It's Thursday

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

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Today is January 12th, the 12th day of 2012. There are 354 days left in the year. (This is a leap year.)

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Sid joining Pens for trip, but no timetable for return.

Defensemen dominate top 10 in CSS midterm rankings.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Actress Kirstie Alley (Cheers) is 61; Talk show host Rush Limbaugh is 61; Talk show host Howard Stern is 58; Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos is 48; Model/activist Heather Mills (Paul McCartney's ex) is 44.

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Tampa, FL. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Read the preview right here.

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Today is National Pharmacist Day.

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U.S. Under-16 Boys' Select Team Begins Play at Inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games on Saturday


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The U.S. Under-16 Boys' Select Team begins play at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games on Saturday (Jan. 15), in Innsbruck, Austria, against Austria at 6:30 a.m. EST.

Gold medal-winning coach Ben Smith (Gloucester, Mass.) will take the reins of Team USA after more than two decades of experience working with USA Hockey. Smith led the U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team to three medals in his 10-year tenure as the head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team Program, including the first-ever gold medal awarded in the sport in 1998. On the men's side, Smith has served as head coach of the U.S. Men's Select Team on two occasions (1998, 2007), and was an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team (1988), the U.S. Men's National Team (1987, 1990) and the U.S. National Junior Team (1985-87).

The 17-player U.S. roster represents 11 states, with three players hailing from Michigan and Minnesota, while Missouri and New York each have two players represented. The U.S. roster includes nine forwards, six defenseman and two goaltenders. For a full Team USA roster, click here.

NOTES: 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.

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

Date Opponent
Time (Local/EST)

Sat., Jan. 14 Austria 12:30 p.m./6:30 a.m.
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.


U.S. National Sled Hockey Team to Hold Camp Beginning Thursday

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team will conduct its third training camp of the season starting Thursday (Jan. 12) at XTreme Ice in Indian Trail, N.C. The camp, which will run through Saturday (Jan. 14), will be the first time the team has practiced together since its second place finish at the World Slege Hockey Challenge in December.

"We're excited to get the team back together and continue building chemistry," said Jeff Sauer, head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. "We are looking to prepare for a strong showing in Norway at the World Championships in March."

The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team will play an exhibition series against Canada from Feb. 22-26 in Buffalo, N.Y., leading up to the 2012 International Paralympic Committee World Sledge Hockey Championship in Hamar, Norway, in March.

NOTES: For the full U.S. National Sled Hockey Team roster, click here ... Jeff Sauer, longtime men's collegiate head coach at the University of Wisconsin and Colorado College, is serving as head coach of Team USA. Mike Sertich, who was head coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth for 15 years before serving as head coach at Michigan Tech University for three seasons, will serve as a guest coach at the camp.

15th Annual Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Presented by Easton Foundations Set for March 17 at Greysolon Ballroom in Duluth, Minn.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The 15th Annual Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, presented by Easton Foundations, will take place on Saturday, March 17, at the Greysolon Ballroom in Duluth, Minn.

An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is an annual honor bestowed upon the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey and will be awarded in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Frozen Four (March 16-18).

Tickets to the 2012 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award ceremony are now available and may be purchased by calling 719-538-1169 or by submitting a completed ticket form (located at PattyKaz.com). Individual seats are available for $65, while tables of 10 may be purchased for $600.

NOTES: The top-10 finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be announed on March 1, while the top-three selections will be released on March 8 ... The award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, who was a four-year varsity letter-winner and All-Ivy League defenseman for Princeton University from 1981-86. An accomplished athlete who helped lead the Tigers to the Ivy League Championship in three consecutive seasons (1981-84), Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died on Feb. 15, 1990, at the age of 28, following a long struggle with a rare blood disease ... For more information and to sign up for the Kaz Connection, a free monthly e-newsletter dedicated solely to the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, visit PattyKaz.com.

Brian Fishman Internship Applications Now Being Accepted

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Applications are now being accepted for the 14th annual Brian Fishman Internship, it was announced today by USA Hockey. The 2012-13 Brian Fishman Intern will work in the communications department at USA Hockey's national office in Colorado Springs, Colo., for a 12-month period beginning in June.

