It's Thursday

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

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Today is February 2nd, the 33rd day of 2012. There are 333 days left in the year. (This is a leap year.)

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Devils' Boulton fined $2,500 for slashing.

Blue Jackets' Boll fined $2,500 for illegal check.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Comedian Tom Smothers is 75; TV chef and author Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa) is 64; Brent Spiner (Lieutenant Commander Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation) is 63; Model Christie Brinkley is 58.

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Tampa, FL. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning, winners of five straight, host the Winnipeg Jets tonight.

Read the preview right here.

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This is Library Lovers Month, National Bird feeding Month, National Care About Your Indoor Air Month, National Cherry Month, National Condom Month, National Children's Dental Health Month, National Hot Breakfast Month, National Laugh-Friendly Month, National Mend A Broken Heart Month, National Parent Leadership Month, National Pet Dental Health Month, National Time Management Month, National Weddings Month, Plant The Seeds Of Greatness Month, Pull Your Sofa Off The Wall Month, Relationship Wellness Month, Responsible Pet Owner's Month, Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month, Spunky Old Broads Month, Sweet Potato Month, Wise Health Care Consumer Month, Worldwide Renaissance of the Heart Month and Youth Leadership Month.

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Single Game Tickets & Medal Packages on Sale Friday for
2012 IIHF Women's World Championship

Tournament to Take Place in Burlington, Vt., April 7-14

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today that single-game tickets to the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship in Burlington, Vt., will go on sale on Friday, Feb. 3. The tournament, which will be staged in the United States for the first time in a decade, will take place April 7-14 at Gutterson Fieldhouse and Cairns Arena.

The 2012 IIHF Women's World Championship will feature the top female hockey players in the world with games between teams from Canada, Finland, Germany, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

Tickets are set at $15-$30 at Gutterson Fieldhouse and $8 at Cairns Arena. The bronze and gold-medal games will be sold as a package for $70.

Home to the University of Vermont men's and women's NCAA Division I ice hockey teams, Gutterson Fieldhouse will serve as the primary venue for the event. All U.S. and Canada games will be played at Gutterson, as well as all medal-round contests. Cairns Arena, less than three miles from Gutterson, will serve as the secondary facility for the event.

Ticket information can be found at Burlington2012.com or by calling the University of Vermont box office at (802) 656-4410. A full tournament schedule can be found below.

NOTES: Team USA has won the last three world championships (2008 2009, 2011) ... The event will mark the third time the IIHF Women's World Championship has been held in the United States. Lake Placid, N.Y., played host in 1994, while Minneapolis was the site in 2001. Team USA earned the silver medal in Lake Placid and Minneapolis ... Media accreditation information will be released at a future date ... Katey Stone, head women's ice hockey coach at Harvard University, will serve as head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team for 2011-12 ... For more information on the 2012 IIHF Women's World Championship, click here.

IIHF Women's World Championship Game Schedule
April 7-14 - Burlington, Vt.

Date Match-up Time (EDT) Group Arena
Apr. 7 Slovakia vs. Sweden 1 p.m. B Cairns
Finland vs. Russia 3 p.m. A Gutterson
Switzerland vs. Germany 5 p.m. B Cairns
USA vs. Canada 7 p.m. A Gutterson
Apr. 8 Sweden vs. Germany 1 p.m. B Cairns
Canada vs. Finland 3 p.m. A Gutterson
Switzerland vs. Slovakia 5 p.m. B Cairns
USA vs. Russia 7 p.m. A Gutterson
Apr. 10 Sweden vs. Switzerland 1 p.m. B Cairns
Canada vs. Russia 3 p.m. A Gutterson
Germany vs. Slovakia 5 p.m. B Cairns
Finland vs. USA 7 p.m. A Gutterson
Apr. 11 A4 - B1 3 p.m. Quarterfinal #1 Gutterson
B3 - B4 5 p.m. Relegation Cairns
A3 - B2 7 p.m. Quarterfinal #2 Gutterson
Apr. 13 B4 - B3 1 p.m. Relegation Cairns
A2 - 3A/2B 3 p.m. Semifinal #1 Gutterson
L (Q1) - L (Q2) 5 p.m. 5th/6th Place Game Cairns
A1 - 4A/1B 7 p.m. Semifinal #2 Gutterson
Apr. 14 B3 - B4 # 1 p.m. Relegation Cairns
L (S1) - L (S2) 3 p.m. Bronze-Medal Game Gutterson
W (S1) - W (S2) 7 p.m. Gold-Medal Game Gutterson
# If necessary

National Team Development Program Weekly Update

U18 Team Takes on Lake Superior State University Friday;
U17's Topple Muskegon, Fall to Dubuque; Turn Focus to Vlad Dzurilla Tournament

U17 TEAM TURNS FOCUS TO VLAD DZURILLA: The U.S. National Under-17 Team is off this weekend as it turns its focus to the 2012 Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament in Piestany, Slovakia from Feb. 9-11. Team USA opens the tournament with a 7:30 a.m. EST tilt against Switzerland on Feb. 9. The following day (Feb. 10), the U.S. takes on Germany at 7:30 a.m. EST before closing out against Slovakia on Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. EST. The U.S. is the defending champion having won the tournament title last year. Team USA outscored its opponents 12-3 en route to the title.

U18 TEAM TAKES ON LAKE SUPERIOR STATE: The U.S. National Under-18 Team returns to action after enjoying last weekend off. Team USA takes on Lake Superior State University on Feb. 3 at 7:05 p.m. EST at the Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The National Team Development Program is 2-1-3 (W-L-T) all-time versus the Lakers. The last U.S. win (3-1) was on Dec. 16, 2006. This season, the U18's are 5-7-2 against collegiate competition.

U17's TOPPLE MUSKEGON, FALL TO DUBUQUE: Tyler Motte (St. Clair, Mich.) scored two goals, including the game winner in overtime, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team toppled the Muskegon Lumberjacks, 4-3, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube on Jan. 27. After trailing, 3-1, in the third period, the U.S. scored three unanswered goals to claim the overtime victory. Hunter Miska (North Branch, Minn.) turned aside 12 shots for Team USA in the win. Team USA is 2-1-0 (W-L-T) against its in-state rivals with two games remaining in the United States Hockey League regular season series. The following night (Jan. 28), Hudson Fasching (Burnsville, Minn.) and Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) each netted one goal, but the U.S. National Under-17 Team was handed a 5-2 loss by the Dubuque Fighting Saints at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Curtis Frye (Northwood, N.H.) made 20 saves for Team USA in the loss. The U17's face the Fighting Saints once more in the regular season in Dubuque on March 31.

UNDER-17 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Forward Tyler Kelleher is riding a seven-game point streak (5-3) dating back to Dec. 17. Kelleher has now scored in 15 of 20 USHL contests and has 18 points (10-8) total on the season ... Tyler Motte had at least one point (2-1) in each game this past weekend (Jan. 27-28). The forward also notched the game-winning goal against Muskegon on Friday ... Forward Connor Chatham (Belleville, Ill.) has one point (1-2) in each of his last three games dating back to Jan. 21 ... Hunter Miska has won four of his last five starts in the USHL dating back to Dec. 15, 2011. The netminder has a 2.59 goals-against-average in that span.

UNDER-18 TEAM NEWS/NOTES: Three players on the U.S. National Under-18 Team are tied for the lead in points against collegiate opponents. Ryan Hartman (West Dundee, Ill./4-6), Stefan Matteau (Chicago, Ill./4-6) and Nicolas Kerdiles (Irvine, Calif./3-7) all have ten points. Hartman and Kerdiles have skated in 14 games, while Matteau has played in 13 ... Collin Olson (Apple Valley, Minn.) sports a 3-3-0-1 (W-L-OTL-T) record with a 2.99 goals-against-average and .887 save percentage against college foes, while the other half of the Team USA netminding tandem, Jared Rutledge (Chicago, Ill.), is 2-4-0-1 with a 3.37 GAA and .898 save percentage ... The Under-18 Team is scoring 2.64 goals per game against Division I and III opponents and allowing 3.21 goals per game ... Team USA has 405 shots on goal and has given up 420 in 14 games played versus college opponents.

NTDP ALUMNI UPDATE: Peoria Rivermen forward T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich./2001-03) scored one goal and collected one assist in the American Hockey League All-Star Game held on Monday (Jan. 30). Hensick's Team West earned an 8-7 shootout win ... Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (2004-06/Buffalo, N.Y.) was selected by fan vote as the winner of the 2012 National Hockey League Skills Competition Breakaway Challenge that took place on Jan. 28. Kane also netted a goal in the All-Star Game for Team Chara the following day (Jan. 29) ... Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel (2003-05/Madison, Wis.) notched one goal and added two assists in the All-Star Game, helping lead Team Chara to a 12-9 victory on Jan. 29 ... Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter (2001-03/Madison, Wis.) recorded an assist for Team Chara in the All-Star Game (Jan. 29) ... Detroit Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard (Ogdensburg, N.Y./2001-02) stopped 11 of 14 shots in one period of action at the NHL All-Star Game (Jan. 29) ... The NTDP boasts 59 former skaters that have played in at least one game in the NHL. In the 2010-11 NHL season, more than 60 NTDP alumni skated in the NHL.

For the complete weekly update, click here.

ABOUT THE NTDP: In 1996, USA Hockey launched a revolutionary new initiative called the National Team Development Program, based in Ann Arbor, Mich. Celebrating its 15th season of play in 2011-12, the goal of this full-time development program is to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. National Teams and success in their future hockey careers. Its efforts focus not only on high-caliber participation on the ice, but creating well-rounded individuals off the ice.

THE USHL AND FASTHOCKEY: Catch all of Team USA's USHL action on FASTHockey.com, the premier online destination for ice hockey fanatics from around the world. Visitors can choose from an incredible array of games from national governing bodies, conferences, leagues, teams, tournaments, and other events.

U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team Begins Exhibition Series
Against Canada Tomorrow

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The 2012 U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team opens a three-game exhibition series against Canada tomorrow at the United Communities Credit Union Complex in Amherstburg, Ont.

"We're excited to give our team a taste of the intensity that comes with playing against Canada," said Mike MacMillan, head coach of the U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team. "This will be a great opportunity for our team to gain some experience against a solid opponent."

The exhibition series will mark the first competition of the season for the 2012 U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team. Following the series, the team will join the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team for a training camp from Feb. 29-March 4, in Charlotte, N.C.

NOTES: For Team USA's full roster, click here ... Alexi Salamonie, a current member of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, and former U.S. National Sled Hockey Team member, Kip St. Germaine, are serving as assistant coaches.

Team USA 2012 National Development Sled Hockey Team Exhibition Schedule
United Communities Credit Union Complex | Amherstburg, Ont.

Date Opponent Time (EST)
Thur., Feb. 2 Canada 12 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 3 Canada 12 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 4 Canada 7 p.m.

'Miracle' Member Ken Morrow Featured Guest at Seventh-Annual Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Ken Morrow, defenseman on the gold-medal winning 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team and four-time Stanley Cup champion, will be the featured guest at the 2012 Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships from Feb. 10-12 in Eagle River, Wis., it was announced today by USA Hockey.

Morrow will interact with players and fans at the 24 rinks on Saturday and will be at the Derby Track on Saturday night to mingle with participants during the 2012 Welcome Reception.

The seventh annual Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships will feature a record 285 teams with nearly 2,000 players representing 31 states from across the country.

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Nearly half of Super Bowl 46 viewers will check their mobile device as many as 10 times during the game, and almost a third of viewers under age 45 will watch the game "with device in hand."

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Armed forces: Bombers re-sign QB Pierce.

Cobourne among three Tiger-Cats released.

CFL.ca's Top 10 YAC Plays of 2011.

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

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Today is Groundhog Day. But I'm more excited that it's National Tater Tot Day. It's also Candlemas, Crepe Day, Groundhog Day, Marmot Day, Hedgehog Day, Sled Dog Day and World Wetlands Day (Linky Link).

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The 2011 NFL playoffs are underway. Here's the Super Bowl schedule:

Super Bowl XLVI

All times Eastern

February 5th

New England Patriots vs New York Giants 6:30pm

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Who needs mace, pepper spray or a Taser when you have a bottle of hot sauce in the home. Police in Iowa said a woman who was attacked by one of three robbers in her home used a bottle of hot sauce to fight off her attacker. Two suspects escaped but a third was arrested.

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"Hi everybody. I'm Jimmy."

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Just a few days until the Super Bowl. [Madonna's getting ready for her big performance. She'll have her face pulled today.]

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Today in Elvis History

1977 - Elvis Presly did not show up for an RCA recording session.

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Wake up to the smell of Leonardo DiCaprio in your cup. Soon you can start each day with Leo as the actor has launched a green and economically conscious coffee product that benefits his foundation. Leo's coffee is called Lyon.

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Today in Beatles History:

1963 - The Beatles began their first British tour supporting Helen Shapiro.

1969 - Yoko Ono obtained a divorce from her first husband, Tony Cox, and gained custody of her daughter, Kyoko.

1970 - "Look" magazine used "I read the news today, oh boy" has the headline to its '60s retrospective.

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New Amsterdam, now known as New York City, was incorporated on this date in 1653.

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Today in Sports History:

1876 - The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs was formed in New York. The teams were located in Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Hartford, Louisville, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis.

1949 - Golfer Ben Hogan was seriously injured in an auto accident in Van Horn, TX.

1967 - The American Basketball Association was formed by representatives of the NBA.

2003 - Dany Heatly (Atlanta Thrashers) became the fifth player to score four goals in the NHL's All-Star game.

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On this date in 1848, the Mexican War was ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The treaty turned over portions of land to the U.S., including Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, California and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. The U.S. gave Mexico $15,000,000 and assumed responsibility of all claims against Mexico by American citizens. Texas had already entered the U.S. on December 29, 1845.

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Coming up:

Tonight --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Winnipeg Jets 7:30pm EST

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

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

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers 7:00pm EST

EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Palm Beach Hawks 8:00pm EST

Sunday --

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

EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Palm Beach Hawks 12:15pm 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!