It's Thursday

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

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Today is March 8th, the 68th day of 2012. There are 298 days left in the year.

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Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Mathieu Garon out 3-4 weeks with groin tear.

Lemieux statue unveiled in Pittsburgh.

Hockey Hugs: Friendly facewashing; Ryan Getz-love; Chris Neil gets a puppy.

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

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Universal Women's Week and the World Rattlesnake Roundup both start today.

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Tampa, FL -- The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled goaltender Dustin Tokarski (toh-KAHR-skee) from the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League today, Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman announced.

Read the rest here.

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Today is: The Day for Women's Rights and International Peace, Girl's Write Now Day, International Women's Day, International Working Women's Day, Nametag Day, National Proof Reading Day, National Agriculture Day, National Peanut Cluster Day, Organize Your Home Office Day and World Kidney Day.

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National Team Development Program Weekly Update

U18's Drop Close Contest to Green Bay, Face Three Games in Five Days;
U17's Lose Two to Youngstown on Road, Look to Rebound at Home This Weekend

UNDER-17 TEAM LOOKS TO REBOUND AT HOME: The U.S. National Under-17 Team returns home to the Ann Arbor (Mich.) Ice Cube on Friday (March 9) for a 7 p.m. EST showdown with the Lincoln Stars. This is the only game between the two squads this season. The following afternoon (March 10), Team USA skates against the Chicago Steel at 3 p.m. EST. The U.S. is looking for its first win over the Steel this season, having posted a 0-1-1 (W-L-OTL) record in two games.

UNDER-18 TEAM FACES THREE GAMES IN FIVE DAYS: The U.S. National Under-18 Team begins a three-game home stand tonight (March 7) at 7 p.m. EST when the Muskegon Lumberjacks visit the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. This is only the second meeting between the U18's and its in-state rival. Team USA won the previous meeting, 3-2, at home on Dec. 17. On Saturday (March 10), the Youngstown Phantoms take on the U.S. at 7 p.m. EST. Team USA won its only previous encounter with the Phantoms, 7-2, on Sept. 16. The weekend concludes on Sunday (March 11) with a matinee game against the Chicago Steel. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST. Team USA is 1-0-0 (W-L-OTL) against the Steel this season, winning at The Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, Ill., 4-1, on Dec. 3.

U17's LOSE TWO TO YOUNGSTOWN ON ROAD: Three different players scored for Team USA, but the U.S. National Under-17 Team was outpaced by the Youngstown Phantoms, 6-3, on March 2 at the Covelli Centre. The following night (March 3), Hudson Fasching (Burnsville, Minn.) netted one goal, but the Under-17 Team was downed by the Youngstown Phantoms, 6-1, in the rematch at the Covelli Centre against its United States Hockey League rivals.

U18's DROP CLOSE CONTEST TO GREEN BAY: Stefan Matteau (Chicago, Ill.) scored two goals, but the U.S. National Under-18 Team was upended by the Green Bay Gamblers, 3-2, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube on March 1. Collin Olson (Apple Valley, Minn.) made 30 saves for Team USA in the loss. The U.S. held a 2-0 lead heading into the final frame before surrendering three straight goals to the top team in the USHL.

UNDER-17 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Hudson Fasching has five points in his last five games dating back to Feb. 20. The forward has tallied two goals and added three assists in that span ... Forward Miles Koules (Los Angeles, Calif.) is on a three game point streak (2-1) dating back to Feb. 25 ... Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) is ranked 20th in goals-against-average (3.66) in the USHL.

UNDER-18 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Forward Ryan Hartman (West Dundee, Ill.) is on a two game point streak (1-2) dating back to Jan. 21 and has five points (2-3) in his last four games, including the game-winning tally on Jan. 19 against Dubuque ... Defenseman Jacob Trouba (Rochester, Mich.) is on a two game point streak (1-1) dating back to Jan. 21 and has six points (2-4) in his last five games, including two power-play markers. He is also a plus-5 in those contests ... Forward Frankie Vatrano (East Longmeadow, Mass.) is on a five game point streak dating back to Jan. 14. He has three goals and three assists during that span and has recorded a plus-5 rating in those games.

