TAMPA, FL – APRIL 25: A Tampa Bay Lightning fan yells at the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the St. Pete Times Forum on April 25, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)

So everyone in the hockey world knows by now that the lockout is over. Players are ready to get back on the ice, and fans are prepared to watch their beloved game. Or are they? The biggest question remaining from this lockout other than player conditioning is in regards to fan reception; what will it be? Some have speculated that the players might be booed as the skate out onto the ice for the opening games. Others say fans will not show up in big numbers as they did before the labor debacle. So what will it be? Other than the actual hockey games, I think the most interesting aspect to look at will be fan reactions. There may not be a conclusion to how fans have reacted until after this abbreviated season is over. When final attendance numbers are released in early summer (maybe mid-summer this season) we will be able to hypothesize whether the lockout had a negative effect on the NHL fan base or not. Maybe we will see the booing of players during opening day games, which would be outrageous in my eyes. The most realistic expectation is a drop in fan attendance. There is no way the NHL will receive the same attention after a lockout as frustrating as this one. Not only that, but some fans may be turned off by a 48 game season (set to begin on the 19th of this month). One cannot realistically expect all fans to return with the same enthusiasm as they did before the labor dispute. Diehard fans like myself, our other staff writers, and our close followers will likely return as though nothing happened. We are hungry to watch, and it would be nearly impossible for a passionate fan to stay away from the game. However, the NHL will lose the less connected fans, if they have not already, to other professional sports that have actually been playing games.

Follow me on Twitter: @Gabriel0430

What does however set hockey, or more specifically the Tampa Bay Lightning, out from the rest is the players themselves and their surprising willingness if not actual want to interact with their fans.  Sure, every team in every sport has at least that one guy who really tries to make an effort to be an all-star in the community that they play in because they like to, not because their franchise is demanding that they do so.  But the majority of the Lightning gentlemen seem take ‘All In’ to heart as they go out of their way to repay the fans personally for the support they’ve selflessly given to propel players career into super star status in the Tampa Bay area and beyond.  Whether it’s a friendly hello in passing or a player is actually on time to one of said publicity op’s, our lovely Lightning are more than often willing to take a quick photo or step beyond their public obligations.  Maybe the Lightning players are different from other Tampa Bay athletes because they’re consistently isolated by fans during their games.  It’s just a theory, but unlike players similar to Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays who can run over and sign a few balls no sweat before a game starts, hockey players feel the need to compensate for that slight disconnect.  Trust me, I’ve been to plenty of autograph signings for athletes and musicians, but in my experience the Lightning are least likely to keep their fans waiting and don’t mind standing up in the least to wrap their arms around a fan for a cute photo that’s bound to end up on someone’s Christmas card.

And now I would like to officially welcome you all to the complete Twitter revolution, more than just the Twitter boom that got Steven Stamkos and Vincent Leavalier on board.  In the last hockey season we have witnessed an influx of some of our favorite bolts arriving on the Twitter season who are more than happy to share some intimate details of their lives or even chat up a fan or too.  Each player offers us the fans an exclusive digital connection to their everyday life.  Although some of the guys might not be too keen on filling us in on such tedious information (like what they ate for breakfast) most of them genuinely put their best skate forward when it comes to nurturing their Twitter accounts.  Sure, I can’t promise each account is ran by the boys in blue themselves (I have suspicions Stammer might not be the only one typing run of the mill updates from time to time) but for the most part I’d truly like to applaud them on their ‘technological advances’ for the good of their fans.  I can guarantee you, a Twitter account is not in their contracts.

Without further ado I’d like to present you with Liberty’s 2012 Tampa Bay Lightning Twitter awards!

(If any of the winners are reading this, yes I will make trophies upon request.)

Most likely to attend Twitter rehab: @Commie22

…somethings are better left to texting or direct message’s.  While I applaud him for his avid Twitter updates, toning it down might be beneficial– athletes have stalkers.

Funniest updates: @TeddyPurcell16

I hope he never stops tweeting.

Most foreign: @Heds77

Wishing I spoke Swedish right now (like every time I see his tweets), however there’s always Google Translate…

Most sincere: @NateThompson44

Thompson’s basically a Twitter alumni by now, he updates when he wants and doesn’t seem forced.  It’s much appreciated.

Best Twitter comeback: @S9Downie

Although no longer a bolt (insert frownie face here) Downie was at the time of this tweet.  I was walking home one day when I saw this and doubled over laughing… on the sidewalk… on the side of a busy road… anyway, lesson learned: don’t mess with Downie.

Ps. Please come back to the Twitter world!!!!

Honorable mention:

@Bruno_Gervais27, a close second for most foreign and informative, timely updates.  Just needs watch his spam… weight loss tweets, really?

@KAulie59, his bio says “Fishing and country music,” can’t be a bad guy.  He tweets a lot, I approve.

@BConnolly8, again he tweets a lot, which is good compared to those who severely neglect their Twitters.  But his tweets are often fairly informative, a ton of good hockey information.