It's Saturday

It's Saturday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is January 31st, the 31st day of 2015. There are 334 days left in the year.

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Best of slow-mo: Columbus All-Star Weekend.

Blackhawks' Mikita diagnosed with dementia: report.

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

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On today's date in 1858, The Great Eastern, the five-funnelled steamship designed by Brunel, was launched at Millwall.

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Tampa, FL. -- The Bolts go for their 10th straight win at Amalie Arena against the Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

Read the rest here.

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On this date in 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. It was ratified by the necessary number of states on December 6, 1865. The amendment abolished slavery in the United States.

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Rosters for U17 and U18 Five Nations Tournaments Unveiled Teams to Take Part in Annual Tournaments in Russia and Czech Republic ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams -- part of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program -- will join teams from the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden in their respective Five Nations Tournaments next week. The U17 Five Nations Tournament will take place in Dmitrov, Russia, while the U18 Five Nations event will be held in Kravare and Poruba, Czech Republic. For the complete Under-17 Team roster, click here. For the complete Under-18 Team roster, click here. Tournament information, including schedules, news, scores and stats, can be found at the official website of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, USANTDP.com. Additionally, live scoring updates from each U.S. game in both tournaments will be available through Twitter (@USAHockeyScores and @usantdp). Join the conversation on social media by using hashtags#U17FiveNations, #U18FiveNations and #NTDP. Notes: Danton Cole, head coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team, will lead the U17s in Russia, along with assistant coach John Gruden and intern assistant coach Tyler Walsh ... All 22 players on the roster are from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program ... Team USA claimed first place in last year's tournament held in Sundsvall, Sweden ... Don Granato, head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team, will lead the U18s in the Czech Republic. He will be joined on the bench by assistant coach Nick Fohr, intern assistant coach J.D. Forrest, and goaltending coachKevin Reiter ... All 22 players on the roster are from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program ... Team USA captured the tournament title last year in Dmitrov, Russia. 2015 Under-17 Five Nations TournamentFeb. 3-6 | Dmitrov, Russia Date Opponent Time (ET) Tues., Feb. 3 Czech Republic 6:30 a.m. Wed., Feb. 4 Russia 10:00 a.m. Thurs., Feb. 5 Finland 10:00 a.m. Fri., Feb. 6 Sweden 10:00 a.m. 2015 Under-18 Five Nations TournamentFeb. 4-8 | Kravare and Poruba, Czech Republic Date Opponent Time (ET) Wed., Feb. 4 Sweden 8:30 a.m. Fri., Feb. 6 Russia 12:00 p.m. Sat., Feb. 7 Finland 10:00 a.m. Sun., Feb. 8 Czech Republic 12:00 p.m.

************************************************ On this date in 1893, the trademark "Coca-Cola" was first registered in the United States Patent Office. ************************************************

Esks come to terms on extension with Willis.

Staying Green: Dressler extends with Riders.

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

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On this date in 1929, the USSR exiled Leon Trotsky. He found asylum in Mexico.

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Phoenix, AZ. -- Here's a sampling of media reports on the Buccaneers today.

Read the rest here.

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On this date in 1930, U.S. Navy Lt. Ralph S. Barnaby became the first glider pilot to have his craft released from a dirigible, a large blimp, at Lakehurst, NJ.

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Corvallis, OR. -- The No. 7/7 Oregon State women’s basketball team (18-1, 8-0 Pac-12) returns home this week for a pair of games against the Los Angeles schools. The weekend tips off with a matchup against USC Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Gill Coliseum.

Read the rest here.

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On this date in 1936, the radio show "The Green Hornet" debuted.

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Yay for the Lightning Guys!

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as rumors that there's a big football game tomorrow, isn't it?

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Today in Elvis History:

1959 - Elvis Presley's song "I Got Stung/One Night" hit #1 in the U.K. where it remained for 3 weeks. 

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On this date in 1940, the first Social Security check was issued by the U.S. Government.

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Today in Beatles History:

1967 - John Lennon purchased an 1843 circus poster that read "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite."

2010 - "All Together Now" won a Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video. The film documents the story behind the partnership between the Beatles and Cirque de Soleil that resulted in the creation of "LOVE." 

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On this date in 1949, the first TV daytime soap opera was broadcast from NBC's station in Chicago, IL. It was "These Are My Children."

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Today in Sports History:

1920 - Joe Malone (Quebec Bullldogs) set an NHL record with 7 goals in a game. 

1961 - In Houston, TX, voters approved financing for a domed stadium. 

1988 - Herb Alpert performed the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XXII. The Washington Redskins beat the Denver Broncos 42-10. 

1999 - The Denver Broncos won Super Bowl XXXIII. It was their second consecutive Super Bowl win. 

2003 - The Chicago White Sox announced a deal that would change the name of Comiskey Park after a 93-year association with the Comiskey name. 

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On this date in 1971, astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr., Edgar D. Mitchell and Stuart A. Roosa blasted off aboard Apollo 14 on a mission to the moon.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

USPHL Empire Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Atlanta Junior Knights 5:00pm 

EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets 7:00pm EST

USPHL Elite Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Atlanta Junior Knights 8:00pm EST

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild at Kenai River Brown Bears 11:30pm EST

Sunday --

USPHL Empire Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Atlanta Junior Knights 8:00am EST

USPHL Elite Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Atlanta Junior Knights 11:00am EST

Monday --

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Louis Blues 8:00pm EST

Wednesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Dallas Stars 8:30pm EST

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Los Angeles Kings 5:00pm EST

USPHL Empire Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Florida Junior Blades 5:15pm EST

USPHL Elite Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Roswell Bulldogs 8:00pm EST

Sunday --

USPHL Empire Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Junior Blades 12:00pm 

EST

USPHL Elite Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Roswell Bulldogs 12:15pm EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Anaheim Ducks 5:00pm EST

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