It's Thursday

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

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Today is February 23rd, the 54th day of 2012. There are 312 days left in the year. (This is a leap year.)

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Bertuzzi, Wings sign two-year extension.

Ruutu extended four years by Hurricanes.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Actor Peter Fonda (Wild Hogs, Ulee's Gold, Easy Rider) is 72; Author/voice actor/radio host Tom Bodett (Motel 6 commercials) is 57; Actress Emily Blunt (The Adjustment Bureau, The Jane Austen Book Club, The Devil Wears Prada) is 29; Actress Dakota Fanning (The Runaways, War of the Worlds, The Secret Life of Bees) is 18.

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Tampa, FL. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning continue their drive towards a playoff spot tonight against the Jets in Winnipeg.

Read the preview right here.

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Today's special days are: Curling is Cool Day, Diesel Engine Day, Iwo Jima Day (flag raised), Introdude a Girl to Engineering Day and National Chili Day.

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National Team Development Program Weekly Update

U18's Travel to University of Alabama-Huntsville for Back-to-Back Contests;
U17's Earn Two Points in USHL Standings Last Weekend, Continue on Road Next

U17's CONTINUE ON ROAD IN USHL: The U.S. National Under-17 Team hits the road for two contests in the United States Hockey League this weekend. Team USA first takes on the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders on Friday (Feb. 24). Puck drop is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. EST at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. The Under-17 Team is 3-0-0 (W-L-OTL) versus the RoughRiders this season. The following night (Feb. 25), the U.S. skates against the Green Bay Gamblers. Game time is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. EST at the Resch Center. The U17's fell to the Gamblers, 7-2, last weekend in its only matchup so far this season.

U18's TRAVEL TO ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE FOR TWO: The U.S. National Under-18 Team completes its collegiate schedule this weekend against the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Friday (Feb. 24) at 8 p.m. EST and Saturday (Feb. 25) at 4 p.m. EST. Both games will be played at the Von Braun Center. Team USA is 5-8-2 (W-L-OTL) against Division I and III opponents this season. The U.S. is 2-0-0 (W-L-OTL) all-time against the Chargers, winning two games last year by a combined score of 13-4.

UNDER-17 TEAM EARNS TWO POINTS LAST WEEKEND: Gage Ausmus (East Grand Forks, Minn.) and John Hayden (Greenwich, Conn.) scored one goal each, but the U.S. National Under-17 Team dropped a 7-2 decision to Green Bay on Feb. 17 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Team USA led 2-0 in the first period before surrendering seven straight goals to the team with the best record in the USHL. On Sunday afternoon (Feb. 19), Hudson Fasching (Burnsville, Minn.) netted one goal and added an assist, but the Under-17 Team fell to the Youngstown Phantoms, 5-4. The following day (Feb. 20), J.T. Compher (Northbrook, Ill.), Fasching and Anthony Louis (Winfield, Ill.) each recorded three point nights, as the U17's skated past the Muskegon Lumberjacks, 6-4.

NTDP FEATURED ON NBC's "HOCKEY DAY IN AMERICA": The National Team Development Program was recently featured on NBC's "Hockey Day in America" broadcast on Feb. 19. Hockey features and regional National Hockey League games were broadcast in conjunction with USA Hockey's Hockey Weekend Across America. The pieces on the NTDP focused on U.S. National Under-18 Team defensemen Seth Jones (Plano, Texas) and Jacob Trouba (Rochester, Mich.), as well as giving an inside look at "The Program".

UNDER-17 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich.) is currently on a five game point (3-3) streak dating back to Jan. 27. The forward has been held without a point just four times in 21 USHL games played this season. Motte leads the NTDP in USHL points (12-12) ... Forward J.T. Compher is riding a three game (Feb. 17-20) point streak, netting one goal and collecting five assists in that span ... Forward Hudson Fasching has five points (2-3) in his last two games (Feb. 19-20) ... Keaton Thompson (Devils Lake, N.D.) has one assist in each of his past two games played (Feb. 19-20). The defenseman is a plus-4 in those contests.

