Bruins, together again, hit the ice at Agganis Arena

BOSTON (WHDH) -- A sight for sore eyes -- many of the Boston Bruins were back on the ice Monday morning.

The lockout is over. The deal still needs to be signed, but the NHL could be playing games by next week.

“We’re fans as much as anybody else, it drove us crazy to be locked out,” said Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference.

After 113 days of locked-out hockey, the Bruins took the ice at Agganis Arena at Boston University for an informal practice.

“It just seems like a big weight has been lifted off everyone’s shoulders and everyone’s just excited,” said Bruins forward Milan Lucic.

“Words can’t describe, just from hanging out with the guys to just seeing everyone and obviously the game -- it’s been a long couple months,” said Bruins forward Tyler Seguin.

“The good thing is we can put everything behind us -- I missed playing in front of the fans, the Boston fans, I love being in Boston,” said Bruins forward Gregory Campbell.

The Bruins were together again after an extended off season, saying it felt like the first day of school.

“It felt like it too, so it’s probably the best way to put it. You’re happy to get back to school and see all your friends,” said Lucic.

The Bruins plan to take advantage of the bond their team has built moving forward.

“We are lucky because we have a team that’s very familiar with one another and has been together pretty much two, 2.5 years now, that will benefit us as well,” said Campbell.

As the Bruins regroup, they plan to repair their relationship with their fans.

“I feel sorry. I want to apologize just for everything that happened, but hopefully we can move forward from here. We’re going to play our hearts out the next 48 games here, I think it is, and do it for the fans out there,” said Seguin.

“As the seasons move on I think that we will win the fans back, and hopefully we do,” said Campbell.

Players at Monday's informal practice included Tuukka Rask, Ference, Adam McQuaid, Lucic, Seguin, Brad Marchand, Campbell and Shawn Thornton. The Bruins will continue to practice at Agganis Arena throughout the week.

There are reports the league has circulated a memo to teams telling them to be ready to play by Jan. 19. That is the date the shortened season is most likely to start. It's looking more likely that teams will play a 48-game season. There had been some hope when the tentative deal was reached Sunday morning that a 50-game season might be possible.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.