SVK 4-8; USA 3-6

Team USA 2011 Deutschland Cup Schedule
November 11-13 • Munich, Germany

Date Opponent
Time (Local/EST)

Fri., Nov. 11 Slovakia L, 0-2
Sat., Nov. 12 Switzerland 6:15 p.m./12:15 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 13 Germany 5:15 p.m./11:15 a.m.

U.S. Junior Select Team Falls to Canada East, 4-2,
in the World Junior A Challenge Semifinal Round

Pigozzi, Welinski Score for Team USA


LANGLEY, B.C. -- Ray Pigozzi (Evanston, Ill./Des Moines Buccaneers) and Andy Welinski (Duluth, Minn./Green Bay Gamblers) each scored for Team USA, but the U.S. Junior Select Team fell to Canada East, 4-2, in the semifinal round of the 2011 World Junior A Challenge. With the loss, Team USA drops to 2-0-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) overall and will play in the third-place game tomorrow (Nov. 12).

"We never got into a rhythm offensively," said Regg Simon, head coach of the U.S. Junior Select Team. "Ultimately, we turned too many pucks over and Canada East capitalized on our mistakes."

Canada East scored the first two goals of the contest less than eight minutes into the first period. Pigozzi made it a one-goal game at 12:53 when he found the puck off of a deflection at the back post and fired it into the net for his first goal of the tournament. However, Canada East reopened a two-goal lead at 17:08, sending the U.S. into the first intermission trailing, 3-1.

Team USA outshot Canada East in the second period, 11-6, but was unable to chip away at its deficit.

At 6:31 of the third period, Team USA's Welinski blasted a shot from the point that found the back of the net to pull the U.S. within a goal. But Canada East tacked on an insurance tally at 9:01 to secure the victory.

U.S. goalie Ryan McKay (Palatine, Ill./Green Bay Gamblers) made 24 saves in the loss, while Canada East netminder Adrian Ignagni turned aside 21 shots in a winning effort.

The U.S. Junior Select Team will face the loser of the second semifinal game between Canada West and Sweden tomorrow at 10:30 p.m. EST. A full schedule is below.

NOTES: Andy Welinski was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... The U.S. went 0-for-3 on the power play, while Canada East was 0-for-2 with the man advantage ... For Team USA's full roster, click here ... The World Junior A Challenge is in its sixth year and Team USA will be competing in the tournament for the fifth consecutive time ... The U.S. has won the championship the past three years (2008, 2009, 2010) and garnered a third-place finish in 2007 ... The 2011 World Junior A Challenge includes teams from the Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden, and the United States and two teams from Canada (East and West) ... Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament. Scores will be designated with #JrAChallenge.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 1 - 0 - 1 - 2
CANE 3 - 0 - 1- 4

First Period – Scoring: 1, CANE, Shore (Weegar), 4:03; 2, CANE, Megannety (Tys. Spink, Tyl. Spink), 7:41; 3, USA, Pigozzi (Patterson), 12:53; 4, CANE, Tyl. Spink (unassisted), 17:08. Penalties: USA, Cooper (tripping), 0:45.

Second Period – Scoring: None. Penalties: CANE, Geiger (cross-checking), 10:15; CANE, Dutra (interference), 13:19; CANE, Caggiula (delay of game), 18:13.

Third Period - Scoring: 5, USA, Welinski (Kuraly), 9:01; 6, CANE, Shore (unassisted), 9:01. Penalties: USA, Cooper (clipping), 1:58.

Shots by Period
1 2 3 Total
USA 4 11 8 23
CANE 10 6 12 28

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
USA, McKay, 58:57 10/7 6/6 12/11 28/24
CANE, Ignagni, 60:00 4/3 11/11 8/7 23/21

Power Play: USA 0-3; CANE 0-2
Penalties: USA 2-4; CANE 3-6

Team USA 2010 World Junior A Challenge Schedule
Nov. 7-13 • Langley, B.C. • Langley Events Centre

Date Opponent
Time (ET)/Result

Sat., Nov. 5 Canada East* W, 4-1
Mon., Nov. 7 Sweden L, 0-1
Wed., Nov. 9 Canada West W, 6-1
Thu., Nov. 10 Russia W, 6-3
Fri., Nov. 11 Canada East (Semifinals) L, 2-4
Sat., Nov. 12 Third-Place Game 10:30 p.m.
*pre-tournament game

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On this date in 1915, Theodore W. Richards, of Harvard University, became the first American to be awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry.

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Predictions: Who will win the 2011 Semi-Finals?

Remembrance Day: Grey Cup visits Afghanistan.

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

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Representatives of nine nations gathered for the start of the Washington Conference for Limitation of Armaments on this date in 1921.

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The 2-7/2-4 Oregon State Beavers are in Berkeley today for a matchup with the 5-4/2-4 California Golden Bears. Kickoff is set for 6:30pm EST on 860AM KPAM and the Beaver Sports Network, with Mike Parker, Jim Wilson and Ron Callan calling the action. the link to listen is on the left side of this blog.

