It's Friday

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

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Today is March 1st, the 59th day of 2013. There are 306 days left in the year.

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Blackhawks stretch streak to 20 by beating Blues.

Player Safety video examines kneeing incidents.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Roger Daltrey (The Who) is 69; Actor-director Ron Howard is 59; Tim Daly (Wings) is 57; Javier Bardem (Skyfall, Oscar for No Country for Old Men) is 44; Justin Bieber is 19.

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New York, NY. -- Mathieu Garon did everything in his power on Thursday night to shut down the New York Rangers.

It just didn’t translate that way on the scoreboard following 60 minutes of play.

Garon made 38 saves, and at times was brilliant, but the individual performance just wasn’t enough to get the Tampa Bay Lightning back on the winning track following a 4-1 defeat to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Read the rest here.

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Today (Friday) is Employee Appreciation Day and Peanut Butter Lover's Day. Sunday begins Professional Pet Sitters Week.

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Top-10 Finalists Named for 2013 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award

Sixteenth Annual Award to be Presented March 23 in Minneapolis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The USA Hockey Foundation today announced the Top-10 finalists for the 2013 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. The award, presented annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey, will be presented at the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center Sat., March 23, in Minneapolis in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Frozen Four. The Top-10 finalists include: senior defenseman Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove, Ill./University of Minnesota); freshman forward Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn./University of Minnesota); sophomore forward Alex Carpenter (Reading, Mass./Boston College); sophomore forward Kendall Coyne (Palos Heights, Ill./Northeastern University); senior forward Brianna Decker (Dousman, Wis./University of Wisconsin); senior forward Jillian Dempsey (Winthrop, Mass./Harvard University); junior forward Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont./Cornell University); junior forward Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis./University of Minnesota); senior forward Jocelyne Lamoureux(Grand Forks, N.D./University of North Dakota) and senior goaltender Noora Raty (Espoo, Finland/University of Minnesota). The selection process began in late February, when NCAA Division I women's ice hockey coaches were asked to nominate players for the award. Players who were nominated by two or more coaches were then placed on an official ballot, which was sent back to the coaches to vote for the Top-10 finalists. The independent accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, tabulated the ballots. The three finalists, including the recipient of the 2013 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, will be chosen by a 13-member selection committee comprised of NCAA Division I women's ice hockey coaches, representatives of print and broadcast media, an at-large member and a representative of USA Hockey, the national governing body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States. The Top-3 finalists for this year's award will be announced on Thurs., March 7. Tickets to the 2013 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Ceremony and Brunch can be purchased at PattyKaz.com. Individual seats to the event are $65, while tables of 10 are available for $600. A select number of sponsorships and program advertisements are also still available. NOTES: Seven schools are represented in the Top-10, including four finalists from the University of Minnesota ... Among the Top-10 finalists are eight forwards, one defenseman and one goaltender, including five seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and one freshman ... Three Top-10 finalists were also Top-10 finalists in 2012 -- Brianna Decker, Amanda Kessel and Jocelyne Lamoureux. Decker and Lamoureux were also Top-3 finalists in 2012 and Decker was the recipient of the 2012 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award ... The Western Collegiate Hockey Association leads all conferences with six finalists, while ECAC Hockey and the Hockey East Association have two each. The University of Minnesota leads all schools with four finalists, while Boston College, Cornell University, Harvard University, University of North Dakota, Northeastern University and the University of Wisconsin are also represented in the Top-10 ... For more information and to sign up for the Kaz Connection, a free monthly e-newsletter dedicated solely to the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, please visit PattyKaz.com. ABOUT THE PATTY KAZMAIER MEMORIAL AWARD An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is annually presented to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. Selection criteria includes outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration is also given to academic achievement and civic involvement. ABOUT PATTY KAZMAIER The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, who was a four-year varsity letter-winner and All-Ivy League defenseman at Princeton University from 1981-86. An accomplished athlete who helped lead the Tigers to the Ivy League Championship in three consecutive seasons (1981-84), Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died on Feb. 15, 1990, at the age of 28 following a long struggle with a rare blood disease. 2013 Patty Kazmaier Top-10 Finalists Name Year Pos. School Megan Bozek Sr D University of Minnesota Hannah Brandt Fr F University of Minnesota Alex Carpenter So F Boston College Kendall Coyne So F Northeastern University Brianna Decker Sr F University of Wisconsin Jillian Dempsey Sr F Harvard University Brianne Jenner Jr F Cornell University Amanda Kessel Jr F University of Minnesota Jocelyne Lamoureux Sr F University of North Dakota Noora Raty Sr G University of Minnesota Megan BozekUniversity of Minnesota • Defenseman • Senior • Buffalo Grove, Ill. Finished the regular season as the second-highest scoring defenseman in the country with 15-32--47 totals in 34 games … Her 47 points rank sixth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and 12th in the NCAA … Tied for third in the WCHA in power-play points with 8-18--26 totals and tied for fifth in power-play goals … Tied for 10th in the WCHA in goal scoring with 15 … Seventh in the NCAA in assists registered with 32 and second among defensemen … Tenth in the nation in assists per game with 32 assists in 34 games played (0.94) … Tied for eighth in the country in power-play goals with eight … Tied for third in short-handed points in the WCHA with one goal and three assists … 2012-13 team captain … Anchors the top-ranked Minnesota defense that has won 41 consecutive games, dating back to last season … Hockey Humanitarian Award nominee … Accumulated over 200 hours of community service and volunteer work, which is the most on the team … Active in the community with volunteering her time at places such as HopeKids, Feed My Starving Children, local elementary schools, and Amplatz Children’s Hospital among others. Hannah BrandtUniversity of Minnesota • Forward • Freshman • Vadnais Heights, Minn. Led NCAA rookies in goals (28), assists (45), points (73) and points per game (2.15) in 2012-13 … Her 45 assists were second overall in the NCAA … Ranked second in the NCAA and WCHA in points scored (73), assists (45), points per game (2.15) and assists per game (1.32) with 28-45-73 numbers in 34 games … Her nine power-play goals tied for third in the NCAA and were second in the WCHA. Her 9-15--24 numbers with the man-advantage were fifth in her conference … Third in the WCHA and tied for fifth in the NCAA with 28 goals scored … Eighth in the country in goals per game (0.82) … Her seven game-winning goals were tied for fourth-best in the NCAA … Active in the community with volunteering her time at places such as HopeKids, Feed My Starving Children, local elementary schools, and Amplatz Children’s Hospital among others. Alex CarpenterBoston College • Forward • Sophomore • Reading, Mass. Her 67 points (31-36) ranked fourth in the NCAA and led the Hockey East Association …  Tops the HEA in assists (36) and points per game with 2.03 … Tied for second  in the conference with 9-8--17 numbers on the power play … Second in the HEA in goal scoring with 31 goals in 33 games … Fourth in the country in goals scored (31) and ranked sixth in the country in assists (36) … Recorded three hat tricks and two five-point games this season (Oct. 31 & Jan. 27) … Had 20 multi-point games this year … 65.1% face-off percentage … Recorded a Hockey East Association record 24-game point streak this season … Tied for first in the HEA and tied for third in the nation with nine power-play goals …  Tied for first in the conference and tied for fourth in the NCAA with seven game-winning goals … Most single-season points by a sophomore in team history … Five-time Athletic Republic Player of the Week honoree … Athletic Republic Player of the Month in January … Participated in the 2012 U.S. National Team Winter Camp in December … Tallied her 100th point this year in just 65 games played and set the BC single-season scoring record …  Alex is a student mentor to a 4th grader from a local school and she also participates with the Newton Skate with Special Athletes. Kendall CoyneNortheastern University • Forward • Sophomore • Palos Heights, Ill. Second-highest goal scorer in the NCAA with 34 tallies and tops in the Hockey East Association … Ranks second in the Hockey East Association in points boasting 34-27--61 numbers … Her 61 points were seventh in the NCAA … Tied for fourth in the conference with 27 assists … Tied for second in the conference in power-play points with 17 (9-8). Her nine goals with the man-advantage are also tops in the conference and third-best in the nation … Tied for the league lead with two short-handed goals … Leads her conference with seven game-winning goals, which is good for fourth in the NCAA. Brianna DeckerUniversity of Wisconsin • Forward • Senior • Dousman, Wis. Fifth in points in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with 27-23--50 numbers. Her 50 points put her 10th in the NCAA … Her 27 goals were fourth in the conference and eighth nationally … Ranked seventh in the WCHA in assists with 23 …  Tied for third in short-handed goals in the NCAA with three … Has recorded the eighth-most power-play points in her conference with 5-12--17 numbers … Ranked ninth nationally with five game-winning goals …  Has recorded three goals and two assists while short-handed, the second-most point total in the WCHA. Her three short handed goals are also second-most in the conference … Five game-winning goals ranks her fourth in the WCHA … Member of Wisconsin’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee … Volunteered with annual Hunger Fight Drive, Bucky’s Kid Clinic and “Skate with the Badgers.” … Volunteered at First Harvest Food Bank in Madison … Volunteers with Wisconsin’s youth hockey clinics, and has made visits to the UW’s children’s hospital. Jillian DempseyHarvard University • Forward • Senior • Winthrop, Mass. Ranked fourth in ECAC Hockey point-getters with 23-19--42 numbers … Her 23 goals rank 11th in the NCAA and third in ECAC Hockey … Tied for 15th-most points nationally … Ninth in NCAA in goals per game (0.82), with 23 scores in 28 games played … Her 19 assists tied for 11th in ECAC Hockey … Ranked among Harvard’s Top-10 career point scorers …  Had a 30-game point streak (dating to last season) that came to an end on Jan. 18 … Notched three game-winning goals this season … Tallied four power-play goals, good for 11th in her conference … Raised money for breast cancer in the Chowder Cup with Team Celine for four summers … Participated in “Cradles to Crayons” with Team USA members by signing autographs this summer … Helped facilitate East Coast Jumbos youth hockey team’s skate with Harvard hockey players this season … Helped raise money for Friends of Jaclyn with Harvard hockey team. Brianne JennerCornell University • Forward • Junior • Oakville, Ont. Finished tied for the first in ECAC Hockey with 55 points and 28 goals while her 27 assists tied for fourth … Tied for eighth nationally in points, tied for fifth in the NCAA in goals and tied for 13th nationally in assists … Fourth in the NCAA in points per game (2.04) and third in goals per game (1.04) with 55 points and 28 goals in just 27 games played … Five game-winning goals tied for second in the league and tied for ninth in the nation … Her 13 power-play goals were seventh in the conference … Second in ECAC Hockey in short-handed points, netting a goal and three assists … Top scorer on the highest-scoring offense in ECAC Hockey and fourth in the nation … Helped team to best combined special teams in the conference and fourth-best in the NCAA … Created a charity this season called “Markers for Madison” where for every goal she scored, at least $1 was donated by charity sponsors. It has raised over $1,500 this season with her 28 goals, all going toward a young girl named Madison Primeau who has brain cancer. Primeau is the younger sister of a family friend of Jenner’s. The money is going to help pay for her medical bills … Worked with the “Do It For Daron” charity to raise awareness of youth mental health ... Helped Cornell with donations for the “Cops, Kids & Toys” drive earlier in the year where they hoped fans brought in new unopened toys to be given to local children for the holidays. Amanda KesselUniversity of Minnesota • Forward • Junior • Madison, Wis. Led the NCAA in goals (43), assists (50), points (93), points per game (3.00), goals per game (1.39), assists per game (1.61), short-handed goals (5), and game-winning goals (8) … Leads the WCHA in power-play points with 8-20--28 numbers … Is tied for fifth in WCHA with eight power-play goals, which is tied for eighth nationally in the same category … Recorded 5-3--8 numbers in short-handed situations, tops in the nation … Recorded a point in each game she played this season … Recorded three five-point games and one six-point game … Helped to lead Minnesota to an NCAA-record 41 consecutive wins … Leads the highest-scoring offense in the nation. Minnesota scored 184 goals in 34 games … Helped Minnesota to the best scoring margin in the country … Helped lead the Gophers’ power play to a 32.4% success rate, the best in the NCAA, and the Gopher’s combined special teams operate at a 59.7% clip, also tops in the country …  Active in the community with volunteering her time at places such as HopeKids, Feed My Starving Children, local elementary schools, and Amplatz Children’s Hospital among others. Jocelyne LamoureuxUniversity of North Dakota • Forward • Senior • Grand Forks, N.D. Third in the nation in scoring with 71 points (32-39) … Her 32 goals are also third-best in the NCAA … Third in the country in points per game (2.09) with 71 points in 34 games played … Second in the WCHA with 32 goals ... Her 0.94 goals per game was fourth in the NCAA … Third in the WCHA with 39 assists … Leads the nation in power-play goals with 12 tallies on the man-advantage … Second in the WCHA in power-play points with 12-15--27 numbers … Tied for first in the nation with eight game-winning goals … Leads the second-most prolific scoring offense in the conference and sixth-best in the country … Helped North Dakota to the third-most efficient power play in the NCAA … Has helped to lead North Dakota to the second-most efficient special teams in the nation, converting at a 58.9% clip … Named a WCHA Scholar-Athlete this season for the third time … Was named to the Capital One Academic All-America Division I Women's At-Large Second Team (first Academic All-American in program history) in 2011-12. Noora RatyUniversity of Minnesota • Goaltender • Senior • Espoo, Finland Led the nation in winning percentage with a perfect 32-0-0 record on the season … Ranked 10th in minutes played with 1760:50 … Recorded 13 shutouts this season, best in the NCAA by seven … Finished second in the NCAA in goals against average with 0.99 GAA … Led the country in save percentage (.953) … Fourth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in minutes played with 1760:50 … Helped Minnesota to the third-best penalty kill in the NCAA, converting at a 91.7% success rate … Has been in net for 38 of the 41 games during which the Gophers are currently undefeated, dating back to last season … Active in the community with volunteering her time at places such as HopeKids, Feed My Starving Children, local elementary schools, and Amplatz Children’s Hospital among others. ************************************************ Ohio became the 17th U.S. state on this date in 1803. ************************************************

