Fans excited for the return of hockey

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - In less than a week, the puck drops at First Niagara Center, ushering in the regular NHL season. Western New York is excited for the  season to begin after a long lockout.

Monday, hockey fans crowded downtown Buffalo to watch the Sabres play a scrimmage game.

"[We're] season ticket holders and didn't think we were going to see this actually. Thought for sure the season would be canceled so very, very excited to be here," said Ellen Buisch.

Scott Drzewiecki added, "We're really excited to see them back out on the ice. Looking forward to this year, we think it's going to be a good season; short season but we're excited hockey's back."

Fans packed the Sabres store, where everything is marked 50 percent off for the rest of the week as a way to say thanks to the fans who put up with the lockout.

Andy Krawczyk said, "It's nice for the Sabres to give a little back to the fans and kind of welcome hockey back."

Sabres President Ted Black welcomed fans back, saying, "It's great to see it. We have some new faces here with Steve Ott and Mikhail Grigorenko and I think that adds to a lot of the excitement, too."

Fans that came to Monday's scrimmage were able to get free parking on top of free admission. And it gave some families the opportunity to sit in some seats they may normally not be able to during the regular season.

Hockey fans are happy, but so are concession workers, clean up crews and other employees. Sabres employees were paid during the lockout, but other groups are contract workers and were not getting paid. They too are happy to have the NHL lockout over.