Many of the parents accompanying their hockey-playing children for the start of this morning's minor league hockey festival at the Bell Centre were unaware that the NHL and the Players' Assocation had come to a tentative agreement to end the lockout, just a few hours earlier.

It was news to Eric, one of the hockey dads attending the festival,

"This is the best place to hear the news, here at the Bell Centre."

The musical strains of "Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole" greated these Bantam and Pee-Wee aged players, who have been taking part in this weekend festival at ends at 10 tonight.

Outside the Bell Centre, Will, who was attending to the parking lot just across the street from the home of the Habs, was relieved to hear the owners and players had settled.

"It feels good.  Business was down pretty dramatically.  For example, last night we were supposed to have a match against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Instead of having a full parking lot we had an empty parking lot."

Down the way at Rubens Deli on Stanley and Ste. Catherine, Manager Alex Riven, said the impact of the lockout on business was staggering.

"Having the lockout resolved is huge," said Riven.  "For us it's finally a breath of relief."