It's Friday

It's Friday. Here's what's happening.

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Today is February 15th, the 46th day of 2013. There are 319 days left in the year.

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Sixth annual Hockey Weekend Across America set.

Schoenbach, Ice Hockey in Harlem reaching city kids.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Jane Seymour is 62; Cartoonist Matt Groening (The Simpsons) is 59; Model Janice Dickinson (America's Next Top Model) is 58; Amber Riley (Glee) is 27.

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Tampa, FL. -- Not even the energy of a fired up home sellout crowd of 19,204 could help overturn the Tampa Bay Lightning’s recent struggles.

Martin St. Louis, Teddy Purcell and Nate Thompson each had goals for Tampa Bay, and Mathieu Garon made 35 saves, but in a 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Thursday night.

The loss brought the Lightning’s winless streak to a season-high six games, while Washington won its third straight.

Read the rest here.

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Harry Potter is getting a new look on his 15th birthday. At least, the book covers are, if not the young wizard. Scholastic, Harry Potter's U.S. publisher, unveiled on Wednesday a new cover for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the first of seven new covers for each book in the series. They will debut in September to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the first book's publication.

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Sauer Named Head Coach of 2014 U.S. Paralympic Hockey Team 2014 U.S. Paralympic Team to be Announced in July COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Jeff Sauer (Madison, Wis.) has been named head coach of the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team it was announced today by USA Hockey. Sauer is currently in his second season serving as head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. In April 2012, Sauer guided Team USA to the gold medal at the International Paralympic Committee World Championship in Hamar, Norway. The U.S. will defend its world title this April in Goyang City, Korea, at the 2013 IPC World Championship. "Jeff has been a terrific leader for our U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and he was the unquestionable choice for this position," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "He has a wealth of coaching experience at so many levels and has translated that knowledge to the game of sled hockey." Jeff Sauer "I'm excited and honored to be chosen for this position," said Sauer. "I have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to be the head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team these last two seasons and I look forward to seeing this talented group of players through to next year's Paralympic Games in Sochi." The U.S. Paralympic Hockey Team will compete in the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games March 7-16, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. The U.S. will be defending its gold medal from the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games, and seeking its fourth consecutive Paralympic Games medal (2002-gold; 2006-bronze). Sauer has coached a wide array of U.S. teams throughout his career. He was the head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team at the 1995 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden, and at the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle, Wash., along with serving as head coach for the U.S. Men's Select Team at the 1989 Pravda Cup in Leningrad, Soviet Union, and at the 1997 Tampere Cup in Tampere, Finland. In addition, Sauer has been deeply involved with the U.S. Deaf Ice Hockey Teams. He will be the head coach of Team USA at the 2013 World Deaf Hockey Championship in Vantaa, Finland this April. Additionally, he has been the head coach of the last three Deaflympic Ice Hockey Teams, leading the U.S. to a gold-medal finish at the 2007 Winter Deaflympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sauer also is currently a member of USA Hockey's International Council and Disabled Hockey Committee, and is president of the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association. Sauer as Head Coachof the U.S. National Sled Team Date Event Record (Place) Jan. 2013 USA Hockey Sled Cup 4-0-0* (1st) Dec. 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge 4-1-0* (1st) April 2012 IPC World Championship 4-1-0* (1st) Feb. 2012 Series vs. Canada 1-2-0* Dec. 2011 World Sledge Hockey Challenge 3-2-0* (2nd) * W-L-T Sauer's illustrious 31-year NCAA Division I college coaching career featured 655 wins (seventh all-time) and two national championships, both of which came during his tenure with the University of Wisconsin (1983, 1990). Sauer led Wisconsin to three NCAA Men's Frozen Four appearances, 12 NCAA tournament berths, six Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff titles and two WCHA regular-season crowns in 20 seasons as head coach (1982-2002). He also spent 11 years (1971-82) as head coach of the men's ice hockey team at his alma mater, Colorado College, where he was twice named WCHA Coach of the Year (1972, 