Winter's here. Time to wrap yourself in your Jackets again.

The National Hockey League lockout ended today. Hockey will be back at Nationwide Arena before you know it.

There are bitter, dis-enfranchised fans who have vowed not to return.

And, there are the rest of us.

It's time to embrace the game and the team again. You don't have to move back in with the Blue Jackets. You can start by meeting for lunch or a coffee and gradually move up from there.

But your game is back.

Columbus needs the Blue Jackets more than it realizes.

While the town will always be a Buckeye town, Columbus needs the Blue Jackets and all the wonderful things the organization brings to town.

Being a "major league" city may not be important to everyone but the imapct of having a pro sports team in town should be.

We can argue revenue vs. expenses all day but the fact is the Blue Jackets presence in this town has meant growth.

Growth in the form of an arena district that didn't exist 12 years ago. Growth in the form of businesses that dind't exist 12 years ago. Growth in the form of youth hockey programs that didn't exist 12 years ago. Growth in the perception of Columbus as something other than a college town.

There are people who don't like to watch hockey, but everyone benefits from growth.

So, welcome back Blue Jackets. Welcome back NHL.  We missed you.