It's Thursday

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

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

Today is December 18th, the 351st day of 2014. There are 14 days left in the year.

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

Around the League notebook for Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Fleury out for Penguins, being tested for mumps.

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

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

Today's Birthdays: Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones is 71. Steven Spielberg is 68. Brad Pitt is 51. Katie Holmes is 36. Christina Aguilera is 34.

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

Tampa, FL. -- Lightning broadcaster Rick Peckham teamed up with Stantec to help Broward Elementary students with the Hockey by the Numbers program...

Read the rest here.

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

On this date in 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

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

U.S. National Under-17 Team Tops Switzerland, 9-2, at 2014 Four Nations Tournament Pastujov Nets Four Goals; Keller Tallies One and Adds Two Assists ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Nick Pastujov (Bradenton, Fla.) netted four goals and Clayton Keller(Swansea, Ill.) tallied one goal and added two assists as the U.S. National Under-17 Team topped Switzerland, 9-2, here tonight at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. With the victory Team USA improves to 1-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in Four Nations Tournament play. The U.S. opened scoring midway through the first period after Pastujov grabbed the puck out of midair, dropped it and batted it past Swiss netminder Matteo Ritz. Joey Anderson (Roseville, Minn.) had the initial shot on net and earned an assist along with Keller. With 3:52 remaining, Pastujov notched his second marker off a one-time shot from the slot. Keenan Suthers (Macomb, Mich.) and Michael Campoli (Ann Arbor, Mich.) collected helpers. Switzerland answered back five seconds later, scoring on their lone shot of the frame. The U17’s third goal came after Keller made a move around a Swiss defenseman and shot it to the high corner. Adam Fox (Jericho, N.Y.) collected the lone assist on the play, sending Team USA to the locker room up 3-1. Switzerland closed the gap to one goal at 10:28 of the second frame after capitalizing on a delayed penalty call. Pastujov's third goal, scored at 18:40, gave Team USA back its two-goal advantage.James Greenway (Potsdam, N.Y.) and Keeghan Howdeshell (Brighton, Mich.) registered helpers. Team USA tacked on five more goals in the third stanza. William Lockwood (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) poked one past Ritz at 2:40, with Fox and Matthew Hellickson (Rogers, Minn.) receiving assists on the play. Campoli pushed the puck ahead to Timmy Gettinger (North Olmsted, Ohio) who scored the sixth goal at 8:31. Twenty-five seconds later, Patrick Khodorenko (Walnut Creek, Calif.) sniped the puck top-shelf to extend the U.S. lead, 7-2. Patrick Harper (New Canaan, Conn.) and James Sanchez (Northbrook, Ill.) assisted on the goal. Pastujov potted his fourth goal midway through the period. Ryan Lindgren (Minneapolis, Minn.) and Anderson assisted. The U17’s closed out the game with a goal from Graham McPhee (Bethesda, Md.). Keller and Greenway earned assists. Joseph Woll (Dardenne Prairie, Mo.) turned aside 11 shots in the win for Team USA while Ritz made 41 saves in the loss for Switzerland. Switzerland will face Russia on Friday, Dec. 19, at 3:30 p.m. EST, followed by Team USA versus Slovakia at 7 p.m. All contests are being held at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Games are available online at FASTHockey.com. Notes: The players of the game were Pastujov (USA) and Ritz (Switzerland) … Team USA outshot Switzerland, 50-13 … Team USA has won six of the last seven Four Nations Tournaments, including last year’s event … The Four Nations Tournament was last held in the U.S. in 2012, when Ann Arbor hosted the U18 tournament … The afternoon game saw Russia defeat Slovakia, 8-1 ... Tickets for the 2014 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament can be purchased prior to the event or at the door. Single-day tickets are available and include access to two games. Prices are $12 for adults, $7 for seniors and children, and $5 for groups of 10 or more. All tickets are general admission. To purchase tickets, call (734) 327-9251 or visit the USA Hockey offices at 2121 Oak Valley Drive in Ann Arbor. 2014 Under-17 Four Nations TournamentDec. 16-20 | Ann Arbor Ice Cube | Ann Arbor, Michigan Date Game Time (ET) / Result Tues., Dec. 16 Slovakia vs. Switzerland SVK, 3-1 USA vs. Russia RUS, 2-0 Wed., Dec. 17 Russia vs. Slovakia RUS, 8-1 USA vs. Switzerland USA, 9-2 Fri., Dec. 19 Switzerland vs. Russia 3:30 p.m. USA vs. Slovakia 7:00 p.m. Sat., Dec. 20 Third Place 3:30 p.m. Championship 7:00 p.m.

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

On this date in 1796, The "Monitor," of Baltimore, MD, was published as the first Sunday newspaper.

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

The Tampa Bay Juniors take part in the USPHL's Southern Winter Showcase in Ellenton starting tonight. On Thursday, December 18th, the Elite Juniors meet Richmond at 7:45pm. On Friday, the 19th, the Elite team plays East Coast at 1pm and the Empire team plays Hampton Roads at 7pm. On Sar=turday the 20th, the Elite team plays Hampton Roads at 9am, while the Empire team hooks up with Richmond at 1pm and Atlanta at 8pm. Then, on Sunday the 20th, both teams play Atlanta. The Elite game starts at 2:30pm and the Empire game at 3pm. (All times are EST.) All games will be available for viewing at Fasthockey.com. Admission to the showcase is $25 for the weekend, or $10 a day. Children 12 and under get in free.

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

On this date in 1935, a $1 silver certificate was issued for the first time in the U.S.

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

Report: Chapdelaine to become Riders' OC.

Bombers part ways with DC Gary Etcheverry.

Please visit the league's official website, http://www.cfl.ca.

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

Sony Pictures Entertainment has postponed indefinitely the theatrical release of The Interview.

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

Tampa, FL. -- For five straight weeks, the Green Bay Packers looked like they might have been the best team in football..

Read the rest here.

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

The Sony email hack reveals that Alex Trebek threatened to quit over a dispute with executives. [Until the email leak the world never knew how close it came to Jeopardy! being hosted by Larry The Cable Guy.]

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

Corvallis, OR. --Oregon State (7-2) seeks to remain perfect at Gill Coliseum this season when it hosts the DePaul Blue Demons (6-3) at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Read the rest here.

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

On this date in 1953, WPTZ, in Philadelphia, PA, presented a Felso commercial, it was the first color telecast seen on a local station.

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

It's the end of the first day of school.

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

You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as the blog taking the next two days off for a hockey tournament, isn't it?

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

Today in Elvis History:

1954 - Elvis Presley recorded "Milkcow Blues Boogie." 

1970 - Elvis Presley bought his father a Mercedes. 

1971 - The Elvis Presley album "I Got Lucky" hit #104 in the U.S. 

1971 - The U.K. maxi-single reissue of "Jailhouse Rock" hit #42 in the U.K. 

1978 - The album "Elvis - A Legendary Performer, Vol. 3" was certified gold by the RIAA. 

1982 - The Elvis Presley single "It Won't Seem Like Christmas Without You" hit #80 in the U.K. 

2002 - "Elvis Presley 55" was released. The vinyl release was a collection of Elvis radio shows recorded during 1955.

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

This is an update on the college student in England who didn’t have enough money for cab fair and was offered help by a homeless man. Dominique Harrison-Bentzen said she would spend 24 hours on the streets with the man, named Robbie, in an effort to raise money to get him out of the cold. Well it worked — she raised nearly $33,000.

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

Today in Beatles History:

1961 - Britain's EMI Records rejected the Beatles. They later signed them. 

2002 - "The Beatles - Now and Then, Photographs by Harry Benson" went on exhibit at the Albany Institute of History & Art. The exhibit featured approximately 80 of Benson's classic images of the Beatles.

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

TV TONIGHT: PEOPLE MAGAZINE AWARDS - This two hour special will include performances from 5 Seconds of Summer and Maroon 5. Celebrities scheduled to appear include Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Hart, Kate Hudson, Michael Keaton and Jennifer Lopez. (9p ET, NBC)

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

Today in Sports History:

1977 - The Cleveland Cavaliers retired Nate Thurmond's jersey, #42. 

1961 - Wilt Chamberlain scored 78 points against Los Angeles. 

1962 - Wilt Chamberlain scored 62 points against the St. Louis Hawks. 

1983 - Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers) scored his 100th point of the season. 

1983 - The San Diego Clippers ended a 29 game road losing streak. 

1993 - The NFL announced a new 4-year agreement with ABC, ESPN, TNT and FOX. FOX had taken the NFC championship package from CBS. 

1994 - Darryl Strawberry pled not guilty to tax evasion charges. 

2001 - John Rocker was traded to the Texas Rangers. 

2001 - The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority announced that they would ban all bottles, including plastic, from Giants Stadium. 

2002 - A press conference was held to announce Robert Johnson as the new owner of the NBA's new Charlotte expansion franchise. 

2006 - The NBA announced fines and supsensions related to a fight that occurred during a game between the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks on December 16, 2006. Both teams were fined $500,000, Carmelo Anthony was suspended for 15 games and Nate Robinson and J.R. Smith were suspended 10 games. 

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

75 years after it’s theatrical release, the Civil War epic Gone with the Wind has been voted America’s favorite movie. The results of a Harris Poll show the Star Wars series is No. 2, followed by Titanic, The Godfather and The Lord of the Rings trilogy

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

Coming Up:

Tonight --

USPHL Elite Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Richmond Generals 7:45pm EST

Friday --

USPHL Elite Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs East Coast Eagles 1:00pm EST

USPHL Empire Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Hampton Roads Whalers 7:00pm EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils 7:00pm EST

Saturday --

USPHL Elite Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Hampton Roads Whalers 9:00am EST

USPHL Empire Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Richmond Generals 1:00pm EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Islanders 7:00pm EST

USPHL Empire Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Atlanta Junior Knights 8:00pm EST

Sunday --

NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Green Bay Packers 1:00pm EST

USPHL Elite Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Atlanta Junior Knights 2:30pm EST

USPHL Empire Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Atlanta Junior Knights 3:00pm EST

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

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