It's Sunday

It's Sunday. Here's what's happening....

************************************************

Today is January 15th, the 15th day of 2012. There are 351 days left in the year. (This is a leap year.)

************************************************



Concussion to sideline van Riemsdyk indefinitely.

Rangers say Sean Avery didn’t spit on coach for disciplinary scratch in AHL.

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

************************************************

Today is the start of International Snowmobile Safety and Awareness Week (Linky Link)and Healthy Weight Week.

************************************************

Tampa, FL. -- It's a Sunday Matinee today between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Read the preview right here.

************************************************

Today is Humanitarian Day and Religious Freedom Day.

************************************************

U.S. Youth Olympic Boys' Ice Hockey Team Defeats Austria, 7-2,
at 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games

Gersich Records a Hat Trick in Team USA Victory

INNSBRUCK, Austria - Shane Gersich (Chaska, Minn.) scored three goals to lead the U.S. Youth Olympic Boys' Ice Hockey Team to a 7-2 victory over Austria in its opening game at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games this afternoon at Tyrolean Ice Arena.

"It was a good way to start the tournament," said Ben Smith, head coach of the U.S. Youth Olympic Boys' Ice Hockey Team. "We started off very strong, but got a little disoriented as the game went on. Tomorrow we'll get back to square one against a tough team from Canada."

Gersich opened up the scoring for Team USA 47 seconds into the contest with assists credited to Marcel Godbout (Center Line, Mich.) and Nick Schmaltz (Verona, Wis.). Then, 26 seconds later, Joe Wegwerth (Brewster, N.Y.) gave the U.S. a two-goal lead. Team USA held a 4-0 advantage going into the first intermission thanks to power-play goals by Ryan MacInnis (St. Louis, Mo.) at 9:02 and Gersich at 12:03 of the opening frame.

After Austria found the back of the net at 5:40 of the second period, Gersich responded for his third goal of the game to reopen a four-goal lead for Team USA at 9:37.

Austria made it a 5-2 game with a goal 44 seconds into the third period. However, Team USA answered with a pair of shorthanded tallies on back-to-back shifts. MacInnes netted the first shorthanded goal at 11:06 and Godbout followed suit with a tally of his own 18 seconds later to secure the 7-2 victory for Team USA.

Edwin Minney (Wind Gap, Pa.) and Logan Halladay (Cary, N.C.) combined to make 14 saves in the U.S. victory, while Stefan Muller made 35 saves for Austria.

The U.S. Youth Olympic Boys' Ice Hockey Team will face Canada tomorrow (Jan. 15) at 12 p.m. EST. A full schedule and results are below.

NOTES: Shane Gersich was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... The U.S. went 2-for-5 on the power play, while Austria went 0-for-7 with the man advantage ... Team USA recorded 42 shots on goal, while Austria had 16 ... The U.S. netted a pair of shorthanded goals in the victory ... For Team USA's full roster, click here ... Gold medal-winning coach Ben Smith, is at the reigns of Team USA, while Stephen Greenberg is serving as an administrative coach ... Serving on the support staff is equipment manager Bob Webster and athletic trainer Stan Wong ... The boys' hockey competition at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games includes teams from Austria, Canada, Finland, Russia and the United States ... Follow the hashtag #2012YOG to join the conversation during the tournament.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 4- 1 - 2 - 7
AUT 0 - 1 - 1 - 2

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Gersich (Godbout, Schmaltz), 0:47; 2, USA, Wegewerth (Eichel, Clarke), 1:13; 3, USA, MacInnes (Magyar, Baughman), 9:02, (pp); 4, USA, Gersich (Eichel), 12:03, (pp). Penalties: USA, Eichel (roughing), 3:10; AUT, Urstoger (hooking), 5:50; AUT, Oberauer (delay of game), 6:01; AUT, Telsnig (tripping), 8:41; AUT, Urstoger (tripping), 10:08.

Second Period - Scoring: 5, AUT, Huber (unassisted), 5:40; 6, USA, Gersich (Billitier), 9:37. Penalties: USA, Glover (hooking), 1:35; USA, Clarke (tripping), 2:06; USA, Baughman (holding), 14:16

Third Period - Scoring: 7, AUT, Gaffal (Kraus, Huber), 0:44; 8, USA, MacInnis (Godbout, Jacobs), 11:06, (sh); 9, USA, Godbout (Schmaltz), 11:24, (sh). Penalties: USA, MacInnis (tripping), 2:41; USA, Wegwerth (cross checking), 9:32; AUT, Trost (high sticking), 14:22; USA, Wegwerth (holding the stick), 15:00.

