It's Thursday

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

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Today is November 13th, the 316th day of 2014. There are 49 days left in the year.

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Around the League notebook for Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Modano grew Texas hockey on way to Hall of Fame.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds) is 67. Chris Noth (The Good Wife, Law & Order, Sex and the City) is 60. Whoopi Goldberg is 59. Jimmy Kimmel is 47.

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Tampa, FL. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning will debut their new, black third jersey on Thursday night when the team hosts the San Jose Sharks at Amalie Arena at 7:30 p.m. Fans attending Thursday night’s game between the Lightning and Sharks will receive a free ‘Back in Black’ t-shirt compliments of Chase.

Read the rest here.

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On this date in 1805, Johann George Lehner, a Viennese butcher, invented a recipe and called it the "frankfurter."

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2014 U.S. Junior Select Team Announced Team Will Compete in 2014 World Junior A Challenge, Dec. 14-20 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey today unveiled the roster for its U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete in the 2014 World Junior A Challenge, Dec. 14-20, in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. The U.S. has won five of the last six tournaments (2008-10, 2012-13). All selected players currently compete in the United States Hockey League, the only Tier I junior hockey league in the U.S. For the complete roster, click here. The roster features four players that helped the U.S. win the 2013 World Junior A Challenge, including forwards Kyle Connor (Shelby Township, Mich./Youngstown), Seamus Malone(Naperville, Ill./Dubuque) and Andrew Oglevie (Fullerton, Calif./Cedar Rapids) as well as defenseman Neal Pionk (Hermantown, Minn./Sioux City). In addition, four players were selected in the 2014 National Hockey League Entry Draft with forwards Dakota Joshua (Dearborn, Mich./Sioux Falls/Toronto Maple Leafs/5th Round/128th overall), Shane Gersich (Chaska, Minn./Omaha/Washington Capitals/5th round/134th overall) andAnthony Angello (Manlius, N.Y./Omaha/Pittsburgh Penguins/5th round/145th overall) joining goaltender Hayden Hawkey (Parker, Colo./Omaha/Montreal Canadiens/6th round/177th overall). Seventeen other players are eligible for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Finally, forwards Brock Boeser (Burnsville, Minn./Waterloo), Connor, Robby Jackson (Alameda, Calif./Chicago) and Tom Novak (River Falls, Wis./Waterloo) participated in the 2014 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, a showcase for players eligible for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. Boeser, Jackson and Novak were also teammates in August as members of the U.S Under-18 Select Team that placed third in the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, while Connor and Gersichwere members of the 2014 U.S. Men's Under-18 National Team that won gold at the 2014 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship. Team USA's first tournament game takes place Monday, Dec. 15, against Switzerland. To see the complete schedule and for full Team USA coverage, click here. All tournament games will be streamed on FASTHockey.com. Notes: The roster announced today includes 21 players. The final roster will include one additional goaltender, with that announcement coming in the near future ... Jay Varady is the head coach for the 2014 U.S. Junior Select Team. He is in his second season as head coach and director of hockey operations for the Sioux City Musketeers ... Omaha Lancers' second-year head coach and general manager, Brian Kaufman, and Madison Capitols' assistant general manager and associate head coach, Keith Paulsen, are assistant coaches ... Phil Faught (Fargo Force) and Jason Smits(Muskegon Lumberjacks) are the team's athletic trainer and equipment manager, while Dr. Alan Ashare will serve as the team physician ... Nine USHL clubs are represented on the roster. The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and Waterloo Black Hawks lead the way with four players each ... Ten states are represented on the roster. Minnesota boasts the most representatives with nine, while California, Illinois and Michigan each have two. Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin have one apiece ... The World Junior A Challenge is in its ninth year, and the United States is competing for the eighth time. Team USA has won five of the last six tournaments (2008-10, 2012-13) ... The 2014 field includes Canada East, Canada West, Denmark, Russia, Switzerland and the United States ... The official tournament website is available here. Record Numbers Experience Try Hockey For Free Day Presented by Kraft First-time hockey players pack rinks nationwide as part of Come Play Hockey Month COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Saturday (Nov. 8) was record-setting for USA Hockey as its November Try Hockey for Free Day, presented by Kraft, introduced 14,767 children between the ages of 4 and 9 to the sport of hockey for the very first time. The scene played out in arenas nationwide as part of the fourth annual Come Play Hockey Month. In all, nearly 500 sites hosted Try Hockey events across 48 states. Equipment was provided free of charge to every child attending the events, while thousands of volunteers provided instruction and encouragement. Saturday's turnout eclipsed the previous November Try Hockey For Free Day participation record, set in 2013, by more than 2,000. "Welcoming so many fresh faces to the rink is exciting," said Pat Kelleher, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of development. "It was a great day for hockey and the volunteers all across the country deserve a ton of credit. Their energy and passion made it a great introduction to the sport. We're also grateful for the support from the NHL and its member clubs." Complete information about the event can be found at TryHockeyForFree.com. USA Hockey, which conducts two national Try Hockey For Free Days each season, will conduct its second Try Hockey Day of the 2014-15 campaign on Feb. 21, 2015, as part of Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by CCM. USA Hockey's Try Hockey For Free Days are designed to provide a national platform for introducing children to the sport, free of charge. Total Hockey and Liberty Mutual Insurance are official sponsors of Try Hockey For Free Days. NOTE: Now in their fifth season, USA Hockey's national Try Hockey For Free Days have introduced nearly 85,000 children to the sport, including a one-season record 28,446 in 2013-14 ... Try Hockey For Free Day in November is part of Come Play Hockey Month. Come Play Hockey Month is a component of the NHL's Hockey is for Everyone™ (HIFE) program, which provides children of all backgrounds the opportunity to play hockey ... Join the conversation on social media using hashtag #TryHockey4Free.

************************************************ The Holland Tunnel opened to the public on this date in 1927, providing access between New York City and New Jersey beneath the Hudson River. ************************************************ Regina, SK. -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders are pleased to announce that five players have been chosen to the West Division All-Star team. Two players from the Green and White were selected to the West offence while three were selected to the West defence. The West Division All-Stars were selected by the voting members from the West Division markets, the West Division head coaches and the National Chapter. Read the rest here. The West Semifinal takes place on Sunday, November 16th, as the 12-6 Edmonton Eskimos host the 10-8 Saskatchewan Roughriders. Game time at Commonwealth Stadium is set for 4:30pm EST. Catch all the action with Rod Pedersen and Carm Carteri on 620 CKRM, the Rider Radio Network, or 620ckrm.com. The game can be seen in Canada on TSN and in the U.S. on ESPN2. ************************************************ Researchers say that they have perfected a liquid coating that, if used inside bottles, could help you easily get out all the remaining toothpaste or ketchup. [This could mean an end to stories about bears getting their heads stuck in jars of honey, or Charlie Sheen in a bottle of Scotch.] ************************************************ . Morris: Lulay with the team, but Glenn likely to lead the way. WSF: Durant Back, But Not Yet Ready. Please visit the league's official website, cfl.ca. ************************************************ COMING UP - Great American Smokeout: November 20. Thanksgiving: November 27. World Aids Day: December 1. Human Rights Day: December 10. Winter Solstice: December 21. Christmas: December 25. ************************************************ Tampa, FL. -- Last week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers blew yet another fourth-quarter lead on the way to their eighth loss in nine tries this season, falling at home to the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. Read the rest here. ************************************************ American artist Jasper Johns set a personal auction record on Veterans Day with the sale of an American flag painting for $36 million.The 12 by 18 inch flag painting — titled “Flag” — was expected to sell for only $15 million to $20 million. ************************************************ Corvallis, OR. -- Oregon State men’s basketball head coach Wayne Tinkle and his staff announced one of the best recruiting classes in Beaver basketball history on Wednesday with the addition of four student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent. Read the rest here. ************************************************ The Walt Disney movie "Fantasia" had its world premiere at New York's Broadway Theater on this date in 1940. ************************************************ Here's Jimmy loading his backpack for the first day of school. ************************************************ You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as going to a grief counseling session, isn't it? ************************************************ Today in Elvis History: 1971 - Elvis Presley performed in Dallas, TX. ************************************************ Police say a 68-year-old Utah man was taken into custody after he threatened his teenage daughter with a loaded rifle after accusing of her of cheating in a game of Battleship. Police suspect he was drinking. ************************************************ Today in Beatles History: 1963 -  Paul McCartney caught the flu. The British press reported on his condition in hour-by-hour progress reports.  1966 - It was reported in Britain's "Sunday Telegraph" that two unnamed Beatles had approached Allen Klein about having him manage their affairs. Beatles manager Brian Epstein dismissed the report.  1968 - The Beatles' animated movie "Yellow Submarine" opened in the U.S.  1969 - John Lennon declared that any hippie could live on the island Dorinch. Lennon had purchased the island, which is off of Ireland.  1991 - The 83-minute archive video "The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit" was released in the U.S.  2001 - Paul McCartney's album "Driving Rain" was released. ************************************************ Joaquin Phoenix may have turned down the chance to play Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man. In an interview with Playboy, Phoenix said, “There’s only one movie I regret saying no to, except the person who ended up doing it was so good and was absolutely meant to do it, so I don’t have any regrets. I’m not going to say which one but it was a really big hit. It’s getting to the point where they’re making some pretty decent movies. I thought Iron Man was fantastic.” ************************************************ Today in Sports History: 1900 - The Baltimore Orioles entered major league baseball's American League.  1934 - Ralph "Scotty" Bowman (St. Louis Eagles) scored the first penalty shot goal in NHL history.  1991 - Roger Clemens won his third Cy Young Award for the American League.  1993 - The Dallas Mavericks began a 20 game streak of losses.  1995 - Greg Maddox (Atlanta Braves) became the first pitcher to win four consecutive Cy Young Awards.  1997 - Mike Keenan was named the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks. ************************************************ Over in England a woman told a TV host that she has a fear of sunflowers. Yep, those big, tall flowers we get a wonderful snack from. After revealing her fear they brought one out. ************************************************ Coming Up: Tonight -- NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs San Jose Sharks 7:30pm EST Friday -- Nothin' Doin' Saturday -- Nascar Nationwide Series -- Ford Ecoboost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway 4:30pm EST USPHL Elite Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Roswell Bulldogs 5:00pm EST USPHL Empire Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Florida Junior Blades 5:15pm EST NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs New York Islanders 7:00pm EST College Football -- Oregon State Beavers vs Arizona State Sun Devils 10:45pm EST Sunday -- USPHL Elite Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Roswell Bulldogs 11:15am EST NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Redskins 1:00pm EST Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Ford Ecoboost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway 3:00pm EST ************************************************ That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow.