It's Thursday

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

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Today is December 22nd, the 356th day of 2011. There are 9 days left in the year.

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Pop superstar Justin Bieber skates with Leafs.

Havlat has surgery on torn hamstring tendon.

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

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Today is And and Samantha Day. (linky Link)

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San Jose, CA. -- The San Jose Sharks were looking for a fast start Wednesday night against Tampa Bay, and they got one for the record books.

The Sharks built a 5-0 lead in the first 14:47 and cruised to a 7-2 victory against the Lightning at HP Pavilion. It was San Jose's third straight win and the fastest five goals from the start of a regular-season game in team history. The Sharks were one shy of the franchise record for most goals in any period.

Read all about it right here.

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National Haiku Poetry Day is today.

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National Team Development Program Weekly Update

Under-18 Team Splits the Weekend in USHL, Returns to Collegiate Play Next Week;
Under-17 Team Wins Two Against Cedar Rapids, Focus Turns to World U17 Challenge

WORLD UNDER-17 CHALLENGE UP NEXT FOR U17's: The U.S. National Under-17 Team turns its focus toward the 2012 World Under-17 Challenge in Windsor, Ont. Team USA will play one pre-tournament game against Canada's Team Atlantic (Dec. 28) in LaSalle, Ont., before opening tournament play on Dec. 29 against the Czech Republic at the Vollmer Culture and Rec Complex at 7:00 p.m. ET.

U18'S RETURN TO COLLEGIATE PLAY NEXT WEEKEND: The U.S. National Under-18 Team returns to collegiate play after six straight bouts within the United States Hockey League. On Dec. 30, Team USA will travel to Minnesota State-Mankato for a 8:37 p.m. ET tilt at the Verizon Wireless Center. On New Years Eve (Dec. 31), the U18's visit the University of Wisconsin for a showdown at 9:00 p.m. ET at Kohl Center. The U.S. has a 4-6-0 record against NCAA opponents this season.

U17 TEAM WINS TWO AGAINST CEDAR RAPIDS: Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich.) tallied two goals, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team skated past the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 4-1, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube on Thursday (Dec. 15). The contest marked the first of three games between the National Team Development Program and its USHL Eastern Conference rival over the weekend. Saturday's rematch between the two squads featured a two-goal performance by Michael McCarron (Macomb, Mich.), as the U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 4-1, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The U17's finished the weekend a perfect 2-0-0, allowing just two goals and scoring eight.

U18 TEAM SPLITS THE WEEKEND IN USHL: Thomas Di Pauli (Woodridge, Ill.) notched the lone Team USA goal, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team was upended by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 2-1, Friday (Dec. 16) at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The following night (Dec. 17), Riley Barber (Livonia, Mich.) tallied the game-winning goal with less than one minute remaining in regulation, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team completed a dramatic comeback, beating the Muskegon Lumberjacks, 2-1, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. With the win, the NTDP took six of eight possible points in the USHL standings over the weekend.

WORLD U17 CHALLENGE ROSTER RELEASED: USA Hockey today announced the 22-player roster for the U.S. Men's National Under-17 Team that will compete in the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge from Dec. 28, 2011-Jan. 4, 2012, in Windsor, Ont. Team USA finished second in last year's event after capturing the tournament title in 2010. For the complete U.S. roster, click here.

UNDER-17 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) is 4-1-0 in his last five starts. The netminder has posted a 1.47 goals-against-average and .928 save percentage in the four wins during that span (Dec. 2-17) ... Tyler Motte has five points (3-2) in his last five games dating back to Dec. 3. The forward is currently on a two-game point streak (1-1) ... Evan Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and John Hayden (Greenwich, Conn.) are also riding two-game point streaks, each scoring one goal and adding an assist from Dec. 15-17 ... Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) has four points (1-3) in his last five games dating back to Dec. 3 ... Goalie Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) and blueliner Michael Downing (Canton, Mich.) have been added to the Under-17 Team roster for the 2012 World Under-17 Challenge in Windsor, Ont. Demko currently skates for Omaha, while Downing suits up for Dubuque, both of the USHL.