The view from Corvallis: OSU football: It's strength vs. strength trying to pass against California.

The view from Berkeley: Bears to face Beavers in final home game.

Visit the official football website by clicking here.

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

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Walt Disney released "Fantasia" on this date in 1940.

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

Week 9

Sunday, November 6th

Miami 31 at Kansas City 3
Atlanta 31 at Indianapolis 7
At New Orleans 27, Tampa Bay 16
NY Jets 27 at Buffalo 11
At Dallas 23, Seattle 13
At Houston 30, Cleveland 12
San Francisco 19 at Washington 11
Cincinnati 24 at Tennessee 17
Denver 38 at Oakland 24
NY Giants 24 at New England 20
At Arizona 19, St. Louis 13 (OT)
Green Bay 45 at San Diego 38
Baltimore 23 at Pittsburgh 20

Monday, November 7th

Chicago 30 at Philadelphia 24

·Bye: Detroit, Minnesota, Carolina, Jacksonville

Week 10

All Times Eastern

Thursday, November 10th

Oakland 24 at San Diego 17

Sunday, November 13th

Arizona at Philadelphia 1:00 PM
Tennessee at Carolina 1:00 PM
Houston at Tampa Bay 1:00 PM
Washington at Miami 1:00 PM
Jacksonville at Indianapolis 1:00 PM
Denver at Kansas City 1:00 PM
Buffalo at Dallas 1:00 PM
New Orleans at Atlanta 1:00 PM
St. Louis at Cleveland 1:00 PM
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 1:00 PM
Baltimore at Seattle 4:05 PM
NY Giants at San Francisco 4:15 PM
Detroit at Chicago 4:15 PM
New England at NY Jets 8:20 PM

Monday, November 14th

Minnesota at Green Bay 8:30 PM

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On this date in 1954, Ellis Island, the immigration station in New York Harbor, closed after processing more than 20 million immigrants since 1892.

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Let's go for a ride Mommy.

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The U.S. space probe Voyager I came within 77,000 miles of Saturn while transmitting data back to Earth on this date in 1980.

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Today in Elvis History:

1936 - Songwriter Mort Shuman was born in Brooklyn, NY.

1955 - Elvis Presley was voted Most Promising Country And Western Artist in the annual U.S. DJ Poll.

1960 - Bill Black, former bass player for Elvis Presley, hit #11 in the U.S. with his version of "Don't Be Cruel."

1977 - The Elvis Presley album "Les 40 Grands Plus Succes" (the French pressing of "40 Greatest") hit #56 in the U.K.

2002 - The documentary "Elvis, The King In Hollywood" was released.

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Space shuttle astronauts Dale Gardner and Joe Allen snared the Palapa B-2 satellite in history's first space salvage on this date in 1984.

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Today in Beatles History:

1963 - A concert at the Guild Hall, Portsmouth ('The Beatles Autumn Tour') was postponed because of Paul McCartney being sick.

1965 - "The Beatles In Italy" was released in Italy.

1988 - The 7th episode of a BBC series, essentially based on 'The Beatles At The Beeb' collection, aired.

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On this date in 1987, the American Medical Association issued a policy statement that said it was unethical for a doctor to refuse to treat someone solely because that person had AIDS or was HIV-positive.

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Today in Sports History:

1892 - William "Pudge" Heffelfinger became the first professional football player when he was paid a $500 bonus for helping the Allegheny Athletic Association beat the Pittsburgh Athletic Club.

1920 - Judge Keneshaw Mountain Landis was elected the first commissioner of the American and National Leagues.

1931 - Maple Leaf Gardens opened in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was to be the new home of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League (NHL).

1933 - In Philadelphia, the first Sunday football game was played.

1953 - The NFL policy of blacking out home games was upheld by Judge Allan K. Grim of the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.

1967 - The Detroit Lions set a National Football League (NFL) record when they fumbled the ball 11 times. They only lost possession five of the eleven times.

1972 - Don Shula, coach of the Miami Dolphins, became the first NFL head coach to win 100 regular season games in 10 seasons.

1996 - "Dennis Rodman's World Tour '96" debuted on MTV.

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The space shuttle Atlantis blasted off on this date in 1985, on a mission to dock with the Russian space station Mir.

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Coming up:


Tonight -- 

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Wypall 200 at Phoenix International Raceway 3:30pm EST

Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Valley Jr. Warriors Showcase vs Valley Jr. Warriors 5:30pm EST

College Football -- Oregon State Beavers at California Golden Bears 6:30pm EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Louis Blues 8:00pm EST

EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Valley Jr. Warriors Showcase vs TBD TBA

Sunday --

Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Valley Jr. Warriors Showcase vs New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs 10:30am EST

NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Houston Texans 1:00pm EST

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway 3:00pm

EJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Valley Jr. Warriors Showcase TBA TBD

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