NTDP TO HOST STAR WARS NIGHT: When the U.S. National Under-18 Team takes on the Youngstown Phantoms on Saturday (March 10) at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, Star Wars characters will be on hand to meet with fans. Commemorative patches and lightsabers will also be sold to help benefit Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor.

NTDP ALUMNI UPDATE: Miami University forward Austin Czarnik (Washington, Mich./2008-10) and University of Notre Dame defenseman Robbie Russo (Westmont, Ill./2009-11) were named to the 2012 Central Collegiate Hockey Association All-Rookie Team as determined by a vote of the conference's head coaches ... Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y./2004-06) scored the game-winning tally in a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on March 4. The Chicago Blackhawks forward now has three goals and one assist in his last five games dating back to Feb. 26 ... Florida Panthers forward Jack Skille (Madison, Wis./2003-05) had two points (1-1) in a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on March 4 ... Colorado Avalanche forward Peter Mueller (Bloomington, Minn./2003-05) assisted on both goals in a 2-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild on March 4 ... St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (New Rochelle, N.Y./2005-07) had one goal and one assist in a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on March 3. Coupled with a two assist performance on March 6 against the Chicago Blackahwks, he now has eight points (2-6) in his last five contests dating back to Feb. 27 ... Detroit netminder Jimmy Howard (Ogdensburg, N.Y./2001-02) stopped all 19 shots he faced to earn his sixth shutout in a 6-0 win over Minnesota on March 2.

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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Johann Kepler discovered the third Law of Planetary Motion on this date in 1618.

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Stock assessment of QB, RB and OL prospects.

Stampeders sign Edwin Harrison to extension.

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

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A train passed over the first railway suspension bridge at Niagara Falls, NY.

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Let's go someplace else Mommy.

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On this date in 1887, the telescopic fishing rod was patented by Everett Horton.

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Today in Elvis History

1961 - Tennessee Governor Buford Ellington gave the honorary title of colonel to Elvis Presley.

1968 - The Elvis Presley movie "Stay Away Joe" premiered.

1975 - Elvis Presley's "My Boy" hit #20 in the U.S.

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A dog license law was enacted in the state of New York on this date in 1894. It was the first animal control law in the U.S.

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Today in Beatles History:

1962 - The Beatles appeared on "Teenager's Turn." It was their first radio appearance.

1973 - Paul McCartney pled guilty to charges of growing marijuana outside of his Scottish countryside farm. He claimed that a fan had given him the seeds and that he did not know what they would grow. He was fined $240.

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On this date in 1946, in New York City, the "Journal American" became the first commercial business to receive a helicopter license.

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Today in Sports History:

1930 - The New York Yankees signed Babe Ruth to a two-year contract worth $160,000.

1954 - Herb McKenley set a world record for the quarter mile when he ran the distance in 46.8 seconds.

1954 - The Milwaukee Hawks and the Baltimore Bullets played the first double header in NBA history.

1957 - The International Boxing Club was ruled a monopoly putting it in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Law.

1971 - Joe Frazier retained his world heavyweight championship by defeating Muhammad Ali in a 15-round decision. It was Ali's first loss in 32 professional fights.

1986 - Martina Navratilova became the first woman tennis player to win more than $10 million in her career.

2004 - Todd Bertuzzi (Vancouver Canucks) hit Steve Moore (Colorado Avalanche) in the side of the head from behind and drove his head into the ice. Moore landed face-first with Bertuzzi on top of him. Moore suffered a broken neck, a concussion and deep cuts on his face. On March 11, the NHL suspended Bertuzzi for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs and announced that his eligibility would be assessed the following season and would take into account Moore's health and the progression of his recovery.

2006 - NFL owners and the players' union agreed on a union proposal which extended the collective bargaining agreement for six years.

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Groucho, Chico and Harpo made their final TV appearance together on this date in 1959.

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Coming up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

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

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 5:00pm EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes 7:00pm EST

Sunday --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 2:30pm 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!