Bruins Set for Wilmington Return With Lockout Agreement in Place

For hockey fans, it's been a seemingly never ending nightmare. But according to reports, that changed on Sunday.

The National Hockey League is heading back to work, and the Boston Bruins will likely soon be heading back to Wilmington.

According to multiple reports, the NHL and NHL Players Association worked through a lengthy negotiation on Saturday night into Sunday morning to get a deal done on a new collective bargaining agreement.

As a result, a shortened season is likely to begin on January 19. 

“I’m just happy this madness is over so I can get back to work,” Bruins forward and enforcer Shawn Thornton told Joe Haggerty of Comcast Sportsnet New England.

Haggerty also reported that the once the deal is ratified by the NHL Board of Governors and the NHLPA, there will be a brief training camp and a season that is potentially up to 50 games long.

There is no word yet when the Bruins may hold their first practice at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington, their official practice facility for at least the next year.

On Twitter, Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference said that with a tentative agreement in place, all the players can do is try to win fans back with their play on the ice.

"As players we can now do what we do best. Proudly pull on our jerseys and play with complete passion for our cities and fans," Ference tweeted. "I hope that we can replace the intense negativity brought on our sport with a reminder of how great it can be when the action is on the ice."