It's Saturday

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

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Today is April 20th, the 110th day of 2013. There are 255 days left in the year.

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Player Safety Department examines charging issues.

Canadiens rookies rely on fathers for support.

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

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Today, April 20th, is the anniversary of the birth of the greatest woman in the history of woman, Kimberly C. Barrows-Meissner, whom I had the honor to be married to for 7 years. I miss you and I love you dear. Happy Birthday!

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Tampa FL. -- The past month on the calendar has been quite the whirlwind for Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Tyler Johnson.

On March 14, Johnson was recalled to Tampa Bay, where shortly thereafter he made his National Hockey League debut. The club’s top minor-league affiliate in Syracuse, of which Johnson is a part, also just recently clinched a berth in the postseason.

But on Friday, Johnson garnered an even bigger prize – the American Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player Award.

Read the rest here.

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Hot Springs National Park was established by an act of the U.S. Congress on this date in 1832. It was the first national park in the U.S. .

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The Wenatchee Wild hosts the Fresno Monsters Sunday in game five of the best-of-five West Division semi-final playoff series. Faceoff at the Town Toyota Center is 8:05pm EDT. You can hear the game at KPQ.com and watch it on FastHockey.com. The winner goes on to meet the winner of the Fairbanks-Kenai River series.

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The U.S. territory of Wisconsin was created by the U.S. Congress on this date in 1836.

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U.S. National Sled Team Falls to Canada, 1-0, in Gold Medal Game of 2013 IPC World Championship Cash Makes 14 Saves: USA Medals at Fifth Straight IPC World Championship GOYANG, South Korea – The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team lost to Canada, 1-0, today in the gold medal game of the 2013 International Paralympic Committee World Championship at Goyang SPART Complex. Goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) made 14 saves, allowing one goal in the second period. “We didn't play a real consistent game through the three periods,” said Jeff Sauer, head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. “I thought Canada played better than we did. I wish the goal that they scored as the game winner was a better goal. To play in a World Championship and only have two goals scored against you and not win the gold medal is pretty frustrating. But we played hard, we played well and we represented the United States very well." Cash's effort was critical in the early going as he made five first period stops. Though not a save, Cash's biggest play was breaking up a pass on a Canadian two-on-one. Canada scored the decisive goal at 2:07 of the second period. Graeme Murray's lofted point shot looked to be going wide until it skipped left along the ice, deflected off Cash and rolled over the goal line. Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) had Team USA's best chance of the second frame, a rising attempt that goaltender Corbin Watson punched just over the crossbar. Team USA created more chances in the third period, yet it could not score the equalizer. Canada clogged the middle to block shots, including a blast by Pauls from the high slot with six minutes to go. Today's game concludes the 2012-13 campaign for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. Team USA finished the season with a record of 14-3-0 (W-L-T). Scoring By Period Team 1 2 3 Total CAN 0 1 0 1 USA 0 0 0 0 First Period – Scoring: none. Penalties: CAN, Whitson (delay of game), 8:05. Second Period – Scoring: 1, CAN, Murray (Gale), 2:07. Penalties: CAN, Murray (interference), 7:06; USA, Schaus (roughing), 10:57. Third Period – Scoring: none. Penalties: none. Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total CAN 5 5 5 15 USA 0 1 1 2 Goaltender (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total CAN, Watson, W, 45:00 0/0 1/1 1/1 2/2 USA, Cash, L, 45:00 5/5 5/4 5/5 15/14 Power Play: CAN 0-1; USA, 0-2 Penalties: CAN 2-4; USA, 1-2 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship ScheduleApril 12-20, 2013 • Goyang, South Korea • Goyang SPART Complex and Park  Date Matchup Time (Local/EDT) Live Streaming Sat., April 13 USA vs. Sweden W, 7-0 paralympic.org Sun., April 14 USA vs. Norway W, 7-0 paralympic.org Tues., April 16 USA vs. Czech Republic W, 3-0 paralympic.org Thurs., April 18 Semifinal: Russia W, 2-1 paralympic.org Sat., April 20 Gold Medal Game: Canada L, 0-1 paralympic.org NOTES: For video interviews with Jeff Sauer and Taylor Chace, plus photos from today's game, click here ... Steve Cash was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... Taylor Chace was named the tournament's Best Defenseman by a vote of the coaches. He led Team USA with five goals ... Visit sledworlds.usahockey.com for complete coverage of Team USA at the 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship, including videos, photos, features, game recaps and player information ... The official IPC tournament website is available here ... Team USA has received a medal in five consecutive IPC World Championships. Team USA earned the silver medal in 2004 and the bronze medal in 2008. It won back-to-back gold medals in 2009 and 2012. Additionally, Team USA is the defending gold medalist of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games ... On Twitter, follow @usahockey and @usahockeyscores for additional coverage, using #Goyang2013 ... Jeff Sauer was named head coach of the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team on Feb. 14. He is in his second season as head coach of the U.S. National Sled Team ... 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 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, will be chosen this summer … Dan Brennan is the general manager for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. 2014 Hockey Weekend Across America Dates Set For Feb. 28-Mar. 2 Seventh Annual Celebration to Begin Feb. 28 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey announced today that the seventh annual Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by CCM, will take place across the United States, Feb 28 - March 2, 2014. "With Hockey Weekend Across America set for the weekend after the Olympic Winter Games conclude, we look forward to building on the energy created by the Games and focusing the celebration solely on hockey to end the month of February and start the month of March," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "We're thankful for the unending support of CCM and the great participation of the hockey community and media, particularly the NHL and NBC, as well as the thousands of local youth associations across the country. Hockey Weekend Across America will include a theme for each of the three days, including Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey on Friday (Feb. 28); Try Hockey on Saturday (Mar. 1); and Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes on Sunday (Mar. 2). Hockey Weekend Across America was created by USA Hockey in 2008 to engage the hockey community in celebrating the sport of hockey at all levels and exposing the sport to new audiences. NOTES: USA Hockey will be developing promotional materials for use by all teams, leagues and associations over the course of the summer. All will be available free-of-charge when complete at HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica.com .... The sixth annual Hockey Weekend Across America, which took place Feb. 15-17, 2013, was the best to date with thousands of fans wearing their favorite hockey jersey; more than 6,000 new children trying the sport; and hockey heroes in communities across America being honored. The event also featured Hockey Day in America on NBC, with more than nine hours of hockey programming, including three NHL games.