The Brian Fishman Internship is awarded annually to an outstanding college graduate pursuing a career in athletic communications. It was established in 1999 in honor of the late Brian Fishman, who served as the manager of communications and marketing for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. He died unexpectedly on Jan. 7, 1999, at age 28.

The Brian Fishman Intern will assist with various communications projects, event promotions and publishing initiatives, including work with USA Hockey Magazine, the most widely distributed hockey magazine in the world.

“This internship is a fitting tribute to Brian’s memory, because he enjoyed helping younger people improve their media skills and excel in this profession,” said Barry Fishman, Brian's father. “Through this living memorial, we hope to perpetuate Brian’s unique spirit and enthusiasm for life. The drive, passion and work ethic he demonstrated every day of his life; his honesty; his incredible love of ice hockey; and his concern for others will be forever remembered.”

Applications must be received by USA Hockey no later than Friday, March 23. Those interested should forward a completed application form, current résumé, list of references and samples of work produced. Applicants must also submit a brief essay (400-500 words) in which they detail their interest in The Brian Fishman Internship and relate their personal and professional characteristics to those that were reflective of Brian, including determination, integrity and a love of hockey.

Application forms are available at BrianFishmanInternship.com.

Successful candidates will have gained substantial experience working in their college or university sports information office. Preference will also be given to those who have earned an undergraduate degree in journalism, English, communications, sports management or a related field. Applicants should represent the high ideals characterized by Brian in both the personal and professional aspects of his life, including determination, integrity and enthusiasm.

The recipient of The Brian Fishman Internship will be chosen by a committee that includes representatives of collegiate athletic programs; print and electronic media; USA Hockey and its National Team Development Program; and Fishman family and friends.

NOTES: To make a contribution to help perpetuate the internship through The USA Hockey Foundation, please call 719-538-1162 or visit USAHockeyFoundation.com ... Previous Brian Fishman Interns include (most recent listed first): Alex DiFilippo (East Tawas, Mich./Michigan State University), Caryn Switaj (Farmington Hills, Mich./Boston College), Carly Peters (Bloomington, Minn./Syracuse University), Chris Peters (Chicago, Ill./Iowa State University), Craig Stancher (Calumet, Mich./Michigan Tech University), Alex Clark (Glenview, Ill./Colgate University), Christy Jeffries (White Lake, Mich./Boston University), Caitlin Lazaro (Effingham, N.H./University of New Hampshire), Seth Cole (Blue Hill, Maine/St. Michael’s College), Yariv Amir (Plainsboro, N.J./Colgate University), Cassy Maxton (Vandalia, Ohio/Miami University) and Jennifer Dame (St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Cloud State University).

Nominations for 2012 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Now Being Accepted

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The nomination process for the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2012 has begun. Individuals can nominate any player, coach, referee, administrator or support personnel who has made an extraordinary contribution to the sport of ice hockey in America.

All nominations will be forwarded to a selection committee for review, and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2012 will be announced later this year.

Nomination forms, found here, must be submitted by Friday, February 10.

NOTES: The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 and welcomed its 39th class of inductees in 2011 ... There are currently 153 enshrined members in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame ... The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2011 included Chris Chelios, Mike "Doc" Emrick, Ed Snider, Gary Suter and Keith Tkachuk ... Since USA Hockey assumed responsibility for the event in 2007, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner has been held in Grand Forks, N.D. (2007), Denver (2008), Boston (2009), Buffalo (2010) and Chicago (2011) ... The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, located in Eveleth, Minn., is open daily. For hours of operation and admission prices, visit USHockeyHallMuseum.com or call 800-443-7825.

National Team Development Program Weekly Update

Under-18 Team Heads to Indiana, Hosts Des Moines in USHL Action;
Under-17 Team Travels to Youngstown for Two USHL Tilts

U17'S TRAVEL TO YOUNGSTOWN FOR TWO: The U.S. National Under-17 Team returns to United States Hockey League action after placing second in the 2012 World Under-17 Challenge in Windsor, Ont. Team USA travels to Youngstown for back-to-back games with the Phantoms on Friday (Jan. 13) and Saturday (Jan. 14). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. EST both nights at the Covelli Center. The Under-17 Team is 2-0-0 against Youngstown this season, scoring 15 goals against the Phantoms and allowing seven.

