It's Friday

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

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Today is October 18th, the 291st day of 2013. There are 74 days left in the year.

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Rangers lose Callahan with broken thumb.

Canadiens' Pacioretty (hamstring) out three weeks.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Dawn Wells (Gilligan's Island) is 75; Pam Dawber (Mork & Mindy) is 63; Jean-Claude Van Damme is 53; Zac Efron is 26.

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Tampa, FL. -- Minnesota Wild netminder Josh Harding entered Thursday night’s tilt as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, but the Lightning knew the match-up was not about who could score more goals, but who could capitalize at the right time.

Read the rest here.

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The Mason-Dixon line was agreed upon on this date in 1767. It was the boundary between Maryland and Pennsylvania.

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Schwan’s Cares™ Named the Official Fundraising Partner of USA Hockey

New Partnership with Schwan’s Home Service Designed to Help Meet Funding Needs of USA Hockey Member Associations Nationwide

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey today named Schwan’s Cares™ as the official fundraising partner of the organization. Schwan’s Cares™, a program from Schwan’s Home Service, Inc., is a unique online fundraising solution that helps USA Hockey member associations and teams meet their fundraising objectives. “We’re excited about our new relationship with Schwan's and, in particular, the opportunity Schwan’s Cares provides our associations nationwide,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship that helps influence the growth of the sport.” “As a Minnesota-based company, we know well the important role that hockey plays in the lives of families throughout the United States. It’s an honor to have this opportunity to partner with USA Hockey and help teams and players throughout America meet their fundraising goals,” said Jason Von Bank, managing director of Schwan’s Cares. Schwan’s Cares is unique because it enables community members to support USA Hockey member association teams and players through a seamless, 100 percent online fundraising solution. In about 20 minutes, a USA Hockey member association can create a Schwan’s Cares™ fundraising Web page and run their campaigns entirely online. Supporters of the association’s fundraising Web page can then shop online from more than 350 of Schwan’s home-style foods, with the food delivered right to their door. Campaign supporters pay the same everyday prices as all Schwan's Home Service customers. For more information, visit www.schwans-cares.com. About USA Hockey USA Hockey Inc., founded on October 29, 1937, and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is the National Governing Body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States. With a membership of more than one million players, coaches, officials and volunteers that span all 50 states, USA Hockey provides the foundation for the sport of ice hockey in America; helps young people become leaders, sometimes even Olympic heroes; and connects the game at every level while promoting a lifelong love of the sport. For more information, visit usahockey.com. About Schwan's Home Service, Inc.A subsidiary of The Schwan Food Company, Schwan’s Home Service, Inc. markets and distributes more than 350 top quality frozen foods through home-delivery and mail-order services. Popular product lines include the company’s signature ice cream, pizza, choice meats, seafood, ethnic specialties, breakfast items and desserts. Based in Minnesota, Schwan’s Home Service, Inc. has more than 400 local sales and distribution centers across the continental United States. Visit Schwans.com or call 1-888-SCHWANS (1-888-724-9267). 2013 U.S. Junior Select Team Unveiled

Team USA to Compete at World Junior A Challenge Nov. 4-10 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey today announced the 22 players that will make up the roster for its entry in the 2013 World Junior A Challenge. The tournament will take place Nov. 4-10 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Team USA has won four of the last five tournaments (2008-10, '12).

All players on the U.S. roster, which includes 13 forwards, seven defenseman and two goaltenders, compete in the United States Hockey League. For the complete roster, click here.

Three players that are part of the roster were chosen in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. The Buffalo Sabres picked forwardConnor Hurley (Eagan, Minn.) in the second round (38th ovr.) and goalie Cal Petersen (Waterloo, Iowa) in the fifth round (129th ovr.), while defenseman Teemu Kivihalme (Savage, Minn.) was chosen by Nashville (5th rd., 140th ovr.). Seventeen players are eligible for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

In addition, five players competed in the 2013 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, including defensemen Ryan Mantha (Clarkston, Mich.) and Josh Jacobs (Shelby Twp., Mich.); and forwards Shane Eiserman(West Newbury, Mass.), Seamus Malone (Naperville, Ill.) and Nick Schmaltz (Verona, Wis.). Goalie Cal Peterson played in the inaugural CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game in 2012, an event that annually features 40 of the top American players eligible for the next NHL Entry Draft.

Team USA faces Canada West in an exhibition game Nov. 2 at 7:00 p.m. ADT. Tournament play begins for the U.S. Nov. 5 vs. Russia at 8:00 p.m. AST. The complete schedule is listed below.

FASTHockey.com will provide live streaming coverage for all tournament games. Those interested in watching should sign up for a free account in advance at USAHockey.FASTHockey.com.

NOTES: The 22 players represent 10 states. Eight players hail from Minnesota, while Michigan has four players and California and New Jersey have two apiece. Other states include Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, South Dakota and Wisconsin ... Two players on the roster are eligible for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, including goaltenderChris Birdsall (Glen Rock, N.J.) and forward Kyle Connor (Shelby Twp., Mich.) ... All 22 players are verbally committed to attend NCAA Division I hockey programs in the future ... Thirteen USHL teams are represented. Leading the way are the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Dubuque Fighting Saints, Green Bay Gamblers and Sioux Falls Stampede, which have three players each ... The World Junior A Challenge is in its eighth year and the United States will be competing for the seventh time. The 2013 field includes the Canada East, Canada West, Czech Republic, Russia, Switzerland and the United States. The official event website is available here ... Derek Lalonde(Brasher Falls, N.Y.), head coach and general manager of the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers, is the head coach for the 2013 U.S. Junior Select Team ... The assistant coaches are Anthony Noreen (Chicago, Ill.) and Mark Abalan(Green Bay, Wis.). Noreen is the head coach and general manager for the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms, while Abalan is an assistant coach for the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers. Additional team staff includes Team ManagerMarc Boxer (Colorado Springs, Colo.) of USA Hockey, Equipment Manager Darrin Flinchem (Indianapolis, Ind.) of the Indiana Ice, and Team Physician Dr. Alan Ashare (Boston, Mass).

2013 World Junior A ChallengeNov. 4-10 • Yarmouth, N.S. • Mariners Centre

Date	Opponent	Venue	Time/Result	Live Streaming
Sat., Nov. 2	Canada West (ex.)	Digby Arena	7 p.m. ADT	usahockey.fasthockey.com
Tues., Nov. 5	Russia	Mariners Centre	8 p.m. AST	usahockey.fasthockey.com
Wed., Nov. 6	Canada East	Mariners Centre	8 p.m. AST	usahockey.fasthockey.com
Thurs., Nov. 7	Quarterfinals	Mariners Centre	4/8 p.m. AST	usahockey.fasthockey.com
Fri., Nov. 8	Semifinals	Mariners Centre	4/8 p.m. AST	usahockey.fasthockey.com
Sat., Nov. 9	5th-Place Game	Queens Place Emera Centre	7 p.m. AST	usahockey.fasthockey.com
Sat., Nov. 9	3rd-Place Game	Mariners Centre	8 p.m. AST	usahockey.fasthockey.com
Sun., Nov. 10	Championship Game	Mariners Centre	2 p.m. AST	usahockey.fasthockey.com

U.S. Women's National Team Falls to Canada, 6-3

Coyne, Decker and J. Lamoureux score for Team USA; Vetter and Schaus combine for 21 saves

BOISBRIAND, Qc. – Kendall Coyne (Palos Heights, Ill.), Brianna Decker (Dousman, Wis.) and Jocelyne Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) scored for the U.S. and goaltenders Jessie Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis.) and Molly Schaus (Natick, Mass.) combined to stop 21 shots, but the U.S. Women's National Team fell to Canada, 6-3, here tonight. "We didn't excecute the way we needed to but we'll build off this game and learn from it," said Katey Stone, head coach of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team. "We're going to ask a lot more out of our players and we're going to get a lot more." Canada jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals within 54 seconds during the opening period. Rebecca Johnston opened the scoring at 8:59, tucking a rebound past Vetter. Hayley Wickenheiser added a shorthanded tally at 9:53 after skating into the zone and using the defenseman as a screen to fire a shot past Vetter's blocker. The U.S. answered back, making it 2-1 just 37 seconds later. With Team USA on the power play, Decker put the U.S. on the board at 10:32 when she batted in a rebound past Canadian goaltender Charline Labonte off a shot from the left point by Jincy Dunne (O'Fallon, Mo.). At 18:38, Wickenheiser notched her second goal of the game during a five-on-three power play to make it 3-1 Canada going into the first intermission. Schaus replaced Vetter to start the second period and allowed a goal by Johnston, her second of the game, at 0:58 when an errant pass from goal line redirected off Dunne's skate to make it 4-1. Caroline Ouellette gave Canada a 5-1 lead, scoring a shorthanded goal at 12:15. She outworked a U.S. defender, took the puck to the net and managed to slide it between Schaus' legs. The U.S. responded at 19:00, making it 5-2 on the power play, when Coyne cycled the puck behind the net to Lamoureux who then scored on a wraparound and that's how it remained after two periods. Coyne made it 5-3 at 15:19 of the third period, when a blocked shot came to Coyne in front of the net and she spun around and fired it past Labonte. Canada added a late goal to make it 6-3 and close the scoring. The U.S. will resume the Bring on the World Tour at the Four Nations Cup, held Nov. 5-9 in Lake Placid, N.Y. For ticket information, click here. For a complete box score from tonight's game, click here. Notes: For more information on the Bring on the World Tour, including ticket information for Tour events and the entire Tour schedule, click here ... The U.S. Women’s National Team is training together at The Edge Sports Center in Bedford. Mass., and participating in the Tour and various competitions in the build-up to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games ... The final 2014 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team, which will include 18 forwards/defensemen and three goaltenders, will be announced during the second intermission of the NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1, 2014, in Ann Arbor, Mich., live on NBC ... Follow the U.S. Women's National Team throughout its journey to Sochi by following@USAHockey on Twitter or by liking U.S. Women's National Hockey Team on Facebook. ************************************************ Samuel Finley Breese Morse laid his first telegraph cable on this date in 1842. ************************************************ Irving: Bombers standing behind their head coach. 2013 CFL.ca Game Notes: A look at Week 17. Visit the league's official website, http://www.cfl.ca. ************************************************ According to a new book, baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez kept a long list of prostitutes on his payroll. [There were so many that to know who was who he asked them to wear jerseys with their names on the back.] ************************************************ Regina, SK. -The Saskatchewan Roughriders have arguably the best quarterback in the CFL in Darian Durant and they may arguably have the best running back in the CFL in Kory Sheets. When it comes to Canadian receivers though, there might not be an argument as to who the best is in the CFL and he also wears green and white. Read the rest here. Next up for the 10-5 Riders is a game at home on Saturday, October 19th against the 9-6 BC Lions. Kickoff on 620CKRM, 620ckrm.com, the Rider Radio Network, TSN and ESPN3.com is set for 7:00pm EDT. ************************************************ The U.S. took formal possession of Alaska from Russia on this date in 1867. The land was purchased of a total of $7 million dollars (2 cents per acre). ************************************************ Tampa, FL. — Rookie CB Johnthan Banks was involved in some conspicuous moments for the Bucs' defense against Philly, but that's the nature of his position and his teammates have helped him maintain his confidence...And other notes. Read the rest here. ************************************************ IN THEATERS - Carrie (R); Escape Plan (R); The Fifth Estate (R) ************************************************ Corvallis, OR. -- Sean Mannion, a junior from Oregon State, has been selected as Manning Award Player of the Week. He earns the win over seven other Manning Award Stars of the Week in the Allstate Sugar Bowl's Facebook contest. This is Mannion’s third win this season. Read the rest here. ************************************************ The first broadcast of "Perry Mason" was presented on CBS Radio on this date in 1943. The show went to TV in 1957. ************************************************ St. Petersburg, FL. -- Rays bench coach Dave Martinez is a candidate for the Cubs' vacant managing position. Read the rest here. ************************************************ The first computer-arranged marriage took place on Art Linkletter's show on this date in 1958. ************************************************ Jimmy checks out the parking lot. ************************************************ You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as enjoying an early morning car ride, isn't it? ************************************************ Today in Elvis History 1958 - The Elvis Presley single "King Creole" hit #2 in the U.S. 1967 - Near Sedona, AZ, filming began on the Elvis Presley film "Stay Away, Joe." ************************************************ Roughly five months after selling 500 million Doritos Locos Tacos in May, Taco Bell has now sold $1 billion worth of Doritos Locos Tacos. As of Saturday, October 12, more than $1 billion hybrid tacos were sold, whether it's the original nacho cheese flavor, Cool Ranch, or the new Fiery taco. ************************************************ Today in Beatles History: 1957 -Paul McCartney made his debut appearance with the Quarrymen in Norris Green, Liverpool.  1967 - "How I Won the War," starring John Lennon, premiered in London. 1968 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana when Ringo Starr's apartment was raided by police. ************************************************ On your next vacation to London, be sure to take in a museum or two. Including the new National Selfie Gallery, which is showcasing the humble camera phone pic as an elevated form of art. ************************************************

Today in Sports History:

1873 - The first rules for intercollegiate football were drawn up by representatives from Rutgers, Yale, Columbia and Princeton Universities. 

1924 - Red Grange (Illinois) scored four touchdowns in the first 12 minutes of a game against Michigan. He scored a fifth touchdown, intercepted a pass and threw a touchdown-pass in the second half.

1950 - Connie Mack announced that he was going to retire after 50 seasons as the manager of the Philadelphia Athletics.

1956 - NFL commissioner Bert Bell disallowed the use of radio-equipped helmets by NFL quarterbacks.

1967 - The American League granted permission for the A's to move to Oakland. Also, new franchises were awarded to Kansas City and Seattle.

1968 - Two black athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, were suspended by the U.S. Olympic Committee for giving a "black power" salute during a ceremony in Mexico City.

1968 - At the Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Bob Beamon set a record of 29'2½" in the long jump. The record remained unbroken until August 30, 1991, when Mike Powell jumped 29'4½".

1977 - Reggie Jackson tied Babe Ruth's record for hitting three homeruns in a single World Series game. Jackson was only the second player to achieve this.

1997 - Hanson sang the national anthem at the opening game of the World Series.

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A New York man built himself a life-size hamster wheel that somehow fit in his Brooklyn apartment. But now he's giving it away for free on Craigslist. The owner originally built the wheel when he was working at a pet shop and could no longer afford a gym membership. He would run on it four times a day, but now he has a better job and can afford "more conventional training methods."

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild at Soo Eagles 7:30pm EDT

Saturday --

USPHL Empire Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Florida Junior Blades 5:15pm

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild at Soo Eagles 7:00pm EDT

CFL Football -- Saskatchewan Roughriders vs BC Lions 7:00pm EDT

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins 7:00pm EDT

Indy Car Series -- MAVTV 500 at Fontana, California 8:00pm EDT

College Football -- Oregon State Beavers at California Golden Bears 10:30pm EDT

Sunday --

USPHL Empire Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Junior Blades 12:05pm EDT

NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons 1:00pm EDT

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Camping World RV Sales 500 at Talledega Super Speedway 1:00pm EDT

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