Shots by Period
1 2 3 Total
USA 15 15 12 42
AUT 2 11 3 16

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
AUT, Muller, 45:00 15/11 15/14 12/10 42/35
USA, Minney, 22:23 2/2 7/6 -- 9/8
USA, Halladay, 22:37 -- 4/4 3/2 7/6

Power Play: USA 2-5; AUT 0-7
Penalties: USA 7-14; AUT 5-10

Team USA 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games Schedule
Jan. 13-22 • Innsbruck, Austria • Tyrolean Arena

Date Opponent
Time (Local/EST)

Sat., Jan. 14 Austria W, 7-2
Sun., Jan 15 Canada 6 p.m./12 p.m.
Tues., Jan. 17 Finland 3:45 p.m./9:45 a.m.
Wed., Jan. 18 Russia 3:15 p.m./9:15 a.m.
Fri., Jan. 20 Semifinal Game 2:15 p.m./8:15 a.m.
Semifinal Game 6:45 p.m./12:45 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 21 Third-Place Game 2:45 p.m./8:45 a.m.
Sun., Jan. 22 First-Place Game 12:15 p.m./6:15 a.m.

************************************************

Many riots occurr in Mexico when it was announced that all churches were to be closed on this date in 1624.

************************************************






Outstanding lineman Bourke one of four Als to re-sign.

VANSTONE: Roughriders need to get faster.

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

************************************************

The people of New Connecticut (now the state of Vermont) declared their independence on this date in 1777.

************************************************

The 2011 NFL playoffs are underway. Here's the Division Playoff Week schedule:

Division Playoffs

All times Eastern

January 14th

At San Francisco 36, New Orleans 32
At New England 45, Denver 10

January 15th

Houston at Baltimore 1:00pm
New York Giants at Green Bay 4:30pm

Conference Finals

January 22nd

TBD at New England 3:00pm
San Francisco at TBD 6:30pm

************************************************

The University of Notre Dame received its charter from the state of Indiana on this date in 1844.

************************************************

Time to play in the dirt.

************************************************

"The Boston Morning Journal" became the first paper in the U.S. to be published on wood pulp paper on this date in 1863.

************************************************

Today in Elvis History:

1955 - Elvis Presley performed at the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, LA. He performed "Hearts Of Stone," "That's All Right, Mama" and "Tweedle Dee." "Colonel" Tom Parker was in the audience and witnessed Elvis for the first time.

1958 - Elvis Presley recorded "Trouble" and "Hard Headed Woman."

************************************************

A cartoon by Thomas Nast titled "A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion" appeared in "Harper's Weekly" on this date in 1870. The cartoon used the donkey to symbolize the Democratic Party for the first time.

************************************************

Today in Beatles History:

1991 - Sean Lennon's remake of his father's "Give Peace A Chance" was released to coincide with the United Nation's midnight deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait. The lyrics were updated to reflect concerns of the 1990's.

2008 - Ringo Starr's album "Liverpool 8" was released.

************************************************

On this date in 1945, CBS Radio debuted "House Party". The show was on the air for 22 years.

************************************************

Today in Sports History:

1892 - In Springfield, MA, the rules of "basketball" by James Naismith were printed in the "Triangle" newspaper.

1934 - Babe Ruth signed a 1934 contract for $35,000.

1942 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave baseball the approval to play despite World War II. He encouraged night games so that war workers could attend.

1958 - The New York Yankees announced that they would televise 140 games in the 1958 season.

1967 - The first National Football League Super Bowl was played. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs (of the American Football League) with a final score of 35-10. The game was televised by both CBS and NBC and was not a sell out.

1968 - Bill Masterson (Minnesota North Stars) died of a brain injury that he had suffered two days earlier in a game against the Oakland Seals. He was the first casualty in the NHL.

1978 - The Super Bowl was played indoors for the first time. The game was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Denver Broncos 27-10.

1990 - Don Nelson became the second man in NBA history to appear in 1,000 games as a head coach and as a player. Lenny Wilkins was the first to achieve the record.

1997 - Dennis Rodman (Chicago Bulls) kicked cameraman Eugene Amosin in the groin.

1997 - The Seattle Supersonics set an NBA record with 27 steals against the Toronto Raptors.

2001 - An anonymous bidder paid just over $3 million for a baseball. The ball was the 70th home run ball hit by Mark McGwire.

2002 - Seven minority players took part in an NHL game between the St. Louis Blues and the Edmonton Oilers. The record number of minority skaters included Edmonton's Anson Carter, Georges Laraque, Sean Brown and Mike Grier and St. Louis' Jamal Mayers, Fred Brathwaite and Bryce Salvador.

************************************************

On this date in 1953, Harry S. Truman became the first U.S. President to use radio and television to give his farewell as he left office.

************************************************

Coming up:

Tonight --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Pittsburgh Penguins 1:00pm EST

Monday --

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins 7:30pm EST

Wednesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Dallas Stars 8:30pm EST

Saturday --

Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Atlanta Jr. Knights 5:15pm EST

EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Atlanta Jr. Knights 8:00pm EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Phoenix Coyotes 8:00pm EST

Sunday --

Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Atlanta Jr. Knights 11:30pm EST

EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Atlanta Jr. Knights 2:15pm EST

************************************************

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