************************************************ On this date in 1841, in Philadelphia, PA, Edgar Allen Poe's first detective story, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," was published in Graham's Magazine. ************************************************ Revamped Tiger-Cats defence primed for success. Lions wrap up mini-camp with Lulay watching. Visit the league's official website at cfl.ca. ************************************************ First mobile home (horse drawn) was used in a journey from London to Cyprus on this date in 1879. ************************************************ Tampa, FL. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the NFC South’s easiest schedule based on the combined winning percentage (.500) of opponents in 2012, but this is no easy slate. Read the rest here. ************************************************ The movie "Stand Up And Cheer" opened on this date in 1934. It was Shirley Temple's debut. ************************************************ St. Petersburg, FL. -- The Rays came back to Tropicana Field on Friday at the end of a disappointing road trip that ended some time around 3 a.m. They were facing the hottest team in baseball, and they'd just given up two runs in the first inning to fall into an immediate hole. Read the rest here. ************************************************ The first electron microscope was demonstrated by RCA on this date in 1940. ************************************************ San Francisco, CA. -- The Giants prevailed Friday night over the San Diego Padres, 3-2, but they did just as much to lose the game as they did to win it. Read the rest The Giants prevailed Friday night over the San Diego Padres, 3-2, but they did just as much to lose the game as they did to win it. Read the rest here. ************************************************ "Desilu Playhouse" on CBS-TV presented a two-part show titled "The Untouchables" on this date in 1959. ************************************************ Swinging is fun! ************************************************ You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as going to a Rays baseball game, isn't it? ************************************************ Today in Elvis History 1954 - Elvis Presley started a job at Crown Electric driving a truck for $1 an hour. 1957 - Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" hit #1. 1960 - Elvis Presley's returned to Hollywood to film "G.I. Blues." 1964 - The Elvis Presley movie "Viva Las Vegas" premiered in New York City. 1964 - The principal filming for the Elvis Presley movie "Roustabout" began. 1967 - Elvis Presley began rehearsals for "Clambake." 1970 - Elvis Presley's single for "The Wonder of You" was released. ************************************************ FM stereo broadcasting was approved by the FCC on this date in 1961. ************************************************ Today in Beatles History: 1966 - The Beatles layed down tracks for Paul McCartney's song "Eleanor Rigby." 1970 - The "New York Times" reported that Christian groups had adopted the Beatle's "Yellow Submarine" was a religious symbol. 1976 - George Harrison joined Monty Python onstage to sing "The Lumberjack Song." 2004 - The remastered version of the soundtrack to "Porky's Revenge" was released. The album contained George Harrison's "I Don't Want To Do It." ************************************************ The manned lunar module from Apollo 16 landed on the moon on this date in 1972. ************************************************ Today in Sports History: 1912 - Fenway Park opened as the home of the Boston Red Sox. 1916 - Chicago's Wrigley Field held its first Cubs game with the first National League game at the ballpark. The Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in 11 innings. 1953 - The Boston marathon was won by Keizo Yamada with a record time of 2 hours, 18 minutes and 51 seconds. 1998 - Kenyan runner Moses Tanui, 32, won the Boston Marathon for the second time. He also registered the third fastest time with 2 hours 7 minutes and 34 seconds. 2003 - The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Washington Capitals 2-1 in the third overtime to win the series 4-2. It was the first time in the 11-year history of the Tampa Bay franchise that they advanced in the playoffs. ************************************************ On this date in 1989, scientists announced the successful testing of high-definition TV. ************************************************ Coming Up: Tonight -- MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Oakland Athletics 7:10pm EDT MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres 9:05pm EDT Sunday -- Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- STP 400 at Kansas Speedway 1:00pm EDT MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Oakland Athletics 1:40pm EDT Izod Indy Car Series -- Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 4:00pm EDT MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres 4:05pm EDT NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes 6:00pm EDT NAHL Playoff Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild vs Fresno Monsters 8:05pm EDT  ************************************************ That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow!