It's Wednesday

It's Wednesday. Here's what's happening....

************************************************

Today is February 26th, the 57th day of 2014. There are 308 days left in the year.

************************************************

Canucks' Henrik Sedin expected to play Wednesday.

Islanders' Tavares won't need surgery, out 8-12 weeks.

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

************************************************

U.S. President Lincoln signed the National Currency Act on this date in 1863.

************************************************

Tampa, FL. --The Tampa Bay Lightning will hold a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the franchise's 2004 Stanley Cup Championship on Monday, March 17 when they take on the Vancouver Canucks at 7:30 p.m. at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Read the rest here.

************************************************

In New York City, the first pneumatic-powered subway line was opened to the public on this date in 1870.

************************************************

University of Minnesota Takes Home Unanimous No. 1 Ranking in USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine 17th Annual Women's College Hockey Poll - #21 (First-place votes in parentheses) Rank School Last Week's Ranking 2013-14 Record Weeks in Top 10 1 University of Minnesota, 190 (19) 1 32-1-1 21 2 University of Wisconsin, 168 2 25-5-2 21 3 Clarkson University, 153 4 25-4-5 21 4 Boston College, 124 6 25-5-3 21 5 Harvard University, 114 5 21-4-4 21 6 Cornell University, 101 3 20-5-4 21 7 Quinnipiac University, 64 10 20-5-9 18 8 Mercyhurst University, 57 8 22-7-4 14 9 Robert Morris University, 34 9 24-7-3 12 10 University of North Dakota, 31 7 17-11-4 21 Others receiving votes: Boston University, 4; Northeastern University, 4; Ohio State University, 1 Notes: To view past polls, click here ... The University of Minnesota received all 19 first-place votes in this week's poll ... Minnesota has been the No. 1-ranked team in each of the last 47 polls dating back to March 20, 2012 ... ECAC Hockey leads the way with four ranked programs, while the Western Collegiate Hockey Association has three, College Hockey America has two teams ranked, and the Hockey East Association is represented with one school in the poll ... A total of 13 teams received votes. About the poll: The 17th annual USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll is conducted each week in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the four NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the AHCA and USA Hockey. Over $4,100 Raised for Local Children's Hospital in Auction of Game-Worn, NTDP Star Wars Jerseys Proceeds to Benefit C.S. Mott's Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich. ANN ARBOR, Mich. - USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program raised over $4,100 to benefit C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., after auctioning off specially designed Star Wars jerseys. The U.S. National Under-18 Team wore the jerseys during its annual Star Wars Night at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube on Jan. 18. “The Star Wars Jersey auction was a huge success,” said Scott Monaghan, senior director of operations for the NTDP. “Not only were we able to provide our fans with the opportunity to purchase game-worn jerseys, but also raise money to support a local children’s hospital. It has been a great experience and the NTDP is looking forward to raising even more money next year.” All proceeds raised during the auction benefit C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich. C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital is a part of the University of Michigan Hospital and Health Centers and is consistently ranked as the nation’s top pediatric hospitals. Among the 26 jerseys in the auction where those of fourteen current Under-18 Team players that were tabbed in NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of players eligible for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, including Team USA's top-ranked skater Sonny Milano (Massapequa, N.Y.). In addition, Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.) is projected to be a top pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The auction ran from Jan. 27 – Feb. 13 and was supported by the MeiGray Group, the exclusive game-worn source of USA Hockey since 2010. The MeiGray Group is the world’s leading authenticator of, and source for, game-worn hockey jerseys. The Branchburg, N.J., company is authenticating partners with the National Hockey League, nine of the 30 NHL teams and the ECHL. MeiGray has authenticated and sold nearly 100,000 game-worn hockey jerseys since it was founded in 1997. 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 U.S. Congress raised their own pay to $7500 on this date in 1907.

************************************************



Back where he started: Taylor traded to Montreal.

The replacement: Sanders signs with Stamps.

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

************************************************

In Arizona, the Grand Canyon was established as a National Park with an act of the U.S. Congress on this date in 1919.

************************************************

Tampa, FL. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht can joke about coach Lovie Smith having final say over the roster.

Read the rest here.

************************************************

U.S. President Coolidge signed a bill creating the Grand Teton National Park on this date in 1929.

************************************************

Jimmy loves to play with his tablet.

************************************************

You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as navigating through early morning sea fog, isn't it?

************************************************

Today in Elvis History

1958 - Elvis Presley finished recording the song "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck." He added the piano part and guitar back-slap percussion part. The song was released in April 1958 with "Doncha' Think It's Time" as the flip side.

1964 - Elvis Presley arrived at Paramount to begin pre-production on the movie "Roustabout."

1966 - U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson visited Elvis Presley on the set of the movie "Spinout."

2007 - The 36-track "Readymade Digs Elvis" was released. 

************************************************

A ground-breaking ceremony was held at Crissy Field for the Golden Gate Bridge on this date in 1933.

************************************************

Today in Beatles History:

1970 -  The Beatles album "Beatles Again" was released in the U.S. It contained the song "Hey Jude." 

1987 - Capitol Records released the first four Beatles albums on CD.

************************************************

On this date in 1979, "Flatbush" debuted on CBS-TV.

************************************************

Today in Sports History:

1935 - The New York Yankees released Babe Ruth. Ruth signed with the Boston Braves for $20,000 and a share in the team's profits. 

1981 - Edgar F. Kaiser, Jr. purchased the Denver Broncos from Gerald and Allan Phillips.

1985 - Julius Erving (Philadelphia 76ers) became the third on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

1989 - The New York Yankees announced that Tom Seaver would be their new TV sportscaster.

1997 - Philadelphia's "Legion of Doom" line scored 15 points against the Ottawa Senators.

************************************************

Corazon Aquino was inaugurated president of the Philippines on this date in 1986. Long time President Ferdinand Marcos went into exile.

************************************************

Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Nashville Predators 8:00pm EST

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild vs Kenai River Brown Bears 10:05pm EST

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Dallas Stars 3:00pm EST

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Blue Jeans Go Green 200 Presented By Cotton, The Fabric Of Our Lives at Phoenix International Raceway 3:45pm EST

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild vs Kenai River Brown Bears 10:05pm EST

Sunday --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- The Profit On CNBC 500, Presented By Small Business Fueling America at Phoenix International Raceway 3:00pm EST

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild vs Kenai River Brown Bears 6:05pm EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Colorado Avalanche 8:00pm EST

************************************************

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