It's Thursday

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

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Today is December 29th, the 363rd day of 2011. There are 2 days left in the year.

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Flyers win EA SPORTS NHL 12 Classic simulation.

Snider foundation provides Classic opportunity.

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

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In this space yesterday, we reported the death of Tarzan's sidekick, Cheetah. Now it turns out to quite possibly be a publicity-seeking hoax. Read all about it right here.

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Tampa FL. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning are on home ice tonight to meet the Montreal Canadiens.

Read the preview right here.

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Today is Part Two of National Chocolate Day.

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Angela Ruggiero Announces Retirement

Four-Time Olympian Represented Team USA More Than Any Other Ice Hockey Player

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Angela Ruggiero, a four-time Olympian and one of the greatest women's ice hockey players in history, officially announced her retirement from the U.S. Women's National Team Program today. She competed 16 years for the United States and has played more games (256) in a Team USA uniform than any other ice hockey player in the country's history. In total, she finished her career with the U.S. Women's National Team Program having recorded 208 points, including 67 goals and 141 assists. "I feel honored and privileged to have represented the USA program over the past 16 years," said Ruggiero, who is a native of Simi Valley, Calif., but also spent time growing up in Harper Woods, Mich. "USA Hockey will always be a part of me and I will cherish the experiences and memories with this team. Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way. I am now looking forward to my next career, as well as continuing my work representing the athletes of the world through my roles on the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee." Ruggiero, 31, a star player on all four U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Teams to date, won a gold medal in 1998 as the youngest member (18 years old) of the team; a silver medal in 2002 where she was named the tournament's top defenseman; a bronze medal in 2006 where she tied for the lead among tournament defensemen with six points (2-4) and was named the tournament's top defenseman for a second time; and another silver medal at the 2010 Olympics where she was named to the media all-star team. Ruggiero, who was the top-ranked female hockey player in the world by The Hockey News in 2003, represented Team USA in 10 IIHF Women's World Championships (gold-2005, 2008-09, 2011; silver-1997, 1999-01, 2004, 2007). In 2005, she scored the shootout goal that gave Team USA its first-ever gold medal in the IIHF Women's World Championship. She was named the tournament's top defenseman four times (2001, 2004-05, 2008) and earned a spot on the media all-star team on four occasions (2004-05, 2007, 2009). USA Hockey's Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004, Ruggiero graduated cum laude from Harvard University in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in government. She was an NCAA First Team Academic All-American in 2004 and also earned the NCAA's Top VIII Award that year as one of the top eight student-athletes in the entire NCAA.ESPN.com also named her one of the top-16 female athletes in the world in 2004. Ruggiero accumulated 253 points (96-157) in her four-year career (1998-2000/2002-04) at Harvard to rank sixth all-time at the University and first among defensemen. The four-time NCAA All-American captured the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in 2004, an honor bestowed annually on the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. Ruggiero was a finalist for the honor in each of her four collegiate campaigns. Ruggiero made history on Jan. 28, 2005, when she and her brother, Bill, competed for the Central Hockey League's Tulsa Oilers, becoming the first-ever brother-sister tandem to play in a professional hockey game in North America. In that contest, she also became the first female non-goalie to play in a professional hockey game in North America. Off the ice, Ruggerio, who earned a master's degree in sport management from the University of Minnesota in January 2011, has inspired the same leadership she created on the ice. The United States Olympic Committee board member was elected (eight-year term) to a highly regarded position as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athlete's Commission in 2010. The commission serves as a consultative body and is the link between active athletes and the International Olympic Committee. She was later appointed to the IOC Evaluation Commission to examine potential host cities for the 2018 Olympic Games and is currently a member of the IOC's Coordination Commission for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, and the IOC Entourage Commission. In addition, Ruggiero is the founder of the All American Girls' Hockey School; the author of "Breaking the Ice," her inspirational autobiography; and the former director of the New York Islanders' Project Hope - an organization that provides young Chinese athletes with access to educational opportunities. In 2007, she appeared in the sixth season of Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" on NBC. Her charitable efforts are far-reaching and include involvement with the ProSports MVP Olympic Heroes Tour, Right to Play, and momsteam.com. NOTES: Ruggiero met with members of the U.S. Women's National Team Program earlier today in Blaine, Minn., to inform them of her decision to retire ... Ruggiero will participate in a media teleconference tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET to address members of the news media.