UNDER-18 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Goalie Jared Rutledge (Chicago, Ill.) has won his last two starts (Dec. 11, Dec. 17), posting a 2.00 goals-against-average and .918 save percentage in the two victories ... Forward Matthew Lane (Rochester, N.Y.) has three points (2-1) in his last four games dating back to Dec. 10 ... Forward Thomas Di Pauli has two goals and two assists in his last five games (Dec. 9-17) ... Defenseman Brady Skjei (Lakeville, Minn.) had two assists in Saturday's (Dec. 17) game against Muskegon and now has five points (1-4) in his last four games dating back to Dec. 10 ... Forward Kyle Osterberg (Lakeville, Minn.) notched one goal and added three assists in his last five games (Dec. 9-17) ... Forward Frankie Vatrano (East Longmeadow, Mass.) is plus-9 in 10 USHL games, which ties him for the NTDP-best and is good for a share of 19th best in the league.

NTDP ALUMNI UPDATE: Vancouver forward Ryan Kesler (Livonia, Mich./2000-02) notched one goal in the Canucks' 4-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 19. Kesler now has six points (3-3) in his last five games ... Toronto Maple Leaf John-Michael Liles (Zionsville, Ind./1997-99) is on a three-game point streak dating back to Dec. 16. The blueliner has one goal and three assists during that span ... Chicago forward Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./2004-06) tallied the game-winning marker for the Blackhawks in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Sunday (Dec. 18) ... Detroit Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard (Ogdensburg, N.Y./2001-02) won his National Hockey League-leading 20th game in a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday (Dec. 19). Howard is fifth in the league in goals-against-average (1.91) ... Cam Fowler (Farmington Hills, Mich./2007-09), defenseman for the Anaheim Ducks, collected two assists in a 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Dec. 19 ... Toronto's Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis./2003-05) is atop the NHL in points once again. The Maple Leafs forward has 39 points in 33 games played, including the league's second most goals scored (19) ... Fifty-seven NTDP alumni have suited up for at least one game in the NHL this season.

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.

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. Visitors can choose from an incredible array of games from national governing bodies, conferences, leagues, teams, tournaments, and other events.

Team USA Tops Switzerland, 7-3,
in Second IIHF World Junior Championship Pre-Tournament Game

Saad Scores Twice, Adds Three Assists in Win

CAMROSE, Alta. -- Brandon Saad (Gibsonia, Pa./Saginaw Spirit) scored two goals and added three assists, as a U.S. squad of candidates for the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team topped Switzerland, 7-3, tonight at the Edgeworth Centre.

Tonight's game was the second of three pre-tournament games designed to prepare the U.S. National Junior Team for the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, which will take place Monday (Dec. 26) through Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Calgary, Alta. The final 22-man roster for Team USA will be announced tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. EST at USAHockey.com.

"I really liked what I saw from our guys tonight," said Dean Blais, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. "We are going to have some incredibly tough decisions to get down from 28 players to our final 22-man list."

The U.S. jumped out to a quick lead when Austin Czarnik (Washington, Mich./Miami University) created a turnover in Switzerland's end and beat Swiss goalie Lukas Meili just 23 seconds into the game. Saad notched his first goal of the night at 15:33 of the opening frame to give Team USA a two-goal lead. Less than two minutes later, Bill Arnold (Needham, Mass./Boston College) connected on a two-on-one rush when he fired a shot high to the glove side to give the U.S. a 3-0 advantage after one.

Switzerland cut the U.S. lead to two goals with a power-play marker at 1:11 of the second period. But Emerson Etem (Long Beach, Calif./Medicine Hat Tigers) notched a power-play goal of his own less than three minutes later to make the score 4-1. Charlie Coyle (East Weymouth, Mass./Boston Univ.) then pushed Team USA's advantage to four goals with a deflection off of a shot by Jake Trouba (Rochester, Mich./U.S. National Under-18 Team).

Following another Swiss goal, T.J. Tynan (Orland Park, Ill./Univ. of Notre Dame) connected into a wide open net thanks to a pass from Saad with just 11 seconds left in the middle frame to give Team USA a 6-2 lead heading into the third period.

