It's Wednesday

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

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Today is April 16th, the 106th day of 2014. There are 259 days left in the year.

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Mason joins Flyers for practice, uncertain for Game 1.

Ducks rookie Andersen could get start in Game 1.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Pope Benedict the 16th (Joseph Alois Ratzinger) is 87; NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 67; Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men, Pretty in Pink) is 49; Peter Billingsley (Ralphie in A Christmas Story) is 43.

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Tampa, FL. -- The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning do not share a rich and storied history in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Read the rest here.

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Queen Anne of England knighted Isaac Newton on this date in 1705.

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After topping the Minnesota Wilderness 3 games to 2, Wenatchee will now face the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in the Midwest Division finals, with the series starting this Friday in Fairbanks. Individual and group game tickets for all home playoff games are on sale now. Call 509.888.PUCK (7825). WILD 2.0 UPGRADE ************************************************ The U.S. Senate ratified Rush-Bagot amendment to form an unarmed U.S.-Canada border on this date in 1818. ************************************************ FASTHockey to Stream Live all USA Games From IIHF Men's Under-18 World Championship Action Begins Thursday; No Charge To Access Games COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey announced today that all U.S. games from the upcoming International International Ice Hockey Men's Under-18 World Championship will be streamed live on FASTHockey free of charge. Tournament play begins Thursday (April 17) in Lappeenranta, Finland. The tournament, which runs through April 27, features a collection of the best players under the age of 18 from 10 nations. Team USA opens preliminary-round play on Thursday (April 17) against Switzerland. A full schedule can be found below. Bill Crawford, radio play-by-play voice of the Lake Superior State University men's ice hockey team for more than 35 years, will provide play-by-play coverage during the event. The U.S. squad seeks its eighth gold medal in the event after capturing the tournament title in four of the last five years. Team USA had won four-consecutive gold medals before having its streak snapped last year in Sochi, Russia. The silver medal in 2013 marked 10-straight top-three finishes for the U.S. The roster for the U.S. features 15 players recently listed on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of draft-eligible players. Among those players in the top twenty are forwards Alex Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y./12th),Sonny Milano (Massapequa, N.Y./16th) and Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich./17th). Goaltenders Alex Nedeljkovic (Parma, Ohio) and Edwin Minney (Wind Gap, Pa.) were ranked fourth and seventh respectively. For a complete U.S. roster, click here. 2014 IIHF Men's U18 World Championship Team USA Schedule April 17-27, 2014 • Lappeenranta, Finland Date Opponent Time (Local/EDT) Live Webcast Tues., April 14 Germany* W, 9-1 -- Thurs., April 17 Switzerland 3:00 p.m. / 8:00 a.m. FASTHockey.com Sat., April 19 Czech Republic 3:00 p.m. / 8:00 a.m. FASTHockey.com Sun., April 20 Denmark 6:30 p.m. / 11:30 a.m. FASTHockey.com Tues., April 22 Finland 6:30 p.m. / 11:30 a.m. FASTHockey.com Thurs., April 24 Quarterfinals TBD TBD Sat., April 26 Semifinals TBD TBD Sun., April 27 Bronze-Medal 3:00 p.m. / 8:00 a.m. TBD Gold-Medal 7:00 p.m. / 12:00 p.m. TBD *pre-tournament game NOTES: Danton Cole is the head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team for the second time, having led the 2012 squad to the gold medal at the IIHF Men's U18 World Championship. He is in his fourth season as one of two head coaches at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. ... Twenty of the 22 players on the U.S. roster come from USA Hockey's NTDP. The exceptions are Kyle Connor (Shelby Township, Mich.), who skated this season for the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League and Alex Nedeljkovic, who played for the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers ... Team USA's roster includes 20 players born in 1996 and two from the 1997 birth year. Forward Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.), born Sept. 17, 1997, is Team USA's youngest player, while Nedeljkovic, born Jan. 7, 1996, is the oldest ... Eleven different states are represented on the roster. New York leads the way with five skaters, while Minnesota boasts four ... The U.S. enters the tournament having captured a record 10 consecutive medals, including back-to-back golds in 2005-06 and four-straight gold medals from 2009-12; three silver medals (2004, 2007, 2013); and one bronze medal (2008). Team USA's seven gold medals are the most of any country in IIHF Men's Under-18 World Championship history. The event began in 1999. Team USA earned its first gold medal in 2002 ... The U.S. will play in Group B alongside the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland. Group A consists of Canada, Germany, Russia, Slovakia and Sweden ... Follow @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament. Scores will be designated with the #U18Worlds tag ... The U.S. National Under-18 and Under-17 Teams train with The Hockey IntelliGym, a software program that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com. NTDP Announces 11 Commitments for 2014-15 Season Five Forwards, Four Defensemen, Two Goaltenders Named to U.S. National Under-17 Team ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Forwards Clayton Keller (Swansea, Ill.), William Lockwood (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.),Graham McPhee (Bethesda, Md.), James Sanchez (Northbrook, Ill.) and Zach Walker (Boise, Idaho), along with defensemen Michael Campoli (Point-Claire, Que.), Adam Fox (Jericho, N.Y.), James Greenway(Potsdam, N.Y.) and Ryan Lindgren (Minneapolis, Minn.) and goaltenders Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, Minn.) and Joseph Woll (Dardenne Prairie, Mo.) will join USA Hockey's National Team Development Program for the 2014-15 season it was announced today. The players, all from the 1998 birth year, will compete as members of the U.S. National Under-17 Team. Keller notched 31 goals and assisted on 36 others in 45 games with Shattuck-St. Mary's (Minn.), helping his team capture the Toyota-USA Hockey National Championship. The forward ranked second on the team in goals (36) and points (67), while registering the fourth-highest assists total in 2013-14. Keller has given a verbal commitment to play at Boston University. Lockwood scored 19 times and collected 19 helpers for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies midget minor program of the Tier I Elite Hockey League. The University of Michigan verbal commit led his team in goals (19), points (38), and tied for second in assists (19). Lockwood also added four game-winning strikes last season. McPhee tallied 25 goals and registered 30 assists in 55 games with Shattuck-St. Mary's (Minn.) 16U squad, helping to lead his team to the USA Hockey National Championship tournament. The Boston College verbal commit ranked third on his team in goals (25), assists (30), and was fourth on his team in points (55). Sanchez played in 27 games for the Chicago Young Americans midget minor program of the High Performance Hockey League. The future Michigan Wolverine lit the lamp seven times and added 13 helpers, good for 20 points on the season. Walker recorded 13 goals and picked up 17 assists for the Colorado Thunderbirds midget minor program of the Tier I Elite Hockey League. His 13 goals were fifth on this squad, while he ranked second in both assists (17) and total points (30). Walker helped guide the Thunderbirds to the national championship game, where his team fell in four overtime periods. Campoli skated in 22 games for the Lac-St. Louis Lions of the QMAAA, picking up seven assists. Fox scored 14 times for the Long Island Gulls midget minor program of the Atlantic Youth Hockey League en route to helping his team to the USA Hockey National Championship tournament. Fox, a Harvard University verbal commit, added 37 assists for 51 points in 22 games. Greenway played in 51 games for the Shattuck-St. Mary's (Minn.) 16U squad, recording 23 points (6-17) while helping lead his team to the USA Hockey National Championship tournament. Greenway lead all defensemen in points (23) and assists (17), while tying for first among blueliners with six goals. Lindgren scored three goals and added 12 assists in 51 games for the Shattuck-St. Mary's (Minn.) prep team, aiding them in a national championship title victory. Lindgren is verbally committed to the University of Minnesota. Oettinger stood between the pipes for Lakeville (Minn.) North High School as a freshman in 2013-14, compiling a 7-2-1 (W-L-OTL) record in 19 games played. The netminder backstopped his team to the Minnesota State Championship title game. Oettinger shut out opponents twice while registering a 1.86 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. Woll backstopped the St. Louis Blues midget minor program of the Tier I Elite Hockey League with a 13-4-1 record in 2013-14. The goaltender also recorded three shutouts to go along with a 1.71 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. Woll is verbally committed to Harvard University. NOTES: The U.S. National Under-17 Team will play in the United States Hockey League, the top junior league in the United States. It will also compete in three international tournaments, including the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge ... Previous commits to the NTDP for 2014-15 include forwards Joey Anderson(Roseville, Minn.), Trent Frederic (St. Louis, Mo.), Max Jones (Rochester, Mich.), Patrick Khodorenko (Walnut Creek, Calif.) and Nick Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.), along with defensemen Chad Krys (Ridgefield, Conn.),Griffin Luce (Williamsville, N.Y.) and Luke Martin (St. Louis, Mo.) ... James Greenway is the brother of current U.S. National Under-17 Team forward Jordan Greenway ... William Lockwood is the son of former University of Michigan forward Joe Lockwood. The elder Lockwood played in 147 games for the Wolverines, scoring 36 goals and added 33 assists for 69 points. Lockwood also played in 49 games for the Kalamazoo Wings of the IHL, recording 14 goals and 10 assists ... Graham McPhee is the son of George McPhee, general manager of the Washington Capitals. The elder McPhee was the recipient of the 1982 Hobey Baker Award while playing college hockey at Bowling Green State University. While at Bowling Green, he also won the CCHA Rookie of the Year Award in 1978-79 and was named CCHA Player of the Year in 1981-82, before playing seven seasons in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. 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. Laviolette Named Head Coach of 2014 U.S. Men's National Team Assistant Coaches, Support Staff Also Unveiled for 2014 IIHF Men's World Championship COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Peter Laviolette (Franklin, Mass.) has been named head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team that will participate in the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship it was announced today by USA Hockey. The event will take place in Minsk, Belarus, May 9-25. Team USA is the defending bronze medalist in the event. Laviolette has previously represented the United States in international competition on numerous occasions in several different capacities. He most recently served as an assistant coach for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team in Sochi, Russia, and was the head coach of the 2006 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team in Torino, Italy. Prior to that, Laviolette was head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team at the IIHF Men's World Championship in back-to-back years (2004, 2005), leading the United States to the bronze medal in 2004. He also served as an assistant coach for the United States during the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, where he helped Team USA to the semifinals. Laviolette, who led the Carolina Hurricanes to the 2006 Stanley Cup, has more than 750 games of NHL head coaching experience. From 2009-13, he directed the Philadelphia Flyers, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2010 and winning the Atlantic Division in 2011. Laviolette was behind the Carolina bench from 2003-08. In addition to winning the Cup in 2005-06, Carolina won the Southeast Division title and set franchise records for wins (52) and points (112). Also that season, Laviolette was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach. His first two seasons as head coach in the NHL were with the New York Islanders (2001-03), where he helped the team advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs each season. Before becoming an NHL head coach, Laviolette spent three seasons in the Boston Bruins organization, serving as assistant coach with the NHL club in 2000-01, and as head coach of the Bruins’ American Hockey League affiliate, Providence, for two seasons (1998-99, 1999-2000). In his first year at Providence, Laviolette guided the team to a Calder Cup championship and received the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as AHL Coach of the Year. As a player, Laviolette skated for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team in both the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Winter Games, serving as captain during the 1994 tournament. He also spent 11 years in professional hockey, including a 12-game stint with the New York Rangers in 1988-89. As a collegian, Laviolette played four seasons (1982-86) at Westfield State College in Massachusetts, where he appeared in 93 games and contributed 43 goals and 44 assists. Sacco, Housley and Granato Named Assistant Coaches; Support Staff Also AnnouncedJoe Sacco (Medford, Mass.) is serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men's National Team for the third time (2009, 2010). A year ago, he was head coach of the U.S. squad that won the bronze medal at the 2013 IIHF Men's World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden, and Helsinki, Finland. Sacco is an assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres. Phil Housley (South St. Paul, Minn.) is serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s National Team for the second year in a row and third time overall (2011). Last year, he helped Team USA win the bronze medal at the 2013 IIHF Men's World Championship. Housley was the head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team that won the gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia. Currently, Housley is an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators. Don Granato (Downers Grove, Ill.) will serve as an assistant coach on his first U.S. Men's National Team. Granato is currently in his third season as a head coach for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. He directed the U.S. National Under-17 Team in 2013-14. Last season, he led the U.S. National Under-18 Team to the silver medal at the 2013 IIHF Men's Under-18 World Championship. Additionally, he will be an assistant coach for the 2015 U.S. National Junior Team. USA Hockey also announced that Bob Webster (USA Hockey) will serve as team leader, Lawrence Feloney(Nashville Predators) will serve as the video coordinator, and Mark DePasquale (Calgary Flames) and Scott Aldrich (USA Hockey) will handle equipment manager duties. Additionally, Tim Macre (Buffalo Sabres) andStan Wong (USA Hockey) will serve as athletic trainers; Dr. Ron Royce will be the team physician; Pee Wee Willmann will serve as massage therapist; and Matt Trevor (USA Hockey) will handle communications. The staff and players of the 2014 U.S. Men's National Team are selected by the U.S. Men's National Team Advisory Group, led by Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. Other members, all affiliated with National Hockey League teams, include Stan Bowman (Chicago), Brian Burke (Calgary), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles), David Poile (Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh), Dale Tallon (Florida), and Don Waddell (Pittsburgh). Tom Kurvers (Tampa Bay) will be part of the advisory group for this year's championship. NOTES: For more information about the 2014 U.S. Men's National Team, click here ... USA Hockey's international council, chaired by Gavin Regan, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams … Sixteen teams will compete at the 2014 IIHF Men's World Championship, split into two groups of eight. Teams will play a round-robin format among their group with the top four teams from each group advancing to quarterfinals … NBC Sports Network is scheduled to televise all Team USA games in the 2014 IIHF Men's World Championship. A final broadcast schedule will be available in the near future. Team USA 2014 IIHF Men's World Championship ScheduleMay 9-25 • Minsk, Belarus Date Opponent Venue Time (Local/EDT) Fri., May 9 Belarus Minsk Arena 8:45 p.m./1:45 p.m. Sat., May 10 Switzerland Minsk Arena 8:45 p.m./1:45 p.m. Mon., May 12 Russia Minsk Arena 8:45 p.m./1:15 p.m. Thurs., May 15 Latvia Minsk Arena 4:45 p.m./9:45 a.m. Fri., May 16 Kazakhstan Minsk Arena 4:45 p.m./9:45 a.m. Sun., May 18 Finland Minsk Arena 4:45 p.m./9:45 a.m. Tues., May 20 Germany Minsk Arena 12:45 p.m./5:45 a.m. Thurs., May 22 Quarterfinals TBD TBD Sat., May 24 Semifinals Minsk Arena 2:45 p.m./7:45 a.m. 6:45 p.m./11:45 a.m.  Sun., May 25 Bronze-Medal Game Minsk Arena 4:30 p.m./9:30 a.m. Gold-Medal Game Minsk Arena 9:00 p.m./2:00 p.m. ************************************************ A lighthouse was swept away in a gale at Minot’s Ledge, MA on this date in 1851. ************************************************