TEAM USA STATISTICS Year Event/Team GP G A PTS 2011 World Championship 5 2 1 3 2010 Olympic Winter Games 5 3 2 5 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Team 20 3 3 6 2009 Four Nations Cup 4 0 3 3 World Championship 5 1 1 2 2008-09 U.S. Women's Select Team 9 3 11 14 2008 Four Nations Cup 4 0 2 2 World Championship 5 0 5 5 2007 World Championship 5 1 3 4 2006 Four Nations Cup 4 0 2 2 Olympic Winter Games 5 2 4 6 2005-06 U.S. Women's National Team 18 6 8 14 2005 Four Nations Cup 4 0 0 0 World Championship 5 3 3 6 2004 Four Nations Cup 4 1 1 2 World Championship 5 2 5 7 2003 Four Nations Cup 4 0 4 4 2002 Olympic Winter Games 5 1 3 4 2001-02 U.S. Women's National Team 31 12 23 35 2001 World Championship 5 2 4 6 2000-01 U.S. Women's National Team 35 13 26 39 2000 Four Nations Cup 4 2 2 4 Under-22 Series 3 1 2 3 World Championship 5 1 6 7 1999-00 U.S. Women's Select Team 2 0 0 0 1999 Under-22 Series 3 0 2 2 World Championship 5 1 1 2 1998 Olympic Winter Games 6 0 0 0 1997-98 U.S. Women's National Team 27 5 11 16 1997 Three Nations Cup 4 0 1 1 World Championship 5 0 1 1 1996 Pacific Women's Championship 5 2 1 3 TEAM USA TOTALS 256 67 141 208 OTHER STATISTICS Year Team GP G A PTS 2008-09 Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL) 15 7 9 16 2007-08 Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL) 15 8 10 18 2004-05 Montreal Axion (NWHL) 13 3 13 16 OTHER TOTALS 43 18 32 50 COLLEGE STATISTICS Year Team GP G A PTS 2003-04 Harvard University (ECACH) 32 25 30 55 2002-03 Harvard University (ECACH) 34 29 54 83 1999-00 Harvard University (ECACH) 29 21 33 54 1998-99 Harvard University (ECACH) 32 16 35 51 COLLEGE TOTALS 127 91 152 243

U.S. National Junior Team Falls to Finland, 4-1,
at IIHF World Junior Championship

Saad Nets Lone U.S. Goal

EDMONTON, Alta. -- Brandon Saad (Gibsonia, Pa./Saginaw Spirit) scored early in the third period to tie the game, 1-1, but the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team eventually fell to Finland, 4-1, this afternoon at Rexall Place.

With the loss, Team USA moves to 1-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) overall at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. The U.S. will face the Czech Republic on Friday (Dec. 30) in its third preliminary-round game of the tournament. The game, to be televised on NHL Network U.S., will start at 3:30 p.m. EST.

"I was happy to see us come back early in the third period," said Dean Blais, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. "But we just couldn't get enough going, and Finland's goalie played well."

After the first two periods, Finland had a 1-0 lead despite Team USA holding a 24-9 shot advantage.

The U.S. tied the score, 1-1, just 19 seconds into the third period. Off of a faceoff win by Charlie Coyle (East Weymouth, Mass./Boston Univ.), Emerson Etem (Long Beach, Calif./Medicine Hat Tigers) located the puck and flicked a centering pass across the slot. The pass connected with Saad, who tipped the puck past Finland goalie Sami Aittokallio.

Finland went on to score three times in the third period, however, to pull away with the victory. U.S. goalie John Gibson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Kitchener Rangers) made 23 saves, while Finland's Aittokallio stopped 38 shots in the win.

NOTES: Jarred Tinordi (Millersville, Md./London Knights) was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... Team USA finished 0-for-2 on the power play, while Finland was 0-for-4 with the man advantage ... In other tournament action later today, Sweden will take on Switzerland, Canada will face off against the Czech Republic, and Russia will play Slovakia ... 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... 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, 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 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

FIN 0 - 1 - 3 - 4
USA 0 - 0 - 1 - 1

First Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: FIN, Hakanpaa (hooking), 9:50; USA, Coyle (slashing), 12:59; FIN, Ma. Granlund (hooking), 13:31; USA, Zucker (slashing), 14:02.

Second Period - Scoring: 1, FIN, Salomaki (Armia), 1:21. Penalties: USA, Tynan (roughing), 6:03; FIN, Riikola (roughing), 6:03.