Both teams traded goals in the final stanza to close out the scoring, as Saad took advantage of a breakaway opportunity and slipped a shot between the pads of Meili for his second goal of the night. Team USA goalie John Gibson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Kitchener Rangers) stopped 19 shots in the win, while Meili made 30 saves in a losing effort.

Next up for Team USA is an exhibition game on Friday (Dec. 23) against Slovakia in Three Hills, Alta. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. MST, with full coverage at USAHockey.com.

NOTES: Team USA finished 2-for-3 on the power play, while Switzerland was 2-for-6 with the man advantage ... Team USA will play its first preliminary-round game of the IIHF World Junior Championship on Sunday (Dec. 26) against Denmark. The game, to be televised on NHL Network U.S., will start at 8:00 p.m. EST. ... The U.S. National Junior Team is coming off back-to-back medals in the IIHF World Junior Championship for the first time ever, having earned a bronze medal in last year's event in Buffalo, N.Y., and a gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Sask. ... Dean Blais, head men's ice hockey coach at the University of Nebraska Omaha, will serve as head coach of the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team. He will be assisted by Scott Sandelin, head men's ice hockey coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth; Tom Ward, head ice hockey coach of the Shattuck-St. Mary's School's boys' prep team; and Joe Exter, assistant men's ice hockey coach at Ohio State University ... Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, is serving as the general manager of Team USA for the third consecutive year. Tim Taylor (Guilford, Conn.), former U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team head coach and longtime Yale University men's ice hockey team head coach, is also serving his third straight year as Team USA's director of player personnel ... The U.S. National Junior Team blog will provide daily updates with game recaps, photos and multimedia content. The blog can be found here ... Use the hashtag #USAWJC to join the conversation on Twitter.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

SUI 0 - 2 - 1 - 3
USA 3 - 3 - 1 - 7

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Czarnik (unassisted), 0:23; 2, USA, Saad (Zucker, Coyle), 15:33; 3, USA, Arnold (Archibald), 17:01. Penalties: USA, Clendening (holding), 6:04; USA, Saad (goaltender interference), 12:40.

Second Period - Scoring: 4, SUI, Bertschy (Marti), 1:11 (pp); 5, USA, Etem (Saad, Czarnik), 3:55 (pp); 6, USA, Coyle (Trouba, Saad), 8:48; 7, SUI, Bartschi (unassisted), 17:29; 8, USA, Tynan (Saad, Merrill), 19:49 (pp). Penalties: USA, Clendening (tripping), 0:21; SUI, Baltisberger (hooking), 2:44; SUI, Schneuwly (high-sticking), 17:58.

Third Period - Scoring: 9, SUI, Bertschy (unassisted), 10:26 (pp); 10, USA, Saad (Zucker), 11:10. Penalties: USA, Coyle (goaltender interference), 1:13; USA, Team (too-many-men), 9:34; USA, Brickley (holding), 13:18; SUI, Antonietti (interference), 17:46.

Shots by Period
1 2 3 Total
SUI 4 11 7 22
USA 13 18 6 37

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
SUI, Meili 60:00 13-10 18-15 6-5 37-30
USA, Gibson 60:00 4-4 11-9 7-6 22-19

Power Play: SUI 2-6; USA 2-3
Penalties: SUI 3-6; USA 6-12

Team USA 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship Schedule
Dec. 26 - Jan. 5 • Alberta, Canada

Date Opponent Location*
Time (MST)/Result

Tues., Dec. 20 Russia^ Red Deer L, 3-6
Wed., Dec. 21 Switzerland^ Camrose W, 7-3
Fri., Dec. 23 Slovakia Three Hills 7 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 26 Denmark Edmonton 6 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 28 Finland Edmonton 1:30 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 30 Czech Republic Edmonton 1:30 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 31 Canada Edmonton 6 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 2 Quarterfinals Calgary TBD
Tues., Jan. 3 Semifinals Calgary TBD
Thurs., Jan. 5 Bronze-Medal Game Calgary 1:30 p.m.
Gold-Medal Game Calgary 6 p.m.
*All games in Edmonton will be played at Rexall Place. All games in Calgary will be played at Scotiabank Saddledome.
^Pre-tournament game

2012 U.S. National Junior Team Final Roster Set

Twenty-Two Players to Compete at 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship
in Edmonton and Calgary, Alta.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey today announced the 22 members of the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2011-Jan. 5, 2012, in Edmonton and Calgary, Alta.