1975). U.S. Paralympic Hockey Team Coaches & Results Paralympic Winter Games Year Head Coach Record (Place) 2010 Ray Maluta 5-0-0* (1st) 2006 Keith Blase 3-2-0* (3rd) 2002 Rick Middleton 6-0-0* (1st) 1998 Angelo Bianco 1-3-1* (6th) 1994 Did Not Compete -- * W-L-T In 2011, Sauer was honored with the National Hockey League's Lester Patrick Trophy for his outstanding service to hockey in the United States. In 2000, he was recognized with USA Hockey's Distinguished Achievement Award. He was also named to the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004 and received the John 'Snooks' Kelly Founders Award from the American Hockey Coaches Association for his contributions to the overall growth and development of the sport of ice hockey in the U.S. NOTES:Team USA has won the last three major international events, including the 2009 IPC World Sledge Hockey Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic; the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver, B.C.; and the 2012 IPC World Sledge Hockey Championship in Hamar, Norway ... During the 2012-13 season, the U.S. has won a pair of international tournaments; Team USA defeated Canada on Dec. 8 in the championship game of the 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Calgary, Alberta, and it topped Korea on Jan. 26 in the title game of the 2013 USA Hockey Sled Cup in Indian Trail, N.C. ... Currently, Sauer and the U.S. National Team are in suburban Ottawa, Ont., to play a three-game series vs. Canada Feb. 14-16 ... The appointment of Sauer is pending approval from the U.S. Olympic Committee ... The management of the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team is under the direction of USA Hockey's International Council, chaired by Tony Rossi. Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of USA Hockey, oversees all hockey operations for the organization and Dan Brennan is the general manager of the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team. U.S. National Sled Team Beats Canada 2-0 Team USA Takes Game One of Three-Game Series ROCKLAND, Ont. – The U.S. National Sled Team topped Canada, 2-0, tonight to open a three-game series at the Canadian International Hockey Academy Arena. Adam Page (Lancaster, N.Y.) scored the decisive goal in the first period, while goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) made 15 saves for the shutout. "We started slowly tonight but we gained confidence and momentum as the game progressed," said Jeff Sauer, head coach of the U.S. National Sled Team and the newly announced head coach of the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team. "We stayed out of the penalty box and we allowed just three quality scoring chances against a good Canadian team." Page put Team USA ahead 1-0 with a left-handed shot that beat goalie Benoit St-Amand at 7:39 of the first period.Kevin McKee (Davenport, Iowa) drew the lone assist. Cash and the U.S. defense held the slim advantage until Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) secured the win with an empty-net goal at 14:04 of the third period. Game two of the three-game series is Friday (Feb. 15) at 7 p.m. ET at the Canadian International Hockey Academy Arena. The final game will be played on Saturday (Feb. 16) at 2 p.m. ET. Scoring By Period Team 1 2 3 Total USA 1 0 1 2 CAN 0 0 0 0 First Period – Scoring: 1, USA, Page (McKee), 7:39. Penalties: CAN, Bridges (roughing), 4:59. Second Period – Scoring: None. Penalties: None. Third Period – Scoring: 2, USA, Farmer (Shaw), 14:04 (en). Penalties: CAN, Dorion (interference), 8:21. Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total USA 3 4 4 11 CAN 3 4 8 15 Goaltender (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total USA, Cash, 45:00 3/3 4/4 8/8 15/15 CAN, St-Amand, 44:10 2/3 4/4 3/4 9/11 Power Play: CAN 0-0; USA, 0-2 Penalties: CAN 2-4; USA, 0-0 2013 Series vs. Canada Feb. 14-16 - Rockland, Ont. - Canadian International Hockey Academy Arena Date Event Time (ET) Thurs., Feb. 14 vs. Canada W, 2-0 Fri., Feb. 15 vs. Canada 7:00 p.m. Sat., Feb. 16 vs. Canada 2:00 p.m. NOTES: Jeff Sauer was named head coach of the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team today. He is in his second season as head coach of the U.S. National Sled Team ... The U.S. is 9-1-0 (W-L-T) this season, including a 2-1-0 mark vs. Canada. Six of Team USA's wins have been shutouts ... For live coverage of the series vs. Canada, follow @usahockey and @usahockeyscores on Twitter ... Media wishing to cover the series should contact Matt Trevor of the USA Hockey communications staff ... Team USA has won the last three major international events, including the 2009 IPC World Sledge Hockey Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic; the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver, B.C.; and the 2012 IPC World Sledge Hockey Championship in Hamar, Norway ... Eight members of the 2012-13 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team helped the United States win the gold medal at the 2010 Paralympic Games ... The U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team for the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia, will be chosen this summer … Dan Brennan is the general manager for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team.