Chad Johnson 'Doing What He Loves to Do'.

Boatmen ink 2013 Draft pick Adjei.

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

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Miley Cyrus went to a Kansas City hospital Tuesday after suffering a severe allergic reaction. [To one of her own songs.]

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Tampa, FL. — All-Pro defensive tackle Gerald McCoy insisted Tuesday that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't have to worry about him holding out this summer while his long-term contract discussions are ongoing.

Read the rest here.

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An Augusta, Georgia, Waffle House waitress said Tuesday that Masters champion Bubba Watson left a $148 tip after he and his family ate there on Sunday.

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Baltimore, MD. -- Matt Moore said Tuesday he was 100 percent sure about the decision to have season-ending Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow on April 22.

Read the rest here.

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The American Library Association has released its annual list of the most-challenged books in libraries across the U.S. Captain Underpants made a comeback to top the list again in 2012 and 2013.

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San Francisco, CA. -- Every husband knows better than to keep his spouse waiting for anything too long. So with his wife, Elizabeth, cooling her heels in AT&T Park's players' parking lot, Hector Sanchez did his best to end the delay.

Read the rest here.

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"Fibber McGee and Molly" premiered on this date in 1935.

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Jimmy looks for more of the parade.

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as your son having his first baseball practice rained out, isn't it?

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Today in Elvis History

1954 - Roy Orbison attended an Elvis Presley show in Dallas, TX.

1955 - Elvis Presley made his first appearance on the "Big D Jamboree" on KRLD in Dallas.

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On this date in 1947, the Zoomar lens, invented by Dr. Frank Back, was demonstrated in New York City. It was the first lens to exhibit zooming effects.

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Today in Beatles History:

1963 - The Beatles performed on BBC TV for the first time on the show "The 625 Show."

1964 -  The Beatles recorded the song "A Hard Day's Night" at EMI Studios in London.

1973 - Paul McCartney starred in his first TV special, "James Paul McCartney." 

  
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Christopher Nicholas is locked up in Montana after allegedly assaulting a police officer who was trying to arrest him outside a tavern. Police encountered Hiatt after he called 911 to report a theft. After discovering that Hiatt had an active arrest warrant, officers tried to arrest him. As they tried to stuff Hiatt in a patrol car, he allegedly licked one of the cop's eyes.

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Today in Sports History:

1939 - The Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the 1938-39 Stanley Cup Championship. It was the first time the best-of-seven series was used. The championship series had been a best-of-five in previous years.

1940 - The first no-hit, no-run game to be thrown on an opening day of the major league baseball season was earned by Bob Feller. The Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 1-0.

1949 - The Toronto Maple Leafs became the first NHL team to win three straight Stanley Cups titles.

1968 - Major league baseball’s longest night game was played. The 24 innings took six hours, six minutes to play.

1985 - Mickey Mantle was reinstated after being banned from baseball for several years.

1999 - Wayne Gretzky announced his retirement from the National Hockey League (NHL) after the game on April 18th.

2009 - Opening day took place at the new Yankee Stadium. 

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IN THEATERS TODAY - Heaven is for Real (PG)

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles 12:35pm EDT

NHL Playoffs -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens 7:00pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers 10:15pm EDT

Thursday --

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers 3:45pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees 7:10pm EDT

Friday --

NHL Playoffs -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens 7:00pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees 7:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres 10:10pm EDT

NAHL Playoffs -- Wenatchee Wild at Fairbanks Ice Dogs 11:35pm EDT

Saturday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees 7:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres 8:40pm EDT

NAHL Playoffs -- Wenatchee Wild at Fairbanks Ice Dogs 11:35pm EDT

Sunday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees 1:40pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres 4:10pm EDT

NHL Playoffs -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens 7:00pm EDT

NAHL Playoffs -- Wenatchee Wild at Fairbanks Ice Dogs 11:00pm EDT

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