Theoren Fleury is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL), Tappara of the SM-liiga, and the Belfast Giants of the Elite Ice Hockey League. One of the smallest players of his generation, Fleury played a physical style that often led to altercations; he was at the centre of the infamous Punch-up in Piestany, a brawl that resulted in the disqualification of Canada and the Soviet Union from the 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was selected 166th overall by the Flames in the 1987 draft and played over 1,000 NHL games between 1989 and 2003. A seven-time all-star, Fleury scored over 1,000 points in his NHL career and won the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989. He twice represented Canada at the Winter Olympics, winning a gold medal in 2002. He battled drug and alcohol addictions throughout his career, and in his 2009 autobiography Playing with Fire made allegations that he had been sexually abused by former coach Graham James. Since overcoming his addictions, Fleury has become a businessman, played two professional baseball games for the Calgary Vipers and embarked on a career as a motivational speaker encouraging sexual abuse victims to speak out.
Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theoren_Fleury
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1149:
Second Crusade: An army led by Nur ad-Din Zangi destroyed the forces of Antioch led by Prince Raymond in the Battle of Inab. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Inab
1444:
Albanians led by Skanderbeg scored a resounding victory in their rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Torvioll. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Torvioll
1950:
In one of the greatest upsets in sporting history, the United States defeated England during the 1950 FIFA World Cup. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_v_United_States_%281950%29
1974:
Isabel Perón was sworn in as the first female President of Argentina, replacing her ill husband Juan Perón, who died two days later. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabel_Mart%C3%ADnez_de_Per%C3%B3n
1985:
The European Economic Community adopted the Flag of Europe , a flag previously adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Europe
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
defray (v): To pay or discharge (a debt, expense etc.); to meet (the cost of something) http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/defray
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
What though our eyes with tears be wet?
The sunrise never failed us yet. The blush of dawn may yet restore
Our light and hope and joy once more.
Sad soul, take comfort, nor forget That sunrise never failed us yet! --Celia Thaxter http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Celia_Thaxter