Among those on the U.S. roster are seven returning players from the bronze medal-winning 2011 U.S. National Junior Team, including goaltender Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich./Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds); defensemen Derek Forbort (Duluth, Minn./Univ. of North Dakota) and Jon Merrill (Brighton, Mich./Univ. of Michigan); and forwards Nick Bjugstad (Blaine, Minn./Univ. of Minnesota), Charlie Coyle (East Weymouth, Mass./Boston Univ.), Emerson Etem (Long Beach, Calif./Medicine Hat Tigers) and Jason Zucker (Las Vegas, Nev./Univ. of Denver).

Both Campbell and Zucker were also members of the gold medal-winning 2010 U.S. National Junior Team.

"Every year this decision seems to get harder," said Jim Johannson, general manager of the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. "The number of talented players from which we get to form a team says a lot about hockey's growth in the United States as a whole."

"Having been behind the bench when we won the gold medal two years ago, I can't wait to get started again," said Dean Blais, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. "This is an incredible group of players whose speed and tenacity should help us succeed in Edmonton and Calgary."

The U.S. will look to earn its third straight medal after capturing the bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., and the gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Sask.

For the complete roster, click here.

NOTES: The U.S. National Junior Team is currently in the midst of a pre-tournament camp taking place in Alberta, Canada. Team USA has already taken part in two pre-tournament games, and will play its final pre-tournament contest tomorrow (Dec. 23) against Slovakia in Three Hills, Alta. ... The U.S. roster includes 15 first- or second-round NHL Entry Draft picks, including eight first-rounders ... NHL Network U.S. will televise all Team USA games in the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship and 15 games total in the event. For the complete broadcast schedule, click here ... Dean Blais, head men's ice hockey coach at the University of Nebraska Omaha, is serving as head coach of the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team. He is assisted by Scott Sandelin, head men's ice hockey coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth; Tom Ward, head ice hockey coach of the Shattuck-St. Mary's School's boys' prep team; and Joe Exter, assistant men's ice hockey coach at Ohio State University ... Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, is serving as the general manager of Team USA for the third consecutive year. Tim Taylor (Guilford, Conn.), former U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team head coach and longtime Yale University men's ice hockey team head coach, is also serving his third straight year as Team USA's director of player personnel ... The U.S. National Junior Team blog will include daily updates with game recaps, photos and multimedia content. The blog can be found here ... Use the hashtag #USAWJC to join the conversation on Twitter.

Team USA 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship Schedule
Dec. 26 - Jan. 5 • Alberta, Canada

Date Opponent Location*
Time (MST)/Result

Television
Tues., Dec. 20 Russia^ Red Deer L, 3-6 None
Wed., Dec. 21 Switzerland^ Camrose W, 7-3 None
Fri., Dec. 23 Slovakia^ Three Hills 7 p.m. None
Mon., Dec. 26 Denmark Edmonton 6 p.m. NHL Network U.S.
Wed., Dec. 28 Finland Edmonton 1:30 p.m. NHL Network U.S.
Fri., Dec. 30 Czech Republic Edmonton 1:30 p.m. NHL Network U.S.
Sat., Dec. 31 Canada Edmonton 6 p.m. NHL Network U.S.
Mon., Jan. 2 Quarterfinals Calgary TBD NHL Network U.S.
Tues., Jan. 3 Semifinals Calgary TBD NHL Network U.S.
Thurs., Jan. 5 Bronze-Medal Game Calgary 1:30 p.m. NHL Network U.S.
Gold-Medal Game Calgary 6 p.m. NHL Network U.S.
*All games in Edmonton will be played at Rexall Place. All games in Calgary will be played at Scotiabank Saddledome.
^Pre-tournament game

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Today is National Re-gifting Day. (Linky Link)

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Bombers re-sign all-star safety Ian Logan.

