Philadelphia Flyers fans crowd the lobby of the team’s practice site in Voorhees, N.J.(Photo: Tom Mihalek, AP)
PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall said being back in an NHL environment felt like it was “Christmas and you were a kid again.”
Players from 30 NHL teams probably had similar feelings Sunday as training camps opened in anticipation of Saturday’s start of the abbreviated 2012-13 NHL season.
“I’m so excited just to get going again,” Kronwall said. “It was a great feeling to see all of the fans out there.”
About 2,000 fans showed up at Compuware Arena to watch the Red Wings hold two practices, a positive sign for a league that had some concern about fan backlash over the 119-day lockout.
Fans seemed to be showing up around the league. There was an overflow crowd of about 3,000 fans at the Flyers’ practicein Voorhees, N.J. The team had to close off the parking lot, and some fans had to wait in the lobby for others to leave before they were let in.
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“It was like we were walking into a home game,” Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette said. “It was really great to see that, to be honest. You kind of expected that from Flyers fans. … You knew that they’d be out and they’d be happy to see the guys back on the ice.”
The Columbus Blue Jackets drew a standing room-only crowd of 1,200, and it was believed to be the largest gathering they have ever had for a first day of training camp.
In Pittsburgh, Penguins players raised their sticks to the crowd, and fans responded with their “Let’s go Pens” chant.
For Red Wings fans, it was their first time to see their team since it was knocked out in the first round on April 20.
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Kronwall said he is glad that he doesn’t have to hear the words CBA, lockout and negotiations anymore.
“It’s been a frustrating fall,” he said. “A lot of ups and downs. There were times when I thought it was done and times when I thought the whole season was lost. It feels good to have it behind us.”
The whole day seemed more like a fan fest than a first day of training camp. But with a 48-game season starting on Saturday, coaches were getting down to business early. The Flyers play archrival Pittsburgh in the opener, and Laviolette was asked if he has already addressed his team about facing the Penguins.
“Their name came up,” Laviolette said.
