It's Thursday

It's Thursday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is May 1st, the 121st day of 2014. There are 244 days left in the year.

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Tortorella to be fired as Canucks coach: report.

Bruins' Rask, Canadiens' Price draw on past success.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Dann Florek (Capt. John Cragen on Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU) is 63; Singer-actor Tim McGraw (Friday Night Lights) is 47; Director Wes Anderson is 45; Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey) is 32.

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Tampa, FL. -- Lightning left wing Ryan Malone has pleaded not guilty to DUI and cocaine possession charges stemming from an April 12 arrest in Tampa.

Read the rest here.

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Want to be more creative today? Strap on some comfortable shoes and take a walk. A new study from Stanford researchers found that a person's creative output can increase by as much as 60% when walking.

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Champions Crowned at 2014 USA Hockey National Championships

Thirty-nine winners emerge from Youth, Girls, High School, Junior, Senior Women, Sled, Men's and Women's Rec classifications

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A total of 39 national champions were crowned across the country at the recently completed 2014 Toyota-USA Hockey National Championships. Title-winners spanned the youth, girls, high school, junior, sled, along with men's and women's rec classifications. Title game results are below for all levels. 2014 Toyota-USA Hockey Youth Tier I National Championship | Green Bay, Wis. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 14U Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Minn.) Chicago Mission 4-2 Note: With the win, SSM earned its first-ever 14U title and avenged a loss in last year’s final. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 16U Team Wisconsin Colorado Thunderbirds 2-1 (4 OT) Note: First 16U champion from Wisconsin since the classification’s inception in 2003; first Wisconsin team to win a Tier I youth national championship at any classification since Team Wisconsin won the 17U title in 2002. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 18U Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Minn.) Victory Honda (Mich.) 4-2 Note: Third 18U national championship in four years for SSM. 2014 Toyota-USA Hockey Girls Tier I National Championship | Marlborough, Mass. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 14U Assabet Valley (Mass.) East Coast Wizards (Mass.) 2-1 Note: Second title in three years for Assabet; third straight runner-up finish for East Coast Wizards. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 16U Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Minn.) Mid-Fairfield (Conn.) 3-0 Note: Second straight 16U title for SSM. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 19U Assabet Valley (Mass.) Shattuck-St. Mary's (Minn.) 2-0 Note: Either Assabet Valley or SSM has won the last six Tier I 19U girls titles. 2014 Toyota-USA Hockey Youth Tier II 14U National Championship | Hackensack, N.J. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 14U 1A Montana Thunderblades Team South Dakota 2-1 Note: The second-ever youth national championship for a Montana-based team; first was in 2010 (Tier II 16U 2A – Montana Thunderblades). Level Champion Runner-Up Score 14U 2A Chesterfield Falcons (Mo.) New Canaan Winter Club (Ct.) 4-2 Note: Chesterfield finished its regular-season CSDHL schedule in second place, but hit on all cylinders to win at the 2014 nationals. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 14U 3A USA Eagles (Mich.) Miami Toros (Fla.) 3-1 Note: First-ever Tier II 14U 3A national championship for USA Eagles. 2014 Toyota-USA Hockey Youth Tier II 16U National Championship | Reston, Va. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 16U 1A Team South Dakota Delaware Ducks 7-1 Note: Second Tier II 16U 1A national championship in three seasons for Team South Dakota. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 16U 2A East Coast Eagles (N.C.) Union Knights (Az.) 3-2 Note: Second-straight Tier II 16U title for a North Carolina-based team (Greensboro Stars, 2013, Tier II 16U 1A). Level Champion Runner-Up Score 16U 3A Oakland Jr. Grizzlies (Mich.) Massena/St. Lawrence (N.Y.) 3-2 Note: First Michigan-based Tier II 16U 3A champion since Summit Plastics won in 2011. 2014 Toyota-USA Hockey Youth Tier II 18U National Championship | Reston, Va. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 18U 1A Knoxville Ice Bears (Tenn.) Idaho Jr. Steelheads 5-1 Note: Second-ever national championship for a Tennessee-based team. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 18U 2A Affton Americans (Mo.) New Jersey Ice Vault Bandits 2-1 Note: Second-straight year with a Tier II national championship for an Affton-based team; Affton won an 18U 3A title last year. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 18U 3A Mid-State Mustangs (Pa.) Delaware Ducks 6-1 Note: Eighth national championship for a Pennsylvania-based team in youth nationals history. 2014 Toyota-USA Hockey Girls Tier II National Championship | Amherst, N.Y. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 14U Assabet Valley (Mass.) New Jersey Titans 5-1 Note: Assabet Valley went 1-3 in pool play, but outscored opponents 16-2 in three playoff victories en route to the championship. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 16U Charles River (Mass.) Marquette Sentinels (Mich.) 2-1 Note: Massachusetts-based programs won five of the six girls’ national championships in 2014. Charles River avenged a 5-1 pool-play loss to Marquette with its 2-1 title-game victory. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 19U Cape Cod Storm (Mass.) Keweenaw Storm (Mich.) 2-1 Note: Cape Cod swept through the tournament, winning all six of its games and outscoring opponents by a combined 29-4 margin. 2014 Toyota-USA Hockey Junior Tier III National Championship | Simsbury, Conn. Level Champion Runner-Up Score Tier III Boston Jr. Bruins (Mass.) North Iowa Bulls 4-1 Note: Second junior national title for Boston Junior Bruins in four years; the program produced a Junior B national championship in 2011. 2014 Toyota-USA Hockey Women’s A, B & C National Championship | Marlborough, Mass. Level Champion Runner-Up Score Senior A Minnesota Blue J's Team Connecticut 3-0 Note: Second-straight Women’s Senior A national championship for the Minnesota Blue J’s, and fourth in the last six seasons. Level Champion Runner-Up Score Senior B Gulf Coast Seagals (Fla.) Victory Honda (Mich.) 3-2 Note: First-ever Women’s Senior B national title for a Florida-based team. Level Champion Runner-Up Score Senior C Tri-City Selects (N.C.) Chicago Sharks 4-1 Note: First-ever Women’s Senior C national title for a North Carolina-based team. 2014 Toyota-USA Hockey High School Varsity National Championship | Omaha, Neb. Level Champion Runner-Up Score Varsity Bethel Park (Pa.) Providence Catholic (Ill.) 2-1 Note: First High School Varsity national championship for a Pennsylvania-based team. 2014 USA Hockey Women's Rec National Championships sponsored by Labatt Blue | Tampa, Fla. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 30+ Minnesota Extreme Nighthawks (Mass.) 3-2 40+ Tier I New England Brewins Cape Cod Black Dog 7-1 40+ Tier II Texas Stampede Quarry Cats (N.J.) 6-2 50+ Tier I Minnesota Ladyslippers IMS (Fla.) 2-0 50+ Tier II Final Period (Minn.) Polar Bears (Mich.) 5-1 2014 USA Hockey Men's National Championships sponsored by Labatt Blue | Tampa, Fla. Level Champion Runner-Up Score 40+ Tier I North Carolina Eagles La Palestra (N.Y.) 8-0 40+ Tier II Cyclones (Fla.) Unique Air (Fla.) 4-2 50+ Tier I Sun Valley Suns (Idaho) Heartland Hockey Camp (Minn.) 2-1 (OT) 50+ Tier II Monkey Brains (Tenn.) Michigan Sting Red 4-2 50+ Tier III Bud Light (Fla.) Illinois Ice Holes 6-0 50+ Tier IV Wacked Puckers (Pa.) SJ Wheels (N.J.) 2-1 (OT) 60+ Florida Tropics Ironworkers (Mich.) 7-1 65+ Tier I Byfuglien Trucking (Minn.) Heartland Hockey Camps (Minn.) 6-0 65+ Tier II Florida Leafs Ironworkers (Mich.) 5-2 70+ Minnesota Old Timers Everblades (Fla.) 6-5 (OT) 2014 USA Hockey Sled National Championship | Marlborough, Mass. Level Champion Runner-Up Score Sled San Antonio Rampage St. Louis Blues 3-1

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A third installment of the Sharknado series is coming. Syfy confirmed Wednesday that there will be a Sharknado 3 in 2015. The second Sharknado film, titled "The Second One", will air July 30.

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CFL to vote on rules involving taunting, low blocks.

Roughriders lone CFL team to exceed salary cap.

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

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Asa Candler published a full-page advertisement in The Atlanta Journal on this date in 1889, proclaiming his wholesale and retail drug business as "sole proprietors of Coca-Cola ... Delicious. Refreshing. Exhilarating. Invigorating." Mr. Candler did not actually achieve sole ownership until 1891 at a cost of $2,300.

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Tampa, FL. — Virtually every mock draft I’ve seen recently has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking either a wide receiver or a quarterback.

Read the rest here.

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Today is Stepmother's Day.

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Boston, MA. -- The Rays and the Red Sox will usher in May with a doubleheader at Fenway Park made necessary by Wednesday night's rainout. Oddly enough, both teams enter the month with losing marks.

Read the rest here.

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A Florida elementary school was evacuated after a class's pet python escaped. [Otherwise known as the best day of school ever.]

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San Francisco, CA. -- Good things always seem to happen for the Giants when Tim Hudson takes the mound, and Wednesday night was no exception.

Read the rest here.

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On this date in 1905, in New York, radium was tested as a cure for cancer.

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Run, Jimmy, run!

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as last night's Stanley Cup playoffs, isn't it?

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Today in Elvis History

1956 - The Elvis Presley album "Heartbreak Hotel" and his single "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You," were released. 

1962 - Upon returning to California, from Hawaii, Elvis Presley resumed filming "Girls! Girls! Girls!" on Stage 5 at the Paramount Studios. 

1967 - Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu were married in Las Vegas. They were together until 1973. 

1987 - A U.S. federal court ruled that a British retailer could not sell unlicensed Elvis Presley merchandise. 

2001 - Lisa Marie Presley sold her waterfront mansion in Clearwater, FL, to Kirstie Alley. 

2003 - Lisa Marie Presley was a guest and performer on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." 

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Kwasi Enin held a press conference at his Long Island, New York, high school to announce he's taking his talents to Yale. Enin scored a 2250 out of 2400 on the SAT, and was accepted to Duke and all eight Ivy League colleges.

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Today in Beatles History:

1963 - The Beatles hired Tony Barrow as their press agent. 

1966 - The Beatles played for their last paying audience in the U.K. The event was the New Musical Express Poll Winner's Party. Actor Clint Walker presented the Beatles with their award. 

1968 - At London's Royal Albert Hall, Paul McCartney and John Lennon attended Bill Haley's concert. 

1970 - George Harrison and Bob Dylan recorded together. They played the Beatles' "Yesterday," Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," and "Da Doo Ron Ron." 

1999 - An exhibition of Paul McCartney's paintings opened in Seigen, Germany. One of the works was a portrait of David Bowie. 

2012 - The documentary "George Harrison: Living In The Material World" was released. 

2012 - The soundtrack "Early Takes Volume 1: Music From The Martin Scorsese Picture Living In The Material World" was released. 

  
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Hollywood insiders think Star Wars: Episode VII has a good shot at joining Avatar and Titanic in hitting $2 billion at the worldwide box office. The romantic sea disaster epic brought in $2.1 billion in 1997, a record that stood until the futuristic 3D sci-fi saga rolled up a staggering $2.7 billion in 2009.

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Today in Sports History:

1883 - In Philadelphia, the first National League game was played since 1876. 

1884 - Moses Walker became the first black player in major league baseball. 

1901 - The Detroit Tigers committed 12 errors against the Chicago White Sox. 

1901 - Herb McFarland hit the first grand slam in the American League. 

1920 - Babe Ruth hit his first home run as a New York Yankee. It was his 50th career home run. 

1920 - The Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves tied after a 26-inning game. 

1922 - Charlie Robertson (Chicago White Sox) pitched a perfect no-hit, no-run game against the Detroit Tigers. The Sox won 3-0. Another perfect game did not come along until 46 years later. 

1926 - Satchel Page made his pitching debut in the Negro Southern League. 

1951 - Mickey Mantle hit his first home run. 

1951 - Minnie Minoso became the first black player to play for the Chicago White Sox. 

1962 - Bo Belinsky pitched a no-hitter in only his fourth start. 

1969 - Leonard Tose bought the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles for $16,155,000. 

1986 - Bill Elliot set a stock car speed record when he went 212.229 mile per hour. 

1991 - Nolan Ryan (Texas Rangers) pitched his 7th no-hitter. 

1992 - The Los Angeles Dodgers postponed three games due to riots due to the Rodney King case. 

1992 - Rickey Henderson stole his 1,000th base. 

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Jennifer Lawrence is the new reigning Sexiest Woman in the World, according to FHM, which unveiled its 2014 Top 100 list of the most smokin' in the land Wednesday.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox 1:10pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox 7:10pm EDT

Friday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees 7:05pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Atlanta Braves 7:35pm EDT

Saturday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees 1:05pm EDT

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Aaron's 312 at Talladega Superspeedway 3:00pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Atlanta Braves 7:10pm EDT

Sunday --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway 1:00pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees 1:05pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Atlanta Braves 1:35pm EDT

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