Landry: Ray has unquestionable leadership.

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

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On this date in 1775, a Continental naval fleet was organized in the rebellious American colonies under the command of Ezek Hopkins.

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

Week 16

Thursday, December 22nd

Houston at Indianapolis 8:20 PM

Saturday, December 24th

Oakland at Kansas City 1:00 PM
Jacksonville at Tennessee 1:00 PM
Miami at New England 1:00 PM
Arizona at Cincinnati 1:00 PM
Denver at Buffalo 1:00 PM
St. Louis at Pittsburgh 1:00 PM
NY Giants at NY Jets 1:00 PM
Minnesota at Washington 1:00 PM
Tampa Bay at Carolina 1:00 PM
Cleveland at Baltimore 1:00 PM
San Diego at Detroit 4:05 PM
Philadelphia at Dallas 4:15 PM
San Francisco at Seattle 4:15 PM

Sunday, December 25th

Chicago at Green Bay 8:20 PM

Monday, December 26th

Atlanta at New Orleans 8:30 PM

Week 17 (Final week of regular season)

All times Eastern

Sunday, January 1st

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

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On this date in 1894, French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason in a court-martial that triggered worldwide charges of anti-Semitism. Dreyfus was eventually vindicated.

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Well, hello up there.

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How ya doin' on your Christmas Shopping? I'm going to do mine this afternoon. Wish me luck!

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Today in Elvis History:

1956 - Elvis Presley's single "I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine," the b-side for "Blue Moon," hit #23 in the U.K.

1960 - The Elvis Presley movie "Flaming Star" opened nationwide in the U.S. For that week the movie was #12 on the National Box Office Survey. Due to strict laws of racial separation the movie was banned in South Africa because of its focus on the complications of a bi-racial family.

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German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen made the first X-ray, of his wife's hand, on this date in 1895.

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Today in Beatles History:

1981 - A rock 'n' roll auction in London brought in $2,000 for a letter of introduction from Buddy Holly to Decca Records. John and Cynthia Lennon’s marriage certificate was sold for $850 and an autographed program from the world premiere of the Beatles film "Help!" brought in $2,100.

2010 - The pedestrian crossing outside Abbey Road Studios in north London was designated a site of national importance by the British government.

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Colo, the first gorilla to be born in captivity, was born at the Columbus, Ohio zoo on this date in 1956.

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Today in Sports History:

1877 -  The "American Bicycling Journal" went on sale for the first time.

1894 - The United States Golf Association (USGA) was formed in New York City.

1920 - Joe Lynch beat Peter Herman in the first blow-by-blow radiocast of a boxing match.

1943 - Sporting goods manufacturers received permission to use synthetic rubber for the core of baseballs.

1962 - Vince Lombardi, coach of the Green Bay Packers, was on the cover of TIME magazine.

1962 - The 1,000,000th NBA point was scored.

1974 - Phil Esposito (Boston Bruins) scored his 500th goal as a Bruin.

1983 - The New York Islanders scored three shorthanded goals against the Washington Capitals.

1986 - Joe Paterno was named Sportsman of the Year by "Sports Illustrated" magazine. It was only the second time a coach had won the award.

1993 - The Dallas Mavericks lost their 20th consecutive game in a 20-game streak.

1996 - Kordell Stewart (Pittsburgh Steelers) ran 80 yards for a touchdown against Carolina. It was the longest scoring run by a quarterback in NFL history.

1996 - Vinny Testaverde (Baltimore Ravens) became the eighth quarterback in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards and throw at least 30 touchdown passes in a single season.

1996 - Karl Malone (Utah Jazz) became the 11th player to get 20,000 career points and 10,000 career rebounds.

1996 - Brett Hull became the 24th player in NHL history to score 500 goals. Brett and his father Bobby became the first father-son combination to score 500 goals apiece.

1998 - The American Basketball League (ABL) announced that it was suspending operations and filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

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The last show of "Let’s Make A Deal" was aired on this date in 1976.

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Coming up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Colorado Avalanche 9:00pm EST

Saturday --

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

Sunday --

Nothin' Doin'

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