U18 TEAM HEADS TO INDIANA, HOST DES MOINES: After four straight meetings with collegiate foes, the U.S. National Under-18 Team shifts its focus to USHL play. On Jan. 13, Team USA visits the Indiana Ice at the Pepsi Coliseum for a 7:05 p.m. EST showdown. This will be the first meeting between the two squads. The following night (Jan. 14), the Under-18 Team hosts the Des Moines Buccaneers at the Ann Arbor (Mich.) Ice Cube. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EST. The U.S. is 1-0-0 against Des Moines this season, having scored a 7-2 victory over the Buccaneers in October.

U17 TEAM FALLS TO RUSSIA IN TITLE GAME OF CHALLENGE: Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.) and J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.) had one goal and one assist each, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team fell to Russia, 7-4, in the championship game of the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge at the WFCU Centre on Jan. 4. Team USA finished the tournament with a 4-0-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record and placed second in the ten-team tournament for the second straight year. John Hayden (Greenwich, Conn.) was named Team USA's player of the game.

U18'S COMPLETE EAST COAST COLLEGIATE SWING: Quentin Shore (Denver, Colo.) notched two goals and added an assist, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team downed Northeastern University, 7-4, at Matthews Arena on Jan. 7. Ryan Hartman (West Dundee, Ill.), Nicolas Kerdiles (Irvine, Calif.) and Kyle Osterberg (Lakeville, Minn.) tallied one goal and collected two assists each in the victory. Collin Olson (Apple Valley, Minn.) stopped 20 shots for Team USA. The following night (Jan. 8), Jared Rutledge (Chicago, Ill.) made 45 saves and Stefan Matteau (Chicago, Ill.) netted one goal and registered an assist, as the U.S. National Under-18 Team tied Boston University, 3-3, at Agganis Arena. The Under-18 Team improved to 5-7-2 (W-L-T) against collegiate opponents on the season with three contests remaining.

UNDER-17 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Compher was named to the 2012 World Under-17 Challenge tournament all-star team. Compher was tied for third with nine points (3-6) in five games and tied for second in helpers ... Gage Ausmus (East Grand Forks, Minn.) also earned a spot on the tournament all-star team roster ... Butcher tied for the tournament lead in points by a defenseman. Butcher collected six assists in five games, good for second best among all skaters ... Evan Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich.) notched five goals in five games, which was tied for second most. The forward had six points (5-1) total in the tournament ... Hudson Fasching (Burnsville, Minn.) was tied-for-third in the tournament with four goals.

UNDER-18 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Matteau is on a six-game point streak against collegiate opposition dating back to Nov. 23. He has three goals and five assists during that span ... Shore has four points (2-2) in his past two games (Jan. 7-8) ... Andrew Copp (Ann Arbor, Mich.) recorded his first point of the 2011-12 season when he earned an assist against Northeastern University on Jan. 7. The forward returned to the ice on Dec. 30, 2011, after missing the beginning of the season due to injury ... Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (Charlestown, Mass.) has collected three assists in his past two games (Jan. 7-8). His weekend output helped propel him to second on the team in helpers with 12.

NTDP ALUMNI UPDATE: The American Hockey League announced recently the Eastern and Western Conference All-Star rosters for the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic to take place Jan. 29-30 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Three alumni were included on those rosters: forwards T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich./2001-03) and Kyle Palmieri (Montvale, N.J./2007-09) and defenseman Cade Fairchild (Duluth, Minn./2005-07) ... Los Angeles blueliner Jack Johnson (Faribault, Minn./2003-05) notched the game-winning tally and collected one assist as the Kings defeated the Washington Capitals, 5-2, on Jan. 9 ... St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (New Rochelle, N.Y./2005-07) scored one goal and added an assist in a 4-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 7 ... Chicago forward Jimmy Hayes (Dorchester, Mass./2006-08) scored in back-to-back games (Jan. 2, Jan. 5) after being recalled by the Blackhawks on Dec. 30 ... Two former NTDP players suited up for the 2012 National Hockey League Winter Classic on Jan. 2 between the Rangers and Flyers. Defenseman Matt Carle (Anchorage, Alaska/2000-02) and forward James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) both skated for Philadelphia in the 3-2 loss to New York.

