It's Thursday

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

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Today is September 6th, the 250th day of 2012. There are 116 days left in the year.

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Wait and 'C': Might Zetterberg be next Wings captain?

Report: Luongo prefers returning to Panthers.

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

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The Pilgrims left on the Mayflower from Plymouth, England to settle in the New World on this date in 1620.

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Costello Named Recipient of 2012 Wayne Gretzky International Award

IIHF Vice President to be Recognized During U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Proceedings

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Murray Costello will be presented with the Wayne Gretzky International Award as part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Dinner on Monday, Oct. 15, at the Plaza of the Americas in Dallas, Texas. The award, established by the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999 and first presented to its namesake, pays tribute to international individuals who have made major contributions to the growth and advancement of hockey in the United States. "Murray Costello has been a wonderful contributor to hockey's growth in the United States, as well as the world," said Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey. "During his time with the IIHF and Hockey Canada, he has been incredibly forthcoming with the spread of knowledge and ideas that can positively impact American administrators, coaches and players of all ages." Costello has been an International Ice Hockey Federadtion Council member since 1998 and served as vice president of the organization since 2008. He has been a key member of numerous IIHF committees, including as chairman of the competition, junior, medical and technical/arena committees. From 1979-98 he was the president of Hockey Canada. Throughout his time with Hockey Canada and the IIHF he has been an extremely positive influencer of hockey in the United States. Alongside former USA Hockey president Walter L. Bush, Jr., Costello was a major proponent of women's hockey. Hockey Canada hosted the inaugural IIHF Women's World Championship in 1990, which helped pave the way for the debut of women's hockey in the 1998 Olympic Winter Games. Additionally, Costello helped USA Hockey and Hockey Canada collaborate on coaching education projects in the late 1970s. The basis for the U.S.-Canada junior transfer agreement also dates back to Costello's cooperation with USA Hockey executives. "Murray has been a pleasure to work with during my time at USA Hockey," said Bush, who currently serves as USA Hockey's chairman of the board. "He has represented our sport with great class during his time with Hockey Canada and the IIHF. I appreciate all he has done to cooperate with USA Hockey's growth and development for men and women. His willingness to exchange ideas and grow the game across borders has been tremendous." Costello's term as president of Hockey Canada was filled with transformation. In 1994 he consolidated the Canadian Hockey Association and the former independent Hockey Canada organization into an all-new organization under the name of Hockey Canada. He was instrumental in the creation of the Canadian women's hockey program, which spurred the growth of the sport among young women. Additionally, he led Hockey Canada to create its Program of Excellence for both men and women. A native of South Porcupine, Ontario, Costello played in the National Hockey League for three Original Six franchises (Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red WIngs) from 1953-57. After his playing career ended, Costello earned a law degree and became an executive with the Western Hockey League's Seattle Totems. He moved on to become the WHL's publicity director and eventually the arbitrator for the World Hockey Association Players Association. Costello was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005. Past recipients of the Wayne Gretzky International Award include Anatoli Tarasov (2008), Herb Brooks (2004), Bobby Hull (2003), Scotty Bowman (2002), Scotty Morrison (2001), the Howe family (2000) and Wayne Gretzky (1999). Information on how to purchase tickets to the 2012 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Dinner can be found here.  Notes: USA Hockey took over responsibilties for the selection process and induction event associated with the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006 and has staged induction ceremonies in Grand Forks, N.D., (2007), Denver (2008), Boston (2009), Buffalo, N.Y. (2010) and Chicago (2011). The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame was founded in 1973. To date, there are 153 enshrined members in the Hall. For information on the members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, visit USHockeyHallofFame.com ... The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, located in Eveleth, Minn., is open daily. For hours of operation and admission prices, visitUSHockeyHallMuseum.com or call 800-443-7825.

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Thomas Blanchard patented a machine called the lathe on this date in 1819.

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Owens, Carroll headline Players of the Week.

Power Rankings: Wk.10: Dissension in the Rankings.

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

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The Oberlin Collegiate Institute of Ohio went co-educational on this date in 1837.

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Traded In: Carr dealt to Roughriders.

4-5 Saskatchewan's next action is this coming Sunday at 1:00pm EDT at 2-7 Winnipeg in the annual Banjo Bowl. Catch the game on 620 CKRM with Rod Pedersen and Carm Carteri calling the action. The game can be seen in Canada on TSN and in the U.S. online at ESPN3.com.

Visit the team's official website, http://www.riderville.com/.

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The Southern Pacific rail line from Los Angeles to San Francisco was completed on this date in 1876.

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Tampa, FL. -- DB Ronde Barber will hit an incredible milestone on Sunday when he makes his 200th consecutive start, extending his NFL record for defensive backs and prompting a celebration of his career at Raymond James Stadium.

Read the rest here.

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Carnation processed its first can of evaporated milk on this date in 1899.

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See Jimmy? This is where you get to come for school.

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Let's see, what's on the agenda for today....washin' dishes and watchin' tv. How 'bout you?

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St. Petersburg, FL. -- Kyle Farnsworth got the ground ball the Rays needed.

Unfortunately, Elliot Johnson's ensuing throw didn't find its intended target, and the play that could have curbed a Yankees rally turned into two runs. Those runs were the difference in a 6-4 New York win over the Rays at Tropicana Field Wednesday night.

Read the rest here.

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Robert Peary, American explorer, sent word that he had reached the North Pole on this date in 1909. He had reached his goal five months earlier.

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San Francisco, CA.-- While Pablo Sandoval released his frustration Wednesday night, the Giants' anxiety continued to mount until their 6-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks became official..

Read the rest here.

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In Montreal, Canadian television began broadcasting on this date in 1952.

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Today in Elvis History

1955 - Elvis Presley performed in the high school gym in Bono, Arkansas. The floor gave away during the show due to the large crowd. Nobody was injured in the incident.

1957 - Elvis Presley recorded the song "Don't."

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The first Barbie Doll was sold by Mattel Toy Corporation on this date in 1959.

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Today in Beatles History:

1968 - Eric Clapton recorded his guitar solo on The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

1972 - John and Yoko appeared on Jerry Lewis' Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.

1974 - Splinters album "The Place I Love" was released on the Dark Horse label. It was the first release the George Harrison label.

1982 - Paul McCartney released "Tug Of War."

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James Wickwire and Louis Reichardt reached the top of the world's second largest mountain, Pakistan's K-2 on this date in 1978. They were the first Americans to reach the summit.

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Today in Sports History:

1905 - Frank Smith (Chicago White Sox) pitched a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers. The game set a record for the most lopsided margin of victory for a no-hitter in AL history (15-0).

1924 - Urban Shocker (St. Louis Brown) pitched two complete games against the Chicago White Sox. He won both games 6-2.

1943 - The youngest player to appear in an American League baseball game was pitcher Carl Scheib of the Philadelphia Athletics. Scheib was 16 years, eight months and five days old.

1972 - Rick DeMont lost the gold medal he received in a 400-meter swimming event because a banned drug was found in his system during routine drug testing.

1972 - The Summer Olympics resumed in Munich, West Germany, a day after the deadly hostage crisis that took the lives of 11 Israelis and five Arab abductors.

1976 - Steve Yeager (Los Angeles) was seriously injured when part of a broken bat struck him in the throat. He was waiting in the on-deck circle when the incident occurred.

1981 - Fernando Valenzuela (Los Angeles Dodgers) tied a National League record of seven shutouts by a rookie pitcher.

1989 - The Pittsburgh Steelers were banned from practicing on their own field, Three Rivers Stadium, because The Rolling Stones were rehearsing for their upcoming concert.

1995 - Bruce Hornsby and Branford Marsalis performed the National Anthem in Baltimore's Camden Yards before Cal Ripken Jr. set baseball's all-time consecutive games played record.

1995 - Los Angeles police detective Mark Fuhrman invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination at the O.J. Simpson trial.

1995 - Cal Ripken played his 2,131st consecutive game setting a new record. Lou Gehrig previously held the record.

1996 - Eddie Murray (Baltimore Orioles) hit his 500th career home run during a game against the Detroit Tigers. He was only the third person to have at least 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.

2000 - Scott Sheldon (Texas Rangers) became the third player in major league baseball history to play all nine positions in one game.

2001 - Barry Bonds (San Francisco) became the fifth player in major league baseball history to hit 60 home runs in a season.

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The name St. Petersburg was restored to Russia's second largest city on this date in 1991. The city was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great. The name has been changed to Petrograd (1914) and to Leningrad (1924).

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Coming up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Texas Rangers 7:10pm EDT

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Speedway 7:00pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers 10:15pm EDT

Saturday --

College Football -- Oregon State Beavers vs Wisconsin Badgers 4:00pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers 4:05pm EDT

EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs USF Bulls 5:00pm EDT

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Speedway 7:00pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Texas Rangers 7:10pm EDT

Sunday --

Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs USF Bulls 10:45am EDT

CFL Football -- Saskatchewan Roughriders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1:00pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Texas Rangers 1:40pm EDT

NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers 4:25pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers 8:05pm EDT

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