UNDER-18 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Heading into the final matchup against a collegiate foe, forward Stefan Matteau (Chicago, Ill.) leads the U.S. National Under-18 Team in points, scoring six goals and adding six assists in 14 contests ... Forwards Ryan Hartman (West Dundee, Ill.) and Nicolas Kerdiles (Irvine, Calif.) are tied for second. Hartman has notched four goals and collected six assists, while Kerdiles has netted three goals and registered seven assists ... Patrick Sieloff (Ann Arbor, Mich.) leads all defensemen with six points (3-3) in 15 games played ... Netminder Collin Olson (Apple Valley, Minn.) is 3-4-0-1 (W-L-OTL-T) versus Division I and III opponents, posting a 3.06 goals-against-average, while teammate Jared Rutledge (Chicago, Ill.) is 2-4-0-1 with a 3.42 goals-against-average.

NTDP ALUMNI UPDATE: Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter (Madison, Wis./2001-03) has six points in his last six games dating back to Feb. 9, netting one goal and registering five assists. The blueliner was named the game's second star in a Feb. 14 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks ... Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson (Bloomington, Minn./2004-06) is on a four game point streak dating back to Feb. 11, scoring three goals and adding an assist during that span ... St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (New Rochelle, N.Y./2005-07) scored the game-winning goal on Feb. 16 against the New York Islanders. The blueliner followed that effort with a two assist outing versus the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 18 ... Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./2004-06) recently recorded a three game (Feb. 16-19) point streak, notching one goal and collecting three assists. Kane was also a plus-5 combined in those contests ... Vancouver Canucks forward David Booth (Washington, Mich./2001-02) was named the second star of the game on Feb. 16 after scoring one goal in a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche ... Despite being out with an injured hand, Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (Ogdensburg, N.Y./2001-02) is still second in the NHL with 32 wins.

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.

Jeff Kampersal Named Head Coach
for U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team
Courtney Kennedy and Steve Guider Tabbed Assistant Coaches for 2012-13

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Jeff Kampersal, head women's ice hockey coach at Princeton University, will serve as head coach of the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team for the 2012-13 season. Meanwhile, Courtney Kennedy, assistant coach at Boston College, and Steve Guider, head coach of the Blaine Girls' High School Team in Minnesota, will serve as assistant coaches.

"We've got a terrific staff, each who brings something a little bit different to the table," said Reagan Carey, director of women's hockey for USA Hockey.

The 2012-13 season includes the USA Hockey Women's National Festival (August 2012/Blaine, Minn.), the 2012 Women's Under-18 Series, a three-game competition against Canada (Aug. 16-19/Blaine, Minn.) and culminates with the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World U18 Championship in the winter.

Kampersal is serving as coach of the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team for the first time after having been involved in multiple USA Hockey Women's Select Festivals and Player Development Camps. He has been the head coach for 15 years at Princeton and his teams have averaged better than 17 wins per season, more than four wins more per season than in the first 17 years of the women's program. In 15 seasons, he has amassed a 233-184-41 record behind the Princeton bench.

A 1992 graduate of Princeton, Kampersal served as the captain of the men's hockey team as a senior. An All-Ivy League and All-ECAC selection, Kampersal shares the school record for consecutive games played with 107. Kampersal played high school hockey at St. John's Prep in Danvers, Mass., and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2009. A 10th-round selection of the New York Islanders in the 1998 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Kampersal played for the East Coast Hockey League's Richmond Renegades and the American Hockey League's Capital District Islanders.

Kennedy is currently in her fifth season on the Boston College coaching staff after serving as the head coach of women's ice hockey at Buckingham Browne and Nichols School in Cambridge, Mass., for three years. A mainstay on the U.S. Women's National Team from 2001-06, Kennedy was on the U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Teams in 2002 (silver) and 2006 (bronze). She also played for Team USA when it captured the gold medal at the 2005 IIHF Women's World Championship. She currently sits on the Executive Board of USA Hockey as an Athlete Director. Kennedy began her collegiate career with Colby College before transferring to the University of Minnesota. In 2001, she was a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given annually to the most outstanding women's college player, after making the top-10 in 1998. In 2008, Kennedy was inducted into the Minnesota Hall of Fame.

Guider has over two decades of coaching experience. Currently in his 10th season as head coach of the Blaine Girls' High School Team in Minnesota, Guider has accumulated multiple coaching awards including the Charlie Stryker Coach of the Year in 2004 and Butch Nash Outstanding Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008. He has been the head goalie coach at the USA Hockey Girls' Player Development Camps for the last 11 seasons. Additionally, Guider has been involved in a number of the U.S. Women's National Team camps and events.

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Do you like Ben Affleck? Now you can subscribe to his updates on Facebook. The 39-year-old actor and father of two -- soon to be three -- has joined the social-media sphere with a Facebook Timeline page. So just what is Affleck sharing with his extended network of friends? No family snapshots just yet. But, he has included several touching photos of children benefited by the Eastern Congo Initiative, the U.S. based advocacy and grant-making initiative he founded in 2010 that's focused on working with and for the people of eastern Congo.

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Irving: Bombers' quiet approach to free agency.

Stampeders extend Smith's stay in Calgary.

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

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If you're a fan of oldies music, bookmark this site: Goodguy radio.com. It'll be manned by on-air personalities from the former 910AM KISN, which ruled the Portland, Oregon airwaves in the 60s and 70s. Friend them via their Facebook page and read all about them right here. They'll be up and running at 10pm EST tomorrow. Keep on KISN!

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Jimmy carries one of his diggers.

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Ann Romney, wife of presidential contender Mitt, joined Pinterest this week.

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Today in Elvis History

1956 - Elvis Presley collapsed after a concert. The doctor noted the cause as exhaustion.

1971 - Elvis Presley ended a month-long, 57-show season at the International Hotel in Las Vegas.

1971 - Elvis Presley's album "On Stage - February 1970" was certified gold by the RIAA.

1972 - Elvis and Priscilla Presley were legally separated. Priscilla informed Elvis about her involvement with karate champion Mike Stone.

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Sandra Coast decided to join the U.S. Army, despite the fact that she had to lose 30 pounds for the chance. And she passed the test: she has graduated from boot camp with the rank of Sergeant. Coast, who's 51, served in the Navy from 1982 to 1993, so she was allowed to enter military service at her age, whereas most civilians would not be eligible. Her son is in the Marine Corps. Coast will not be sent overseas, but serve with a virtual unit that works by internet.

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Today in Beatles History:

1964 - A tape of the The Beatles' first of three record-breaking appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" was aired. They performed "All My Loving," "Till There Was You," "She Loves You," "I Saw Her Standing There," and "I Want to Hold Your Hand." The show was taped on February 9.

1970 - Ringo Starr guest starred on "Laugh-In." It was his first solo TV appearance.

2010 - Abbey Road Studios in north London was given protected status by the British government.

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The rarest football card in the world, an 1894 photo of Harvard University player John Dunlop, has been found in a farmhouse in Charlotte, Michigan. The family almost tossed a notebook full of vintage football and boxing cards in the trash before asking an expert if they may be worth something. The football card is worth $15,000.

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Today in Sports History:

1874 - Walter Winfield patented a game called "sphairistike." More widely known as lawn tennis.

1894 - Ottawa refused to travel to Toronto to play in the first Stanley Cup game. The Cup was awarded to the Montreal AAA.

1957 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the NFL operations did fall within coverage of antitrust laws.

1967 - Jim Ryun set a record in the half-mile run when ran it in 1:48.3.

1968 - Wilt Chamberlain, of the Philadelphia 76ers, became the first player to score 25,000 career points in the NBA.

1983 - Herschel Walker signed a $5 million 3-year contract with the USFL's New Jersey Generals.

1987 - Nate McMillan (Seattle Supersonics) set an NBA record when he had 25 assists against the Los Angeles Clippers.

1991 - North Carolina became the first NCAA team to win 1,500 games.

1997 - Patrick Ewing (New York) entered the top twenty list of all-time scorers in NBA history.

1999 - Garth Brooks attended spring training camp with the San Diego Padres as a non-roster player. The Padres Foundation agreed to contribute to the Touch 'Em All Foundation in lieu of a salary to Brooks.

2000 - Robby Knieval made a successful motorcycle jump of 200 feet over an oncoming train.

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A Cleveland newspaper employee staked out a vending machine following a series of thefts of the Sunday edition. On February 12, just before 7 AM, he saw a woman pay for one paper and take 12 copies. He got the license plate number of the suspect's vehicle and called police. Petty theft charges have been filed against the 29-year-old female.

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Coming up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Winnipeg Jets 8:30pm EST

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday--

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

Sunday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils 1:00pm EST

Monday --

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

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

Wednesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs New York Rangers 7:30pm EST

Saturday --

Nothin' Doin'

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!