Best of the Best: Milanovich named 2012 Coach of the Year.

Lions extend defensive lineman Khreem Smith.

Visit the league's official website at cfl.ca.

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A new UK study finds that people lie about how much alcohol that they drink. [Then again, maybe they simply can't remember.]

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Tampa, FL. — The leading recruiter of United Way volunteers in the NFL, Bucs Pro Bowl G Davin Joseph got help from some of those volunteers this week in promoting literacy at a local elementary school.

Read the rest here.

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AOL users are more likely to head to a strip club for bachelor party festivities. In a survey by a company that books bachelor parties, AOL users account for 25.7% of pre-booked entries to strip clubs. Yahoo users follow with 24.6% and Hotmail after with 21.8%.

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Their hands were fast as lightning....

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as pajama day at pre-school, isn't it?

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Today in Elvis History

1960 - Elvis Presley left Company D, 32nd Tank Battalion, 3rd Armor Corps with a "Farewell Elvis" press conference. He had been with the group since October 1, 1958.

1975 - Elvis Presley's single "My Boy" hit #21 in the U.K.

1975 - Elvis Presley won his third Grammy Award for the 1974 live version of "How Great Thou Art."

1981 - The movie "Elvis And The Beauty Queen" aired on NBC-TV. Don Johnson played the part of Elvis Presley.

1991 - Geraldo Rivera became the first talk show personality from the West to be televised on a daily basis in the USSR. The first show featured a segment about the death of Elvis Presley.

1995 - Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" was inducted into the NARAS 22nd Hall of Fame at the 37th annual Grammy Awards.

2005 - CKX stock began trading on the NASDAQ.

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IN THEATER THIS WEEKEND - 21 AND OVER (R); JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (PG-13); THE LAST EXORCISM PART II (PG-13); PHANTOM (R)

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Today in Beatles History:

1966 - About one hundred Beatles fans barricaded themselves inside Liverpool's Cavern Club. The day before the club had closed due to bankruptcy.

1966 - "The Beatles At Shea Stadium" was world premiered on BBC1.

1969 - The Beatles album "Yellow Submarine" hit #2 in the U.S.

1970 - Two clips of the Beatles, performing "Let It Be" and "Two of Us," were aired on "The Ed Sullivan Show." It was the last time the group appeared on the show.

1972 - John Lennon was granted an extension on his American work visa.

1972 - John Lennon began recording "Sometime in New York City."

1995 - The Beatles' "Abbey Road" was inducted into NARAS' 22nd annual Hall of Fame at the 37th annual Grammy Awards.

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Erik Brown, a Tampa, Florida. resident, has been charged with assault for hitting a 16-year-old boy. The 16-year-old was reportedly arguing with his mother and that's when Brown flung a Taco Bell burrito at his face. The boy wasn't injured, but did have burrito cheese, sauce, and meat all over his face.

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Today in Sports History:

1941 - Elmer Layden was named the first Commissioner of the NFL.

1949 - Joe Louis announced that he was retiring from boxing as world heavyweight boxing champion.

1960 - Gordie Howe was profiled in "LOOK" magazine.

1969 - Mickey Mantle announced his retirement from baseball.

1979 - The NCAA granted ESPN the exclusive rights to telecast collegiate events.

1987 - The Boston Celtics defeated Detroit 112-102 to post win number 2,235.

1988 - Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers) got his 1,050th assist to become the NHL's all-time assist leader. Gordie Howe had held the record for 26 years.

1993 - The expansion NHL team owned by Disney was named the Mighty Ducks.

1996 - Lenny Wilkens won his 1,000th game as a coach in the NBA.

1996 - The Dallas Mavericks set a record when they attempted 44 3-point shots in a game against the Vancouver Grizzlies.

1997 - "Bottom Line2" debuted on ESPN2.

2002 - The Vancouver Canucks said that they would bill Ed Belfour (Dallas Stars) for damaging the visiting team's locker room on February 28th. Belfour broke two televisions, a clock and a VCR and damaged the walls of the dressing room after he was pulled during the first period.

2005 - The NHL's board of governors met and emerged fully behind Commissioner Gary Bettman and totally committed to having a season in the fall.

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Gary Oldman has joined the cast for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the sequel to the successful Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins 1:00pm EST

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Dollar General 200 Fueled By Amerigas at Phoenix International Raceway 4:30pm EST

Sunday --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway 3:00pm EST

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