When the news broke Sunday that the National Hockey League would reconvene in time for an abbreviated season, the excitement rippled through the farthest corners of the hockey community.
Die-hard NHL fans like Penn State forward Jenna Welch, woke up Sunday feeling as if Christmas had been delayed to Jan. 6th.
"I woke up to [the news] from Twitter and texts. It was very exciting," Welch said.
For freshman blueliner Stephanie Walkom, the NHL labor resolution hit especially close to home.
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement means her father, Stephen, an NHL referee who saw action in both the 2010 and 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, gets to return to work.
"He's enjoyed the time he's been able to spend with my family, but I'm glad my dad gets to go back to work," Stephanie said.
But, the many fans who have withstood the back-and-forth bantering between NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr, and their respective sides, have seen a greedy perspective of their beloved sport.
"I think there was a little selfishness on both sides," said junior netminder and Vancouver Canucks fan Nicole Paniccia.
While she prefers watching college hockey, Penn State defender Jordin Pardoski admitted "it will be awesome to watch the pros play again."
Coach Josh Brandwene suspected a fully locked out 2012-2013 season would have been troublesome for the growing league.
"It's good for the game of hockey that we're going to have an NHL season," coach Josh Brandwene said. "I was very concerned at the prospect that it might not happen."
Hit with its second labor stoppage since the 2004-2005 season, the NHL was faced with yet another road block on the long road to prominence in the athletic community.
"I'm glad the NHL is back. It helps the game continue to grow in North America," Brandwene said.
Welch, an Austin, Texas native, voiced her unconditional support for the sport that brought her to Penn State.
"It can be frustrating to see," Welch said. "But it's my sport and I'll always have passion for the game. So, it's hard to lose faith."
