It's Friday

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

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Today is December 7th, the 342nd day of 2012. There are 24 days left in the year.

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NHLPA proposal rejected; no talks scheduled.

Owners' statements on CBA talks.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Actress Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist, Same Time Next Year) is 80; singer/actor Tom Waits is 63; Jennifer Carpenter (Debra Morgan on Dexter) is 33.

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U.S. National Sled Team Advances to Championship Game of World Sledge Hockey Challenge with 4-1 Win Over Norway Team USA to Play Canada or Japan on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET CALGARY, Alberta – The U.S. National Sled Team advanced to the championship game of the 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge with a 4-1 win over Norway here today at the WinSport Canada Ice Complex. Daniel McCoy(Cheswick, Pa.) scored two goals and picked up player of the game honors for the U.S. "I was very pleased today," said Jeff Sauer, head coach of the U.S. National Sled Team. "Offensively we were able to put the put on the net. I was pleased with the win. Now we're playing for a championship and that's what it's all about." Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.Y.) opened the scoring at 12:38 of the first period. Pauls cycled in the right corner, exchanging passes with Greg Shaw (Merrit Island, Fla.) and Alexi Salamone (Buffalo, N.Y.), before breaking free in the slot and scoring glove-side. Just 19 seconds later, Kevin McKee (Davenport, Iowa) gave the U.S., a 2-0 lead with assists to Salamone and Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.). Less than five minutes into the second stanza, Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.) connected with McCoy to put the U.S. up by three. Farmer carried the puck into the Norwegian zone, circled back along the boards and found McCoy open in the slot for the tally. Norway responded on the power play at the 8:46 mark, cutting the U.S. lead to 3-1. In the final frame, the U.S. continued its offensive pressure, out-shooting Norway 10-3. At 11:23, McCoy notched his second goal to secure the win for the United States. Team USA goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) made seven saves in the victory, while Kristian Buen turned in a 36-stop performance for Norway. The U.S. will now face the winner of tonight's contest between Canada and Japan in the championship game Saturday (Dec. 8), at 7:00 p.m. EST. A full schedule is below. For complete World Sledge Hockey Challenge coverage, click here. FASTHockey will provide live streaming coverage for all tournament games. Those interested in watching should sign up for a free account in advance at USAHockey.FASTHockey.com. NOTES: Daniel McCoy was named player of the game for the U.S. ... For the complete U.S. tournament roster, clickhere ... The World Sledge Hockey Challenge is in its sixth year. Its official website is available here ... Jeff Sauer(Madison, Wis.), former men's ice hockey head coach at the University of Wisconsin, is the head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, while Guy Gosselin (Grafton, Wis.) is the assistant coach ... Follow @USAHockey and@USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament and join the conversation by using #WSHC. For additional coverage, visit usahockey.com and USA Hockey's Facebook ... Taylor Lipsett (Plano, Texas) is missing the tournament due to injury. Billy Hanning (Festus, Mo.) has been called up from the U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team ... Dan Brennan is the general manager for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team ... The U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team for the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia, will be chosen next summer. Game Summary Scoring By Period 1 2 3 Total NOR 0 1 0 1 USA 2 1 1 4 First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Pauls (Shaw, Salamone), 12:38; 2, USA, McKee (Salamone, Landeros), 12:57. Penalties: None. Second Period - Scoring: 3, USA, McCoy (Farmer), 4:29; 4, NOR, Klakegg (Vaernes), 8:46 (pp). Penalties: USA, Page (roughing), 8:40. Third Period - Scoring: 5, USA, McCoy (unassisted), 11:23. Penalties: NOR, Klakegg (holding), 0:16. Shots By Period 1 2 3 Total NOR 0 5 3 8 USA 15 15 10 40 Goaltenders (SV/SH) 1 2 3 Total NOR, Buen, 45:00 13/15 14/15 9/10 36/40 USA, Cash, 45:00 0/0 4/5 3/3 7/8 Power play: NOR, 1-1; USA, 0-1 Penalties: NOR, 1-2; USA, 1-2 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge Dec. 2-8 • Calgary, Alta. • WinSport Canada Ice Complex Date Opponent Time (Local/EST)/Result Sun., Dec. 2 Norway W, 3-1 Mon., Dec. 3 Japan W, 8-0 Wed., Dec. 5 Canada L, 1-2 Thurs., Dec. 6 Norway W, 4-1 Sat., Dec. 8 Championship Game 5 p.m./7 p.m. Twenty-Five Americans Selected to Officiate at 2013 IIHF World Championships COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Twenty-five American officials have been selected to serve as referees or linesmen for major International Ice Hockey Federation events in 2012-13, USA Hockey announced today. "We have always taken pride in the caliber of person and official that has been selected to represent USA Hockey on the world stage," said Matt Leaf, director of USA Hockey's officiating education program. "The commitment this group has made to perfect the art of officiating has established them as the best officials not only domestically, but at the global level." American officials will take part in 16 IIHF events in 2013, including the IIHF Women's World Championship in Ottawa, Canada; the IIHF World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia; the IIHF Men's Under-18 World Championship in Sochi, Russia; the IIHF Women's Under-18 World Championship in Vierumjaki, Finland; and men's and women's Olympic qualification competitions. Officials assigned to the IIHF World Championships this year include Dina Allen (Wheatfield, N.Y.), Alicia Hanrahan(South St. Paul, Minn.), and Laura Johnson (Rochester, N.Y.), all who officiated at the 2012 IIHF World Women's Championships. Additionally, Tom Chmielewski (Colorado Springs, Colo.), an official at the inaugural CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, will be working at the IIHF Men's Under-20 World Championship Division I, Group A, while David Brown (Neptune, N.J.) will work in Budapest, Hungary, at the Men's Division I, Group A tournament. A full list of American officials and their respective events is below. American Officials Assigned to the 2013 IIHF World Championships 2013 Women's Olympic Pre-Qualification Jastrzebie, Poland • Sept. 27-30, 2012 Name Hometown Role Leah O'Brien Vail, Colo. Referee 2013 Women's Olympic Pre-Qualification Shanghai, China • Nov. 8-11, 2012 Name Hometown Role Erin Blair Hoffman Estates, Ill. Referee Michaela Frattarelli Bristol, R.I. Linesman 2013 Men's Olympic Pre-Qualification Nikko, Japan • Nov. 9-11, 2012 Name Hometown Role Peter Feola Rochester, N.Y. Referee Paul Carnathan Lilburn, Ga. Linesman 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship Division I, Group A Amiens, France • Dec. 9-15, 2012 Name Hometown Role Tom Chmielewski Colorado Springs, Colo. Referee 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship Ufa, Russia • Dec. 26, 2012 - Jan. 5, 2013 Name Hometown Role Harry Dumas Blue Anchor, N.J. Referee Steve Patafie Bethlehem, Ga. Referee Thomas George Monrovia, Md. Linesman 2013 IIHF Women's Under-18 World Championship Vierumjaki, Finland • Dec. 29, 2012 - Jan. 5, 2013 Name Hometown Role Jerilyn Glenn St. Paul, Minn. Referee Andrea Weissman North Grafton, Mass. Linesman 2013 IIHF Women's Under-18 World Championship Division I Romanshorn, Switzerland • Jan. 2-8, 2013 Name Hometown Role Kendall Hanley Allen, Texas Referee 2013 Men's Olympic Final Qualification Vojens, Denmark • Feb. 7-10, 2013 Name Hometown Role Shane Warschaw Altadena, Calif. Referee 2013 Women's Olympic Final Qualification Poprad, Slovakia • Feb. 7-10, 2013 Name Hometown Role Dina Allen Wheatfield, N.Y. Referee 2013 Women's Olympic Final Qualification Weiden, Germany • Feb. 7-10, 2013 Name Hometown Role Alicia Hanrahan South St. Paul, Minn. Linesman 2013 IIHF Men's Under-18 World Championship Division III, Group A Taipei City, Chinese Taipei • March 11-17, 2013 Name Hometown Role Judson Ritter Bethlehem, Pa. Linesman 2013 IIHF Women's World Championship Ottawa, Canada • April 2-9, 2013 Name Hometown Role Kristine Langley Richfield, Minn. Referee Kate Connolly Philadelphia, Pa. Linesman Laura Johnson Rochester, N.Y. Linesman 2013 IIHF Women's World Championship Division I, Group A Stavanger, Norway • April 7-13, 2013 Name Hometown Role Katie Guay Dedham, Mass. Referee 2013 IIHF Women's World Championship Division II, Group A Auckland, New Zealand • April 8-14, 2013 Name Hometown Role Melissa Szkola Harrison Township, Mich. Referee Jacqueline Spresser Westminster, Colo. Linesman 2013 IIHF Men's World Championship Division I, Group A Budapest, Hungary • April 14-20, 2013 Name Hometown Role David Brown Neptune, N.J. Linesman 2013 IIHF Men's Under-18 World Championship Sochi, Russia • April 18-28, 2013 Name Hometown Role Timothy Mayer Okemos, Mich. Referee Fraser McIntyre Amherst, N.Y. Linesman NOTES: Steve Patafie (Bethlehem, Ga.) also served as an official at the 2012 IIHF Men's World Championship.Harry Dumas (Blue Anchor, N.J.), Thomas George (Monrovia, Md.), and Shane Warschaw (Altadena, Calif.) have all worked at the IIHF Men's Under-18 World Championship ... Five officials have played collegiate hockey, includingDina Allen (Wheatfield, N.Y./Princeton University), Erin Blair (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Findlay University), Jerilyn Glenn(St. Paul, Minn./University of Minnesota), Kristine Langley (Richfield, Minn./Wayne State University), and Katie Guay(Dedham, Mass./Brown University) ... Six officials have been selected to their first assignment at the IIHF World Championships, including Michaela Frattarelli (Bristol, R.I.), Tom Chmielewski (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Kendall Hanley (Allex, Texas), Judson Ritter (Bethlehem, Pa.), Melissa Szkola (Harrison Township, Mich.), and Timothy Mayer (Okemos, Mich.). USA Hockey Announces Staff Promotions, New Hire COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey today announced the promotion of three members of its national office staff as well as the hiring of Lynn Irby as bookkeeper and administratitve assistant. Kevin Erlenbach has been promoted to director of membership development. Erlenbach has been part of USA Hockey’s staff for almost seven years, with his first three years working in adult hockey before joining the membership development department in March 2009. In addition, Karen Hackman, an 18-year member of the USA Hockey staff, has been promoted to manager of insurance and employee benefits, while Pam McCraw, who began her career at USA Hockey in 1990, has been elevated to director of accounting. Irby began her duties as bookkeeper and administrative assistant at USA Hockey on Monday (Dec. 3), replacing Yvette Dodge. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in administrative and financial work, including more than 14 years at Colorado Springs Utilities.

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Have you seen the trailer for the new Star Trek movie? [Spock returns to his home planet to fight to the death for the hand of a Kardashian.]

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Corvallis, OR. -- As part of a renewed commitment to create stronger relationships with supporters and provide an increased focus on philanthropic giving, the Oregon State Athletics Development office is moving in a new direction - starting with a new name for its annual giving program. Effective immediately, the Beaver Athletic Student Fund will be Our Beaver Nation.

Read the rest here.

Visit the Oregon State Athletics department official web site.

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A start-up company is offering rides to the moon. Book your seat now -- for $750 million. The company will use existing space hardware for commercial lunar missions. A two-person lunar mission, complete with moonwalking, would cost $1.5 billion.

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CFL releases list of 2013 potential free agents.

Ottawa group ready to play the name game.

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

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NUMBER FOR THE DAY - 236: Number of extra calories we consume on Saturdays.

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Tampa, FL. —The Buccaneers’ 2002 Super Bowl Championship team will reunite this weekend, and we’re counting down the days with a series of articles remembering that unforgettable season.

Read the rest here.

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Here's a survey telling us something we already know: When it comes to shopping for gifts, men are the worst. Men push the deadline, bargain less, and spend too much. Ten percent of guys plan to wrap up their Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve.

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Look Mommy....Monkeys in the trunk!

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Beats Buccaneer home games being blacked out, doesn't it?

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Today in Elvis History

1976 - Vernon Presley was taken to the hospital after an Elvis concert. He left the hospital two days later after what appeared to be a heart attack.

1976 - Elvis Presley wrote a note, that was later found in his room, that explained his desperate mental state.

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Leslie Richard Newton was pulled over in Florida the other night for driving his grey Camaro with a traffic sign in his head. Yes, embedded in his head. The 63-year-old struck a traffic sign and continued driving, though a piece of the sign broke through his car's T-top and into his head. He was pulled over and taken to the hospital.

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Today in Beatles History:

1963 - The Beatles appeared on the British TV show "Jukebox Jury."

1971 - The Wings album "Wild Life" was released.

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TLC is wasting no time in making money off the pregnancy of Kate Middleton. The network has announced a special titled William and Kate: A Royal Baby Story, to air December 16.

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Today in Sports History:

1925 - Swimmer Johnny Weissmuller set a world record in the 150-yard freestyle with a time of 1 minute, 25 and 2/5 seconds. He went on to play "Tarzan" in several movies.

1939 - Lou Gehrig was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame. He was the first player to have the rule waived that required a player to be retired one year before he could be elected.

1963 - CBS introduced the first-ever "Instant Replay" during the Army-Navy football game.

1978 - Mike Bossy (New York Islanders) got his first career hat trick.

1986 - Huey Lewis and the News sang the U.S. national anthem a capella before a San Francisco 49ers-New York Jets NFL football game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CA.

1988 - The Texas Rangers signed free-agent pitcher Nolan Ryan to a one-year contract.

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YOU SHOULD WATCH THIS - The new Star Trek trailer.

YOU SHOULD ALSO WATCH THIS - With your kid.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --


Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Palm Beach Hawks 4:00pm EST

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

Sunday --


Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Palm Beach Hawks 10:00am EST

EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Palm Beach Hawks 12:15pm EST

NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles 1:00pm EST

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