It's Saturday

It's Saturday. Here's what's happening.

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Today is December 15th, the 350th day of 2012. There are 16 days left in the year.

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Enough's enough: NHL owners need to give a little – and end the lockout.

President Obama: NHL players, owners need to ‘do right by your fans.’

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

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A meteorological office established in Tuscany began recording daily temperature readings on this date in 1654.

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Fresno, CA. - An early deficit did not deter the Wenatchee Wild, who came back to beat the Fresno Monsters 3-2 in a shootout Friday night, in front of 3,765 at Selland Arena in Fresno, California.

Fresno got the early jump, scoring 28 seconds in on a blast by Kyle Sucher, assisted by Dan Sherer and Matt Salituro. The Monsters' lead would soon grow to 2-0 on an unassisted, shorthanded goal by Trevor Husch at 2:29. Wenatchee would pepper Fresno goaltender Tomas Sholl, finally getting on the board via their third power play of the opening period. David Powlowski (Rochester, New York) scored on a shot from the high slot with Chris Kerr (Penticton, British Columbia) and Max McHugh (Edgewood, Washington) assisting, cutting the deficit to 2-1 at 17:51, a lead the Monsters would hold heading into the second period.

The Wild would draw even near the mid-way point of the second period, as Evan Schmidbauer (Surrey, British Columbia) stole the puck and scored on a second-chance backhander. Trace Redmond (Dallas, Texas) and Tyler Bruneteau (Omaha, Nebraska) assisted at 9:02, tying the game at 2-2.

Both teams had good opportunities in the third but neither could score and the game headed to overtime. The extra session was also scoreless and the game would proceed to the deciding shootout.

In the shootout, goals by Jono Davis (La Verne, California) in round two and David Mead (Conklin, New York) in round five for Wenatchee, offset a goal by Fresno's Daniel Rosse in round two, giving the Wild the 3-2 win. For Wenatchee, it raised their road record to 10-2-1 and their season mark to 20-3-2. The Monsters slip to 6-16-3.

Despite getting the two standings points, Wild Head Coach Bliss Littler was not pleased with his team's effort. "Christmas came early" said Littler. "If the league calls and asks for the points back, they can have them back. We impersonated a junior hockey team. We were a Tier 3 team tonight. If they (the league) wants the points back, we should give them back. That's how bad we were. The Tier 3 game before us was a better hockey game."

Jordan Kaufer (Stillwater, Minnesota) split time in goal with Robert Nichols (Dallas, Texas) for Wenatchee and the two combined to stop 17 of 19 shots. Fresno goaltender Tomas Sholl made 27 saves. The Wild, who went 1 for 7 on the power play and 3 of 3 on the penalty kill and has now pointed in 10 straight games, going 8-1-1 in that span. They've won 4 straight, the last 2 in shootouts and are 3-0 against the Monsters this season.

After Saturday's game, the Wild is off for the league's Christmas break, resuming action on December 28th, 29th and 31st on home ice against the Kenai River Brown Bears. Game time for the first two games is 7:05pm, with the third game slated for a 6:05pm start. Season tickets and individual game tickets are on sale now. Call 509.888.PUCK (7825).

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In the U.S. on this date in 1791, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, went into effect following ratification by the state of Virginia.

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Corvallis, OR. -- Fifty years ago this weekend: Remembering the Heisman Trophy run of Oregon State quarterback Terry Baker.

Read the rest here.

Visit the Oregon State Athletics department official web site.

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Jane Austen's "Emma" was published on this date in 1815.

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Moffat: Calvillo's time in Montreal far from over.

Riders announce 2013 defensive coaching staff.

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

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On this date in 1854, in Philadelphia, the first street cleaning machine was put into use.

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Tampa, FL. —Pierre Thomas and the Saints have run the ball much more effectively in the second half of the season than the first, but now they face the NFL's top-ranked rush defense.

Read the rest here.

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Thomas Edison patented the phonograph on this date in 1877.

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Catch the treats in your pumpkin.

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as enjoying the weekend, isn't it?

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Today in Elvis History

1962 - Elvis Presley's single "Return To Sender" hit #1 in the U.K.

1965 - The Elvis Presley movie "Harum Scarum" opened in the U.S.

1970 - "Elvis - That's The Way It Is" was released in the U.K.

1994 - "Elvis - The Tribute" aired on ABC-TV.

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On this date in 1938, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt presided over the ground-breaking ceremonies for the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.

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Today in Beatles History:

1969 - John Lennon gave his last live performance in England. It was a UNICEF benefit in London.

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"Gone With the Wind," produced by David O. Selznick based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell, premiered at Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta on this date in 1939. The movie starred Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.

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Today in Sports History:

1917 -  The NHL's first exhibition game was played four days before the start of the regular season. The Montreal Canadiens and the Montreal Wanderers played a benefit game for victims of the Halifax Explosion, which had occurred 10 days earlier.

1925 - The third Madison Square Garden was opened with a game between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Americans.

1966 - The New Orleans Saints became the 16th NFL franchise.

1974 - The Miami Dolphins won at the Orange Bowl for the 31st consecutive time.

1982 - Paul "Bear" Bryant announced his retirement as head football coach at the University of Alabama.

1992 - Arthur Ashe was named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

1996 - Troy Aikman surpassed Roger Staubach's Dallas Cowboy record of 22,700 passing yards.

1996 - John Elway (Denver Broncos) won his 126th game to set an NFL record.

1997 - The San Francisco 49ers retired Joe Montana's number 16 during halftime of a game against the Denver Broncos.

2002 - Edgardo Alfonzo and the San Francisco Giants agreed on a four year contract worth $26 million.

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On this date in 1965, two U.S. manned spacecraft, Gemini 6 and Gemini 7, maneuvered within 10 feet of each other while in orbit around the Earth.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

Junior Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors Empire South and EJHL South teams at Coral Springs Showcase.

Sunday -- 

Junior Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors Empire South and EJHL South teams at Coral Springs Showcase.

NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints 1:00pm EST

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That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow!