Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock speaks to his team during the first day of NHL hockey training camp. The Blues open their season at home Jan. 19, against the Detroit Red Wings. (Photo: Scott Neer/TSN Photography)

There is no place I’d rather be on a Sunday afternoon in January than hanging out with friends at St. Louis Blues hockey practice … at 14th and Clark. Hockey is back!

With the NHL lockout finally behind us and the regular season just around the corner, the 2012 Central Division Champion St. Louis blues opened training camp this morning in front of an exuberant crowd of 5,500 fans at the Scottrade Center. Clearly the lockout did not keep the local NHL crazed fans away from hockey practice.

Several times during practice the fans broke out into “Lets Go Blues” chants, holding up the signs and posters that they brought with them. There is definitely no love lost between hockey and its fans.

With only 90 minutes of hockey under my belt, I am not ready to make any predictions as of right now, but I must say I am more than ready for the puck to drop!

Here are some training camp photos from local sports photographer Scott Neer of TSN Photography:

LETS GO BLUES!