It's Friday

It's Friday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is February 17th, the 48th day of 2012. There are 318 days left in the year. (This is a leap year.)

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Stars trade Grossman to Flyers for draft picks.

Lightning deal Dominic Moore to Sharks for pick.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Basketball legend Michael Jordan is 49; Comedian/actor Larry the Cable Guy (real name Dan Whitney) is 49; Actress Denise Richards is 41; Socialite Paris Hilton is 31; Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception, 3rd Rock from the Sun's Tommy Solomon) is 31.

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Tampa, FL. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning said goodbye to teammate Dominic Moore on Thursday night, but refused to do the same to any hope of making the playoffs.

Not long before the puck drop, Moore was traded in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2012 to the San Jose Sharks, which soon after fell 6-5 in overtime after Martin St. Louis scored with 33 seconds remaining to earn Tampa Bay a huge two points and keep their playoff chances alive.

Read the rest here.

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The Great Backyard Bird Count starts today. National PTA Founders Day is today. as is World Human Spirit Day.

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New Component to Hockey Weekend Across America Gives Youth Officials Opportunity to Meet NHL Counterparts

32 Youth Referees Will Meet and Study NHL Officials

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A new component of Hockey Weekend Across America, which will take place Feb. 17-19, gives aspiring young officials a chance to meet with their NHL counterparts. At each home NHL game in an American city during Hockey Weekend Across America, two young officials will have a chance to meet the NHL officials working the particular contest prior to the game and then stay to watch those NHL officals in action.

Sixteen NHL teams will participate in the new event with 32 young officials having an opportunity to shadow referees at the highest level of the game. A full list of host sites and participants is below.

"This is a terrific addition to Hockey Weekend Across America,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “It’s great that aspiring young officials will have a chance to meet and learn from the best officials in the world.”

A similar program is also being conducted in the United States Hockey League.

Each of the three days associated with Hockey Weekend Across America has a theme, including Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey, sponsored by ShopUSAHockey.com on Friday; Try Hockey Day, sponsored by the NHL on Saturday and Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes, sponsored by Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports on Sunday.

On Friday, Feb. 17, fans are encouraged to visit USA Hockey's Facebook page to submit photos of themselves, their friends and colleagues donning their favorite hockey jersey as part of "Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey" day.

On Saturday, Feb. 18, more than 200 rinks across the nation will host Try Hockey for Free Clinics, exposing more than 4,000 young kids to hockey for the very first time. A list of currently scheduled clinics as well as information on how local associations or rinks can host their own event can be found here.

In honor of "Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes" day on Sunday, Feb. 19, USA Hockey is asking fans to post stories, photos or videos of their hockey heroes to its Facebook wall to share with the world. Local associations and/or fans will be honoring their local hockey heroes in various ways throughout the day.

HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica.com is the information hub for the event, with highlights of activities planned in conjunction with Hockey Weekend Across America from around the country, giveaway contests and downloadable promotional materials available. Associations or fans celebrating Hockey Weekend Across America are encouraged to submit their event plans to USA Hockey at the site.

NOTES: If you missed Sunday's initial release on Hockey Weekend Across America, click here. Additional information was also released on Wednesday and can be viewed here ... Hockey Weekend Across America was created by USA Hockey in 2008 to engage the hockey community in celebrating the sport of hockey at all levels and exposing the sport to new audiences ... As part of Hockey Weekend Across America for the second straight year, NBC presents its Hockey Day in America coverage throughout the afternoon on Sunday, with its studio set being located at the Wells Fargo WinterSkate outdoor rink in St. Paul, Minn. ... NHL Network U.S. will air special programming during Hockey Weekend Across America. A detailed NHL Network U.S. schedule can be found here ... Follow @USAHockey on Twitter for giveaways throughout the weekend and use the hashtag #HWAA to join the conversation ... "Like" USA Hockey's Facebook page for special news throughout Hockey Weekend Across America.

Host Sites and Participants for Youth Officials New Program

Date NHL Team Youth Referees
Hometown

Fri., Feb. 17 Buffalo Tyler Penberthy East Amherst, N.Y.
Fri., Feb. 17 Buffalo Nicholas Penberthy East Amherst, N.Y.
Fri., Feb. 17 Carolina Thomas Phillips Raleigh, N.C.
Fri., Feb. 17 Carolina Tyler Corey Raleigh, N.C.
Fri., Feb. 17 New Jersey Chris Carlucci Brick, N.J.
Fri., Feb. 17 New Jersey Mickey Avenoso Bridgewater, N.J.
Sat., Feb. 18 Columbus Will Petry Galena, Ohio
Sat., Feb. 18 Columbus Tyler Brumfield Bexley, Ohio
Sat., Feb. 18 Los Angeles Grant Chavez-Matzel Temecula, Calif.
Sat., Feb. 18 Los Angeles Jake Wojnicki Escondido, Calif.
Sat., Feb. 18 NY Islanders James Bobb Merrick, N.Y.
Sat., Feb. 18 NY Islanders James Karp Merrick, N.Y.
Sat., Feb. 18 Philadelphia Pat Hanrahan Hatfield, Pa.
Sat., Feb. 18 Philadelphia Eric Michaels Philadelphia, Pa.
Sat., Feb. 18 Phoenix B.J. Hooks Glendale, Ariz.
Sat., Feb. 18 Phoenix Zach Cash Peoria, Ariz.
Sat., Feb. 18 St. Louis Addison Brush St. Louis, Mo.
Sat., Feb. 18 St. Louis Thomas Place St. Louis, Mo.
Sat., Feb. 18 Tampa Bay Cole Fisher Tampa, Fla.
Sat., Feb. 18 Tampa Bay Stone Sheehen Tarpon Springs, Fla.
Sun., Feb. 19 Chicago Brian Hankes Wheaton, Ill.
Sun., Feb. 19 Chicago Sean Kozak Algonquin, Ill.
Sun., Feb. 19 Dallas Jacie Acker Euless, Texas
Sun., Feb. 19 Dallas Travis Hall Keller, Texas
Sun., Feb. 19 Detroit Kent Peterson Livonia, Mich.
Sun., Feb. 19 Detroit Michael LaFrance St. Clair Shores, Mich.
Sun., Feb. 19 Florida Casey Greenberg Weston, Fla.
Sun., Feb. 19 Florida Jessica Herman Davie, Fla.
Sun., Feb. 19 Minnesota Kira von Steinbergs Golden Valley, Minn.
Sun., Feb. 19 Minnesota David Childers Chaska, Minn.
Sun., Feb. 19 NY Rangers Michael Powers Bethpage, N.Y.
Sun., Feb. 19 NY Rangers Kyle Walker Hicksville, N.Y.

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10 YEARS AGO TODAY - Today in 2002: Chilean doctors in Santiago said a 266-pound man who was shot in the stomach was saved by his rolls of fat. They said the bullet lodged in the man's fat and did not damage any vital organs. A thinner person would have been killed instantly.

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2012 CFL Schedule is here.

Fantuz-tic signing: Ticats bag Andy.

Rider great Gene Makowsky calls it a career.

Visit the leagues' official website, http://www.cfl.ca/.

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Rick Santorum earned $3.6 million in four years. [Which seems like a lot until you consider $3.6 million is Mitt Romney's lunch money for a week.]

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Curious George is funny Daddy!

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After a days-long bidding war, HarperCollins has obtained the rights to Amanda Knox's memoir in a $4 million deal.

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Today in Elvis History

1958 - The Elvis Presley movie "Jailhouse Rock" opened in the U.K.

1958 - Production for the Elvis Presley movie "King Creole" began in New Orleans, LA. Filming was nearly impossible due to the large crowds in the streets.

1960 - Elvis received his first gold record for "Elvis."

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Source says the Colbert Report was shut down Wednesday because of an emergency in Stephen Colbert's family. According to the Huffington Post, it's the family matriarch, Colbert's 91-year-old mother, Lorna, who is "seriously ill."

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Today in Beatles History:

1975 - John Lennon released "Rock n' Roll." It was his last record before he left the music business for 5 years.

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IN THEATERS - Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance; The Secret World of Arrietty; This Means War.

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Today in Sports History:

1924 - Swimmer Johnny Weissmuller set a world record in the 100-yard freestyle. He did it with a time of 57-2/5 seconds in Miami, FL.

1943 - Joe DiMaggio (New York Yankees) joined the U.S. Army as a voluntary inductee.

1962 - Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) scored 67 points against St. Louis.

1967 - Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) scored the first of an NBA record 35 consecutive goals without a miss.

1968 - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opened in Springfield, MA.

1979 - Jerry Sloan became the first player for the Chicago Bulls to have his number retired. He wore #4.

2003 - Emmitt Smith (Dallas Cowboys) and owner Jerry Jones agreed that releasing Smith from the team was a "win-win situation." The formal announcement was made on February 27.

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Jessica Simpson will appear on The Biggest Loser. She's going to invite a lucky contestant to go on a shopping spree with her. The episode will air in mid-March.

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Coming up:

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Florida Eels 5:15pm EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals 7:00pm EST

EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Florida Eels 8:00pm EST

Sunday --

Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 11:30am EST

Monday --

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Anaheim Ducks 7:30pm EST

Wednesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Winnipeg Jets 8:30pm EST

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday--

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins 1:00pm EST

Sunday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils 1:00pm EST

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That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by, I hope that you'll do so tomorrow too. Thanks again!