It's Friday

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

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Today is January 3rd, the 3rd day of 2014. There are 362 days left in the year.

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Reinhart leads Canada into WJC semifinals.

WATCH: Best moments of season's first half.

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

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References in Leonardo da Vinci notebooks suggested that he tested his flying machine on this date in 1496. The test didn't succeed and he didn't try to fly again for several years.

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Calgary, AB. -- Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos skated in a red no-contact jersey after practice in Calgary on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Read the rest here.

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On this date in 1823, Stephen F. Austin received a grant from the Mexican government and began colonization in the region of the Brazos River in Texas.

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U.S. Men's National Under-17 Team Handles Ontario, 6-2, at 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Team USA Clinches Top Seed in Group Entering Semifinals SYDNEY, Nova Scotia - Colin White (Hanover, Mass.) notched two goals, including a short-handed tally, and added an assist, as the U.S. Men's National Under-17 Team handled Canada's Team Ontario, 6-2, here tonight at Centre 200 in its final preliminary-round game of the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. With the win, Team USA clinches the top seed in Group B and enters the semifinals with an undefeated 4-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record. "We faced our toughest test yet, but we battled all game long," said Don Granato, head coach of the U.S. Men's National Under-17 Team. "We are right where we wanted to be, having clinched the top seed. We're excited to advance and must continue to improve game after game." Ontario opened the scoring at 13:54 of the first frame. White pulled Team USA even at one goal apiece 2:40 later while short handed. As Ontario was breaking out of its zone, White anticipated the play to intercept a pass at Ontario's blueline. He skated in from Ontario netminder Ben Blacker's left side and chipped the puck high into the left corner for the tally. Luke Kirwan (Dewitt, N.Y.) scored the lone goal of the second stanza to break the 1-1 tie. Collecting the puck after a faceoff win, White whipped around and found Kirwan standing in the middle of the faceoff circle. Kirwan one-timed the pass, beating Blacker to send the U.S. into the second intermission with a one-goal advantage. Ontario knotted the game at two just 1:33 into the final frame before Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.) answered for Team USA while down a man. Luke Kunin (Chesterfield, Mo.) earned an assist on the eventual game-winning strike. Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.) doubled the U.S. lead, 4-2, at 13:01, converting immediately following a faceoff to Blacker's left. Matthews corralled the puck in the slot and fired the puck into the back of the net. White's second on the night extended Team USA's lead to three goals. White parked in front of the Ontario net and slammed home a pass from Jeremy Bracco (Freeport, N.Y.) for the score.Jack Roslovic (Columbus, Ohio) sealed the victory with a power-play tally with one minute remaining in the game. Jordan Greenway (Potsdam, N.Y.) and Christian Fischer (Wayne, Ill.) assisted. Luke Opilka (St. Louis, Mo.) made 22 saves for Team USA in the victory, while Blacker blocked 48 shots for Ontario in the loss. 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 next plays Friday, Jan. 3, versus Canada's Team Quebec in the semifinal round. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST at Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia. NOTES: For a complete box score, click here ... Luke Opilka 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 W, 9-1 FASTHockey Thurs., Jan. 2 Ontario Centre 200 W, 6-2 FASTHockey Fri., Jan. 3 Semifinal Centre 200 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.

************************************************ The first engineering college in the U.S. , Rensselaer School, opened in Troy, NY on this day in 1825. It is now known as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. ************************************************

East Division All-Star Parker extends with Als.

Stampeders star Jon Cornish named QMI Agency athlete of the year.

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

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On this date in 1871, Henry W. Bradley patented oleomargarine.

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Tampa, FL. — That didn't take long.

Read the rest here.

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The drinking straw was patented by Marvin C. Stone on this date in 1888.

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Don't drop me Daddy!

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as a cold, yet sunny day, isn't it?

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Today in Elvis History

1953 - Vernon and Gladys Presley paid $50 for a 1942 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe as a present for their son Elvis' eighteenth birthday.

2000 - The "American Originals Part IV" exhibition at the National Archives Rotunda closed to the public. One of the letters featured was from Elvis Presley to U.S. President Nixon. It read, "Dear Mr. President, First I would like to introduce myself. I am Elvis Presley and admire you and have great respect for your office. I talked to Vice President Agnew in Palm Springs 3 weeks ago and expressed my concern for our country. . . Sir I can and will be of any service that I can to help the country out. . . .I can and will do more good if I were made a Federal agent at large. . . Respectfully Elvis Presley P.S. I believe that you Sir were one of the top ten outstanding men of America." 

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On this date in 1938, the first broadcast of "Woman in White" was presented on the NBC Red network. The program remained on radio for 10 years.

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Today in Beatles History:

1926 -  George Martin was born in London. He signed the Beatles to a provisional contract with EMI on June 4, 1962.

1964 - The Beatles made their first appearance on U.S. television in a film clip shown on the "Jack Paar Show." It was a performance of the song "She Loves You."

1966 - The Beatles appeared on "Hullabaloo."

1969 - About 30,000 copies of the John Lennon-Yoko Ono album "Two Virgins" were confiscated by police at Newark Airport in New Jersey. The cover of the album featured a nude picture of Lennon and Ono.

1970 - "I Me Mine" was recoreded by the Beatles. It was the last song that the band would record together.

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U.S. Congressional proceedings were televised for the first time on this date in 1947. Viewers in Washington, Philadelphia and New York City saw some of the opening ceremonies of the 80th Congress.

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Today in Sports History:

1941 - The National Collegiate Football Rules Committee announced a new rule that permitted free substitution of football players.

1943 - For the first time in NHL history a goal with three points all came from the same family. Reg Bentley scored with assists from his brothers Max and Doug.

1962 - Work began on the Houston Astrodome.

1977 - The Kansas City Royals releases pitcher Lindy McDaniel, ending his twenty-one year career.

1983 - Tony Dorsett (Dallas Cowboys) made the longest run from scrimmage in NFL history. Dorsett ran 99 yards in a game against the Minnesota Vikings.

1991 - Wayne Gretzky scored his 700th goal.

1997 - Rod Brind'Amour (Philadelphia Flyers) scored his 200th career goal.

2005 - Former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann declared his candidacy for Pennsylvania governor.

2010 - Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans) set the NFL single-season record for yards from scrimmage. He finished the season with 2,509 yards.

2010 - Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys) set a team record when he took every snap for the entire regular season.

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NBC-TV debuted "Dragnet" on this date in 1951.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

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!