Third Period - Scoring: 2, USA, Saad (Etem, Coyle), 0:19; 3, FIN, Armia (Mi. Granlund, Ristolainen), 10:53; 4, FIN, Ma. Granlund (Hakanpaa, Pulkkinen), 11:22; 5, FIN, Armia (Donskoi), 16:27. Penalties: FIN, Riikola (holding), 8:54; USA, Gibson (interference), 9:09; USA, Team (too-many-men), 19:41.

Shots by Period
1 2 3 Total
FIN 4 5 18 24
USA 8 16 15 38

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
FIN, Aittokallio 60:00 8-8 16-16 15-14 39-38
USA, Gibson 60:00 4-4 5-4 18-15 27-23

Power Play: FIN 0-4; USA 0-2
Penalties: FIN 4-8; USA 5-10
Officials: Referees - Devin Klein (USA), Brent Reiber (SUI); Linesmen - Kiel Murchison (CAN), Milan Novak (SVK)
Attendance: 14,000

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 W, 5-0
Mon., Dec. 26 Denmark Edmonton W, 11-3
Wed., Dec. 28 Finland Edmonton L, 1-4
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

U.S. National Under-17 Team Downs Canada Atlantic, 6-1, in 2012
World Under-17 Challenge Pre-Tournament Game

Four Goal Second Period Lifts Team USA to Victory

LASALLE, Ont. - A four goal second period lifted the U.S. National Under-17 Team past Canada Atlantic, 6-1, in a pre-tournament game prior to the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge here tonight at the Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex.

"Tonight's win was an all-around team effort," said Don Granato, head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team. "We did a better job of getting pucks on net and traffic in front in the second period, helping contribute to this hard-fought victory."

Team USA and Canada Atlantic skated to a scoreless opening period. The U.S. edged Atlantic in shots on goal, but was unable to solve goaltender Jacob Fancy. Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) also blanked the competition in the first frame as the U.S. and Atlantic entered the first intermission tied 0-0.

J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.) scored the first Team USA goal on a wrister at 11:38, shortly after Canada Atlantic switched goaltenders. Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.) and Hudson Fasching (Burnsville, Minn.) collected assists on the tally. Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich.) tipped a slapshot from Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.) past Canada Atlantic's netminder to double the U.S. lead at 16:36. The power-play marker was also assisted by Louis.

The U.S. increased its lead when Evan Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich.) fired a shot from the slot into the net at 18:43 of the second stanza. Dawson Cook (Cadillac, Mich.) and Clint Lewis (Burnsville, Minn.) earned assists on the goal. Just under a minute later, Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) tipped in a shot from Butcher to give the U.S. a 4-0 lead. Butcher registered his second helper of the night, while Kevin Labanc (Staten Island, N.Y.) collected his first.

Louis scored at 3:53 of the final frame to open a five-goal advantage for Team USA. Canada Atlantic clanked the puck off the crossbar and past U.S. netminder Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) at 13:03, but the U.S. lead would prove insurmountable. Demko made several saves and Luke Voltin (Baline, Minn.) added a late goal for the U.S., as it claimed the victory over Canada Atlantic, 6-1.

The U.S. National Under-17 Team will begin tournament play against the Czech Republic on Thursday (Dec. 29) at 7:00 a.m. EST. The game will be held at the Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex in LaSalle, Ont. A full schedule is below.

NOTES: Anthony Louis was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... For Team USA's full roster, click here ... The 2012 World Under-17 Challenge includes two pools of five teams. Pool A consists of teams from Canada Atlantic, Germany, Canada Quebec, Canada Ontario and Sweden. Pool B consists of teams from the Czech Republic, Canada Pacific, Russia, Canada West and the United States ... Exclusive videos will be posted on the USA Hockey YouTube channel under the World Under-17 Challenge playlist ... Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament. Scores will be designated with #U17CHAL ... All games during the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will be available via live webcast at FASTHockey.com ... For additional coverage, visit USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Facebook page ... The U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams train with The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary new software program released on October 1, 2010 that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

ATL 0 - 0 - 1 - 1
USA 0 - 4 - 2 - 6




First Period - Scoring: None. Penalties: ATL, Arsenault (cross-checking), 4:36; USA, Hayden (interference), 19:49.

Second Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Compher (Louis, Fasching), 11:38; 2, USA, Motte (Butcher, Compher), 16:36, (pp); 3, USA, Allen (Cook, Lewis), 18:43; 4, USA, Kelleher (Butcher, Labanc), 19:37. Penalties: ATL, Hodge (tripping), 15:56; USA, Motte (interference), 16:34.

Third Period - Scoring: 5, USA, Louis (Fasching, Compher), 3:53; 6, ATL, Lyle (Donaghey, Murphy), 13:03; 7, USA, Voltin (Labanc, McCarron), 17:39. Penalties: USA, Cook (cross-checking), 7:26; USA, Fasching (roughing), 11:24; ATL, Beaton (roughing), 11:24; USA, Hamilton (10-minute-misconduct), 14:05; USA, Hamilton (checking-to-head), 14:05.



Team USA 2012 World Under-17 Challenge Schedule
Dec. 28, 2011 - Jan. 4, 2012 • Windsor, Ont.

Date Opponent Location
Time (ET)/Result

Wed., Dec. 28* Canada Atlantic (exh.) Vollmer Culture & Rec Complex W, 6-1
Thurs., Dec 29 Czech Republic Vollmer Culture & Rec Complex 7:00 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 30 Russia WFCU Centre 2:00 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 1 Canada West Tecumseh Arena 7:00 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 2 Canada Pacific Tecumseh Arena 7:00 p.m.
Tues., Jan. 3 Semi-Final WFCU Centre 2:00 p.m./7:00 p.m.
Weds., Jan. 4 Bronze Medal Game WFCU Centre 2:00 p.m.
Weds., Jan. 4 Gold Medal Game WFCU Centre 7:00 p.m.
*Pre-tournament game in LaSalle, Ontario.

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For those of you with children in the toddler age like me, what's the silliest thing your child has done since Christmas? Our Jimmy took on of his markers and painted his toenails orange. He's an emerging artist our Jimmy is!

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VANSTONE: Gene Wlasiuk was a unique Rider.

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

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Tick Tock Day is today.

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

Week 16

Thursday, December 22nd

At Indianapolis 19, Houston 16

Saturday, December 24th

Oakland 16 at Kansas City 13
At Tennessee 23, Jacksonville 17
At New England 27, Miami 24
At Cincinnati 23, Arizona 16
At Buffalo 40, Denver 14
At Pittsburgh 27, St. Louis 0
NY Giants 29 at NY Jets 14
Minnesota 33 at Washington 26
At Carolina 48, Tampa Bay 14
At Baltimore 20, Cleveland 14
At Detroit 38, San Diego 10
Philadelphia 20 at Dallas 7
San Francisco 19 at Seattle 17

Sunday, December 25th

At Green Bay 35, Chicago 21

Monday, December 26th

At New Orleans 45, Atlanta 16

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 1812, the USS Constitution won a battle with the British ship HMS Java about 30 miles off the coast of Brazil. Before Commodore William Bainbridge ordered the sinking of the Java he had her wheel removed to replace the one the Constitution had lost during the battle.

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Is this for me?

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U.S. President James Polk and signed legislation making Texas the 28th state of the United States on this date in 1845.

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Today in Elvis History:

1956 - Elvis Presley's single "Old Shep" hit #47 in the U.S.

1956 - Elvis Presley's single "Love Me Tender" hit #22 in the U.K.

1962 - The album "Elvis' Christmas Album" re-charted at #59 in the U.S.

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U.S. President James Polk turned on the first gas light at the White House on this date in 1848.

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Today in Beatles History:

1979 - Wings played on the last night of the "Concerts For The People Of Kampuchea."

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On this date in 1851, the first American Young Men's Christian Association was organized, in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Today in Sports History:

1934 - The first regular-season college basketball game was played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. New York University defeated Notre Dame 25-18.

1937 - Babe Ruth returned to baseball as the new manager of the Class D, DeLand Reds of the Florida State League. Ruth had retired from baseball in 1935.

1961 - Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) scored 60 points against the Los Angeles Lakers.

1965 - CBS acquired the rights to the NFL regular-season games in 1966 and 1967, with an option for 1968, for $18.8 million per year.

1984 - Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers) scored his 100th point in the 35th game of the season.

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On this date in 1949, KC2XAK of Bridgeport, Connecticut became the first ultrahigh frequency (UHF) television station to begin operating on a regular daily schedule.

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Coming up:

Tonight --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens 7:30pm EST

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes 5:00pm EST

Sunday --

NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons 1:00pm EST (Final game of regular season)

Monday --

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Toronto Maple Leafs 7:00pm EST

Wednesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators 7:30pm EST

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

Junior Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors Empire South and EJHL South teams at EJHL Showcase at N.E.S.C., Marlborough, Massachusetts.

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

Sunday --

Junior Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors Empire South and EJHL South teams at EJHL Showcase at N.E.S.C., Marlborough, Massachusetts.

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