Monday Morning Meissnervations

It's Monday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is December 15th, the 348th day of 2014. There are 17 days left in the year.

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Around the League notebook for Sunday, Dec. 14.

Longtime NHL goalie Tomas Vokoun retires: report.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Actor-comedian Tim Conway (The Carol Burnett Show) is 81. Don Johnson is 65. Helen Slater (The Legend of Billie Jean, City Slickers) is 51. Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) is 33.

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Tampa, FL. -- The NHL's mumps epidemic has spread to its top star, Sidney Crosby.

Read the rest here.

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On this date in 1654, a meteorological office established in Tuscany began recording daily temperature readings.

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Roster for U.S. National Under-17 Team Unveiled Team Will Compete in U17 Four Nations Dec. 16-20 in Ann Arbor ANN ARBOR, Mich. - USA Hockey announced today the 22-player roster for its 2014 U.S. National Under-17 Team, which will compete at the 2014 Under-17 Four Nations Tournament Dec. 16-20, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The roster includes 20 full-time members of the 2014-15 U.S. National Under-17 Team, part of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A complete Team USA roster can be found here. The event, which will take place at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, includes Team USA, as well as teams from Russia, Slovakia and Switzerland. Each team plays three round-robin contests before Championship Saturday (Dec. 20), which features a third-place game and the championship game. A complete tournament schedule can be found below. Tickets for the tournament, which will feature some of the best 17-and-under hockey players in the world, are available now. Tournament passes include tickets to all games and are $40 for adults and $20 for seniors and students. Single-day tickets are also available and include access to two games. Prices are $12 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, and $5 for groups of 10 or more. All tickets are general admission. To purchase tickets, call (734) 327-9251 or complete the online ticket order form. Notes: Team USA is the defending champion and has won six of the last seven tournaments ... The event marks the first tournament hosted by the U.S. in Ann Arbor since the 2012 Under-18 Four Nations Tournament ... Groups interested in attending may email Jake Wesolek(jakew@usahockey.org) for more information ... To apply for media credentials, click here ... Parking at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube is free-of-charge and available on a first-come, first-serve basis ... Each day of the tournament will feature giveaways to patrons ... NHL, USHL and NCAA scouts will receive one free ticket per day with a valid ID. 2014 Under-17 Four Nations TournamentDec. 16-20 | Ann Arbor Ice Cube | Ann Arbor, Michigan Date Game Time (ET) Tues., Dec. 16 Slovakia vs. Switzerland 3:30 p.m. USA vs. Russia 7:00 p.m. Wed., Dec. 17 Russia vs. Slovakia 3:30 p.m. USA vs. Switzerland 7:00 p.m. 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.

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On this date in 1791 in the U.S., the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, went into effect following ratification by the state of Virginia.

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The Tampa Bay Juniors Empire team was in action this past Saturday, taking on the Florida Eels in Fort Myers.

The game was close throughout, with a Benoit Chin goal tying the game 1-1 after one.

In the second, Tanner Frankich and Michael Demicelli on the power play, gave Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead through two periods.

In the third, an Eels goal at 9:51 tied the game 3-3. There was no further scoring and the teams headed to extra hockey.

The extra session was scoreless and the game preceeded to a deciding shootout. The Eels out scored Tampa Bay 2-0, grabbing the extra standings point with the 4-3 win.

Zac Gazzana made 41 saves for the Juniors, who were 1-for-3 on the power play and 1-of-2 on the penalty kill.

Tampa Bay's Empire team is now 18-4-0-2, 4 points ahead of the Florida Junior Blades in the battle for first place in the USPHL Empire South. The Junior Blades have 5 games in hand.

Next up for the Tampa Bay Juniors is the USPHL's Southern Winter Showcase in Ellenton. 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.

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On this date in 1854 in Philadelphia, the first street cleaning machine was put into use.

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Decision to stay an easy one for Riders' George.

Vote in the Weekly Say: The 2014 CFL.ca Awards.

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

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An 11-year-old girl in Arkansas, who wanted to find a boy she met two years ago, hired a cab to drive her to Florida after stealing $10,000 from her grandmother . [Hard to believe she’s only 11. I was at least 15 before I committed my first felony.]

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Charlotte, NC. -- Despite a defense that refused to break near the red zone, the Buccaneers came up two points short at Bank of America Stadium Sunday, missing an opportunity to hurt the Panthers' playoff chances.

Read the rest here.

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According to a new study, there are over 5 trillion plastic particles floating in the Earth’s oceans, weighing nearly 270,000 tons combined. The researchers say their estimates are “highly conservative,” meaning there is likely much more plastic in the ocean.

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Corvallis, OR. --Oregon State (6-2) looks for its fourth straight win when it hosts the Grambling State Tigers (2-5) at 7 p.m. on Monday at Gill Coliseum.

Read the rest here.

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According to a recent study, as many as one in three Americans hate holiday shopping so much that they would rather have root canal procedure than have to shop.

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Time for Jimmy to go to his actual classroom.

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as another sick day for your son, isn't it?

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Today in Elvis History:

1962 - Elvis Presley's single "Return To Sender" hit #1 in the U.K. 

1965 - The Elvis Presley movie "Harum Scarum" opened in the U.S. 

1970 - "Elvis - That's The Way It Is" was released in the U.K. 

1994 - "Elvis - The Tribute" aired on ABC-TV.

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What do you get the person who has everything this Christmas? A box of nothing. A company called You Need Nothing is selling boxes containing nothing. You get your choice of a white or black box. All proceeds will go to the charity Oxfam. The cheapest Box of Nothing sells for about $40.

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Today in Beatles History:

1969 - John Lennon gave his last live performance in England. It was a UNICEF benefit in London.

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TV TONIGHT: - AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS - Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard host this new awards show. Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, and Brett Eldredge are set to perform. (8p ET, FOX)

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Today in Sports History:

1917 - The NHL's first exhibition game was played four days before the start of the regular season. The Montreal Canadiens and the Montreal Wanderers played a benefit game for victims of the Halifax Explosion, which had occurred 10 days earlier. 

1925 - The third Madison Square Garden was opened with a game between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Americans. 

1966 - The New Orleans Saints became the 16th NFL franchise. 

1974 - The Miami Dolphins won at the Orange Bowl for the 31st consecutive time. 

1982 - Paul "Bear" Bryant announced his retirement as head football coach at the University of Alabama. 

1992 - Arthur Ashe was named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. 

1996 - Troy Aikman surpassed Roger Staubach's Dallas Cowboy record of 22,700 passing yards. 

1996 - John Elway (Denver Broncos) won his 126th game to set an NFL record. 

1997 - The San Francisco 49ers retired Joe Montana's number 16 during halftime of a game against the Denver Broncos. 

2002 - Edgardo Alfonzo and the San Francisco Giants agreed on a four year contract worth $26 million. 

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Exodus: Gods and Kings debuted the top of the weekend movie chart. The biblical epic picked up $24.5 million — a long way from the $140 million it cost to make.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins 7:00pm EST

Tuesday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Philadelphia Flyers 7:00pm EST

Wednesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

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

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