Column: Drop the puck, hockey is back

After a painful 113-day lockout, the NHL and its players have agreed to a deal to bring the game back for a 50-game season.

While it’s a relief to many that hockey is finally back, the aftermath of the lockout should not be forgotten.

Hockey was still gone for three months. Many vendors and workers suffered at the expense of the owners’ and the players’ inability to reach an agreement.

And the fans should not necessarily be thankful either.

Of course, in time, the fans will forget there was even a work stoppage because there will be a season. However, it must be understood that this is the third work stoppage under Commissioner Gary Bettman.

We were dangerously close to a canceled season, and Bettman did what he could to ensure hockey would not be back until next season.

He was prepared to cancel the season next week, which all but forced the owners and players to meet to save the season.

Of course, the NHL had the same type of work stoppage in the 1994-95 season, which was also shortened to 48 games, as well as the lockout of 2004-05, which resulted in a lost season.

So let’s pay homage to the owners and players, knowing they went over Bettman’s head to bring us a season.

The regular season will start Jan. 15 and run until April 13, followed by the playoffs.

­— zstavis@indiana.edu