^[1]Nashville, TN -  The National Hockey League has announced that there will be hockey in 2013, and the Nashville Predators ^[2] are getting ready to return to “Smashville.”

Fans turned out to watch the Predators hold an impromptu work-out on Sunday at the A-Game Sportsplex in Nashville, and there was plenty of excitement in the air.   Players are expected to hold organized team practices as soon as the new contract between the league and the player’s association is signed.  The lockout lasted 113 days and it’s unclear when Nashville will play it’s first game. Both the NHL and Player’s Association are working on either a 50 or 48 game schedule, starting no later than January 19th.  They normally play an 82 game schedule.  NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has already cancelled games through January 14th, but there could be an announcement soon on when they will resume.

On Sunday, Predator defensive stand-out Hal Gill told the Nashville Tennessean, “It’s not fair what we’ve done to the fans.  I’m upset, and I can only imaging what they’re going through.  But with that being said, it’s a necessary part of the business.  It’s over with.”

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Nashville Predators Defenseman Shea Weber

Shea Weber told the paper, “Guys are excited.  They can’t wait to get back into the swing of things and get into a routine.  We’re just used to playing this time of the year.

Judging from the fan reaction Sunday, there’s still plenty of excitement over their Predators, and plenty of cheers and applause greeted players as they took to the ice.

Predators front office officials have not made an official comment about the negotiations, and the apparent resolution to the player’s union, but they’re expected to address the fans as soon as the ink dries on the new contract.