“To our fans, who love and have missed NHL hockey, I’m sorry,” says Gary Bettman in a press conference last week. “I know that an explanation or an apology will not erase the hard feelings that have built up over the past few months, but I owe you an apology nevertheless.”

Bettman addressed the public on January 9^th, apologizing for the delayed start of the 2012-2013 NHL season. A total of 510 games were missed, including The Winter Classic between Toronto and Detroit, and the All-Star game. The league and the players association reached a deal earlier this month, which officially ended the second lockout in less than 10 years, and will allow for the puck to drop this weekend to start the 2013 season.

The home openers for most of the league will be this weekend, and teams have hit the ice to take on training camps, and prepare for the condensed 48 game season. The Toronto Maple Leafs opened their doors to the public this week, inviting fans to see their team practice for free. Despite the full house at the MasterCard Centre, not all fans were excited to see the team back in action.

Long-time Leafs fan and season ticket holder Alicia Sayani says she is frustrated by “the fighting over the money split of the revenue between the NHL and the players association.” She will not be attending games at all this year, saying, “you locked us out, it’s our turn to lock you out.”

Fans have been divided: some are counting down the days until the season officially starts, others agree with Sayani and have no interest in supporting the NHL this year.

However, when it comes to local businesses the reaction to the lockout end is a positive one.

“People will get excited for the first couple of weeks, especially this year with them coming back,” says Frisco’s Eatery owner John Drysdale. “Then obviously if the Leafs make the playoff run, that’s huge and that will bring out big crowds.”

Fans can head on over to their local sports bar to enjoy (or boycott) one of the 13 games that will start the season on January 19^th.