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.

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The first public museum in America was established in Charleston, South Carolina on this date in 1773.

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Rider Linebacker Sean Lucas retires.

Riders Re-Sign Hawkins and release Three.

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

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Long-winded music reviews are getting a tune up. SPIN magazine announced on Wednesday that it will be squeezing the majority of its album reviews into 140-character tweets. SPIN is pulling most of the reviews out of its print magazine and will be tweeting them instead under the handle @SPINreviews. SPIN's senior editor says that about 120 of the 140 albums the publication plans to review each month will be reviewed in short form on Twitter. Long-form reviews will be saved for albums SPIN believes are the best and most newsworthy.

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

Division Playoffs

All times Eastern

January 14th

New Orleans at San Francisco 4:30pm
Denver at New England 8:00pm

January 15th

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

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Police in Phoenix arrested a convicted felon for illegally carrying a concealed firearm in her bra. [It was a .44 Double-D Magnum.]

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Playing outside is really fun!

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The Grant County, Washington, sheriff says deputies arrested a 22-year-old after citizens mentioned that a young man was approaching people in front of the county courthouse and asking if they wanted to buy marijuana. Sure enough, deputies found the man, who smelled strongly of pot, standing on the courthouse lawn. They also found more than 20 grams of packaged marijuana in his pockets.

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Today in Elvis History:

1957 - Elvis Presley recorded "All Shook Up" and all the material from his forthcoming movie "Loving You."

1963 - The soundtrack to "Girls! Girls! Girls!" hit #3 in the U.S.

1968 - NBC vice-president Tom Sarnoff announced that Elvis Presley and NBC had agreed to produce an Elvis movie and a Christmas TV special for the 1968 Christmas season.

1973 - Elvis Presley performed a rehearsal show for the "Elvis, Aloha From Hawaii" concert.

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There's an online movement to get Barbie to go bald. A Facebook page titled Beautiful and Bald Barbie aims to get toy maker Mattel to create a bald Barbie in support of children with cancer.

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Today in Beatles History:

1963 - The Beatles single "Please Please Me" was released in Britain.

1964 - The Beatles made their second appearance on BBC-TV's "Sunday Night at the London Palladium."

1968 - Apple Music Limited was renamed Apple Corps Limited.

1969 - The film "Wonderwall" premiered in London. The soundtrack was by George Harrison.

2010 - Ringo Starr's CD "Y Not" was released. It was released on vinyl on January 29, 2010.

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Fans of AMC's mob movie marathons can rejoice: The network has a TV version of "Goodfellas" in the works. AMC is developing a series based on Martin Scorsese's classic "Goodfellas," with writer Nicholas Pileggi, who adapted the screenplay from his book "Wiseguy," on hand to co-write the TV adaptation.

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Today in Sports History:

1906 - The forward pass was legalized by the football rules committee.

1921 - Kennesaw Mountain Landis became the first commissioner of baseball.

1946 - The Cleveland Rams were granted permission to move to Los Angeles.

1958 - Major league baseball players Stan Musial and Johnny Podres were guests on the "Ed Sullivan Show."

1960 - Dolph Schayes of the Syracuse Nationals became the first pro basketball player in the NBA to score more than 15,000 points in his career.

1966 - Red Auerbach won his 1,000th game as coach of the Boston Celtics.

1993 - It was announced that Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) had Hodgkin's disease.

1999 - Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball was sold at auction in New York for $3 million to an anonymous bidder.

2000 - Charlotte Hornets guard Bobby Phills was killed in a crash during a street drag race.

2002 - Brenden Shanahan (Detroit Red Wings) got his 1,000th career point in a 5-2 win over the Dallas Stars.

2004 - Cam Neely's No. 8 was retired by the Boston Bruins.

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A wireless message was sent long-distance for the first time from the Eiffel Tower in Paris on this date in 1908.

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Coming up:

Tonight --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes 7:30pm EST

Friday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals 7:00pm EST

Saturday --

Nothin' Doin'

Sunday --

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

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