************************************************ Sunday is the NBA All-Star Game in Houston. ************************************************ FA13 Preview: Needs, wants and wishlists. Remaining Riders likely to test free agent waters. Visit the league's official website at cfl.ca. ************************************************ Bosses who notice an employee's performance drop in one aspect of the job shouldn't immediately think the employee is slacking off. A study led by a University of Toronto professor discovered that in many cases the employee has just shifted and refocused his efforts on a different set of tasks, which should be considered a positive sign of adaptability. ************************************************ Tampa, FL. — Warren Sapp's improbable journey from a dirt road in Plymouth, near Orlando, to the steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, will be completed during his enshrinement ceremony Aug. 3. Read the rest here. ************************************************ In Minnesota, a woman could end up in prison for ten years after signing a neighbor up for two dozen magazine subscriptions. The animosity between neighbors began when one neighbor turned another in to the homeowners association for letting her dog relieve itself on her lawn. ************************************************ Jimmy gets ready to go home from Daddy's Happy Birthday. ************************************************ You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as scheduling a doctor's appointment, isn't it? ************************************************ Today in Elvis History 1958 - Elvis Presley's five-song EP "Jailhouse Rock" hit #18 in the U.K. 1958 - Elvis Presley's single "Don't" hit #8 in the U.S. ************************************************ Kate Gosselin will appear in the season premiere of Celebrity Wife Swap on ABC. Kate will trade places with Playmate and former Dancing with the Stars contender Kendra Wilkinson. Kate and Kendra will swap "lifestyles, children and homes (but not bedrooms), for one week. The episode will air February 26th. ************************************************ Today in Beatles History: 1965 - The Beatles released the single "Eight Days a Week." ************************************************ Did you hear about the guy in France who's car kept accelerating until it was doing 125 mph? The guy had to drive it from France to Belgium until it ran out of gas. [I know what you're thinking: There's a French car that can do 125?]. ************************************************ Today in Sports History: 1946 - Edith Houghton, at age 33, was signed as a baseball scout by the Philadelphia Phillies becoming the first female scout in the major leagues. 1953 - The first American to win the women’s world figure skating championship was 17-year-old Tenley Albright. 1962 - CBS-TV bought the exclusive rights to college football games from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for a figure of $10,200,000. 1965 - NFL teams pledged not to sign college seniors until they had completed all of their games, including bowl games. 1974 - Phil Esposito (Boston Bruins) scored his 1,000th NHL point. 1975 - Yvan Cournoyer (Montreal Canadiens) scored five goals and two assists against the Chicago Black Hawks. 1980 - Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers) tied an NHL record with seven assists in a game against the Washington Capitals. Gretzky also set a rookie record of 96 points. 1996 - The NCAA football rules committee voted to require a tiebreaker in all NCAA football games. 1998 - Dale Earnhardt won NASCAR's Daytona 500 for the first time. The win occurred on his 20th attempt. ************************************************ NEW ON DVD THIS WEEKEND Skyfall The Perks of Being a Wallflower Weeds: Season Eight The Sessions (Helen Hunt) Bully The Man with the Iron Fists (Russell Crowe) Silent Hill: Revelation ************************************************ Coming Up: Tonight -- Nothin' Doin' Saturday -- NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers 3:00pm EST Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs. Palm Beach Hawks 5:15pm EST EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs. Palm Beach Hawks 8:00pm EST Sunday -- Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs. Palm Beach Hawks 9:30am EST EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs. Palm Beach Hawks 12:15pm EST ************************************************ That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow!