It's Tuesday

It's Tuesday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is December 31st, the 365th day of 2013. There are 0 days left in the year.

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NBC Sports crew prepared to call another Classic.

Petan scores twice as Canada rallies past Slovakia.

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

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On this date in 1841, the State of Alabama enacted the first dental legislation in the U.S.

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Tampa, FL. -- A standout netminder during his 2013-14 campaign, Ben Bishop, cannot control what USA Hockey's looming decision on who will fill their three spots slated for goaltenders, but he can control one thing – his performance with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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Britain's Queen Victoria decided to make Ottawa the capital of Canada on this date in 1857.

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2014 U.S. Olympic Hockey Rosters To Be Unveiled Wednesday at Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and on NBC Sports 2014 Olympic Winter Games Just More Than a Month Away COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey, in cooperation with the United States Olympic Committee and National Hockey League, will unveil its 2014 Olympic men’s and women’s ice hockey rosters at the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1, in Ann Arbor, Mich. The final rosters for both teams will be revealed for the first time both in-venue at Michigan Stadium and live on NBC Sports. The women’s team, which will include three goaltenders and 18 forwards/defensemen, will be named in the second intermission.  General Manager Reagan Carey and Head Coach Katey Stone will be on hand along with all 21 members of the team. The men’s team, comprised of three goaltenders and 22 forwards/defensemen, will be announced immediately following the game. Area youth hockey players will pose as the men’s Olympians, outside of any members of the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs who make the Olympic team. David Poile, general manager of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, will be in Ann Arbor for the event. In addition, USA Hockey officials Ron DeGregorio (president), Dave Ogrean (executive director) and Gavin Regan (vice president, international council chair) will be on hand for the announcements. USAHockey.com will provide complete coverage of the announcement. A press conference with select officials and players of both the men’s and women’s Olympic teams will begin approximately 45 minutes following the conclusion of the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. The press conference will be streamed live at USAHockey.com and fans and media will have the opportunity to ask questions by tweeting to @USAHockey and using the hashtag #AskUSAH. NOTE: USA Hockey allowed exclusive behind-the-scenes access to meetings of the U.S. men’s Olympic management group to USA Today’s Kevin Allen and ESPN.com’s Scott Burnside. Both will share their stories on the building of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team immediately following the announcement of the men’s team.

U.S. Men's National Under-17 Team Defeats Germany, 14-1, at 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Kirwin, Greenway Record Hat Tricks To Pace U.S. NORTH SYDNEY, Nova Scotia - Luke Kirwan (Dewitt, N.Y.) scored three times and added two assists, Jordan Greenway (Potsdam, N.Y.) tallied three goals, and seven other players netted a goal, as the U.S. Men's National Under-17 Team defeated Germany, 14-1, here today at the Emera Centre Northside. With the win, Team USA improves to 2-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. "Tonight our team was mentally tough and we played well together," said Don Granato, head coach of the U.S. Men's National Under-17 Team. "We improved areas of our game that we needed to and this contest will help us prepare for the grind we have ahead of us." Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.) opened the scoring for Team USA at 8:17 of the first period with a power-play tally. Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Casey Fitzgerald (North Reading, Mass.) assisted on the play. Kirwan netted his first of the night just 70 seconds later, teaming with Jeremy Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.) and Joseph Masonius (Spring Lake, N.J.) on the score. Charles McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y.) made it a three-goal lead for the U.S. at 13:11, knocking a rebound into the net. With 27 seconds left in the opening frame, Kirwan potted his second goal to make it a 4-0 game. Bracco pushed Team USA's lead to five goals less than a minute into the second stanza. Kirwan had the initial shot on net that Bracco knocked down and past German goalie Michael Boehm. Colin White (Hanover, Mass.) recorded the sixth unanswered goal for the U.S., converting after a cross-ice pass from Kirwan. Kirwan completed his hat trick at 14:10, slipping the puck under Boehm's pads. Greenway registered his first of the game at 15:27, crashing hard to the net after Jack Roslovic (Columbus, Ohio.) had a shot deflected off the stick ofDennis Yan (Troy, Mich.). Germany answered 11 seconds later, but White notched his second of the game to give Team USA a 9-1 lead. Before the period expired, Greenway found the back of the net for the second time with Noah Hanifin (Norwood, Mass.) and Roslovic chipping in on the marker. In the final frame, Christian Evers (Waukee, Iowa) sent a shot on net that rode up and over Boehm's stick at 7:09. Yan was next for the U.S., putting a McAvoy rebound into the net 50 seconds later. Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo.) was the ninth different goal scorer for Team USA at 10:46. Tkachuk and Caleb Jones (Frisco, Texas) added assists on the power-play goal. Greenway capped the scoring with his third at 14:56 to give the U.S. a 14-1 victory. Luke Opilka (St. Louis, Mo.) stopped 16 shots in the win for Team USA, while Boehm kicked out 33 of the 47 shots he faced for Germany. All games of the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will be streamed live, and also available on-demand, at FASTHockey.com. The U.S. Men's National Under-17 Team will skate in its fourth-straight game tomorrow, Dec. 31, when it takes on Canada's Team Atlantic at Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST. NOTES: For a complete box score, click here ... Luke Kirwan was named Team USA's player of the game ... For Team USA's full roster, click here ... All 22 players on the roster come from the U.S. National Under-17 Team that is part of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program based in Ann Arbor, Mich. ... The 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge includes two pools of five teams. Pool A consists of teams from the Czech Republic, Pacific, Quebec, Sweden and West. Pool B consists of teams from Atlantic, Germany, Ontario, Russia and the United States ... The U.S. enters the tournament having captured first place three times (2001-02, 2010) and second place four times (1999, 2008, 2011-12) ... Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament. Scores will be designated with #WU17 ... For additional coverage, visit the NTDP Facebook page and follow @USANTDP on Twitter ... The U.S. National Under-17 Team trains with The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary software program that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com Team USA 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge ScheduleDec. 28, 2013 - Jan. 4, 2014 • Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Date Opponent Location Time (EST)/Result Streaming Sat., Dec. 28 Quebec* Richmond Arena W, 6-2 Sun., Dec 29 Russia Civic Centre W, 5-1 FASTHockey Mon., Dec. 30 Germany Emera Centre North W, 14-1 FASTHockey Tues., Dec. 31 Atlantic Centre 200 6:00 p.m. FASTHockey Thurs., Jan. 2 Slovakia Centre 200 6:00 p.m. FASTHockey Fri., Jan. 3 Semifinal Centre 200 6:00 p.m. FASTHockey Semifinal Emera Centre North 6:00 p.m. FASTHockey Sat., Jan. 4 Third-Place Game Centre 200 11:00 a.m. FASTHockey Championship Game Centre 200 4:00 p.m. FASTHockey *Pre-tournament game ABOUT THE NTDP: In 1996, USA Hockey launched a new initiative called the National Team Development Program, based in Ann Arbor, Mich. Celebrating its 17th season of play in 2013-14, the goal of this full-time development program is to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. National Teams and success in their future hockey careers. Its efforts focus not only on high-caliber participation on the ice, but creating well-rounded individuals off the ice. U.S. Women's National Team Beats Canada, 3-2, in Final Outing Before 2014 Olympic Winter Games Begin in February Knight, Stack and Bozek each score; Schaus makes 25 saves in goal TORONTO, Ontario - Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho), Kelli Stack (Brooklyn Heights, Ohio) and Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) each scored during a three-goal second period to spark the U.S. Women's National Team to a 3-2 victory over Canada Monday night at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The contest was the team's final international competition before the 2014 Olympic Winter Games begin Feb. 8 in Sochi, Russia. "We played a very consistent game tonight and the players trusted each other out there," said Katey Stone, head coach of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team. "That, in tandem with strong goaltending by Schaus, gave us the edge we needed." After a scoreless opening frame that saw quality chances by both teams, the U.S. was able to strike for back-to-back goals in a 51-second span early in the second period. Knight made it 1-0 when she drove hard to the net and redirected a Stack centering pass over Team Canada goaltender Genevieve Lacasse's leg at 2:32. Then, with the U.S. on the power play, Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass.) beat a Canadian defender off the wall and dished the puck to Stack at the edge of the crease. Stack gathered the puck, deked and scored at 3:23 to increase Team USA's advantage to 2-0. Bozek pushed the U.S. lead to 3-0 with a power-play marker of her own with 16:54 gone in the middle stanza. After Stack won an offensive-zone faceoff, Bozek sent a slap-shot from the point through traffic and under Lacasse's glove. Natalie Spooner scored on a two-on-one late in the second frame before Brianne Jenner connected on a shorthanded rush to cut the U.S. lead to 3-2 early in the third, but the Americans held onto the one-goal edge thanks to several tremendous stops by goaltenderMolly Schaus (Natick, Mass.). Schaus finished with 25 saves in the contest. Team USA will next play Feb. 8 against Finland in the squad's first contest at 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 Wednesday (Jan. 1) during the second intermission of the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, Mich. For a complete box score, click here. NOTES: The 2014 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team is under the direction of Reagan Carey (Colorado Springs, Colo.), director of women's hockey for USA Hockey ... Katey Stone(Arlington, Mass.) was named head coach of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team on June 8, 2012 ... USA Hockey's international council, chaired by Gavin Regan, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. National Teams ... The 2014 Olympic Winter Games will take place Feb. 7-23, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. ************************************************ U.S. President Lincoln signed an act admitting West Virginia to the Union on this date in 1862. ************************************************

Top 10 Hits of 2013.

Alouettes will be at a crossroad in 2014.

Please visit the league's official website, cfl.ca.

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On this date in 1877, U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes became the first U.S. President to celebrate his silver (25th) wedding anniversary in the White House.

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Regina, SK. - On our recent trip to Tampa with the Sports Cage, we were fortunate to attend two NHL games.

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Thomas Edison gave his first public demonstration of incandescent lighting to an audience in Menlo Park, NJ on this date in 1879.

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Tampa, FL. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Monday that they have dismissed general manager Mark Dominik and head coach Greg Schiano.

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New York's new Immigration Depot was opened at Ellis Island on this date in 1891, to provide improved facilities for the massive numbers of arrivals.

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PLEASE may I have something to drink?!?!

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as taking your car in for repair, isn't it?

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Today in Elvis History

1955 - Elvis Presley's single "I Forgot To Remember" hit #1 on the U.S. Country chart.

1960 - The album "Elvis' Christmas Album" re-charted at #33 in the U.S.

1966 - Elvis Presley's song "If Every Day Was Christmas" hit #9 in the U.K.

1968 - In the U.K., the TV special "Elvis" aired on BBC2-TV.

1975 - Elvis Presley grossed $816,000 for a single performance in Pontiac, MI.

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On this date in 1897, Brooklyn, NY, spent its last day as a separate entity before becoming part of New York City.

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Today in Beatles History:

1970 -  Paul McCartney filed a suit to dissolve the Beatles.

1971 - The Beatles broke up.

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In London on this date in 1923, the BBC first broadcast the chimes of Big Ben.

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Today in Sports History:

1967 - The Green Bay Packers won the National Football League championship game by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 21-17. The game is known as the Ice Bowl since it was played with a wind chill of 40 degrees below zero.

1971 - The NHL announced that it had awarded a franchise to the New York Islanders.

1972 - Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh Pirates) was killed in a plane crash near Puerto Rico while flying relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims.

1984 - ESPN debuted in Hawaii, making it available in all 50 states.

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Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played "Auld Lang Syne" as a New Year's Eve song for the first time on this date in 1929.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Wednesday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Vancouver Canucks 10:00pm EST

Thursday --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Calgary Flames 9:00pm EST

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild vs Fairbanks Ice Dogs 10:05pm EST

USPHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at New England Showcase

Saturday --

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild vs Fairbanks Ice Dogs 10:05pm EST

USPHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at New England Showcase

Sunday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Edmonton Oilers 8:00pm EST

USPHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at New England Showcase

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