There’s an extremely good chance that you’ve already heard the news. The NHL and NHLPA have reached a tentative agreement that would end the lockout. We may have gone 9 months without Lightning hockey, but that’s coming to a close. Our boys are coming back and games will get going very soon.

It’s been an extremely tumultuous 2013 for NHL fans so far. From no talks to talks that seemed to reach an impasse to today’s jubilant reactions. What better to illustrate the fan’s experience than through internet memes?

As the new year dawned, there was little progress. Neither side was positive a deal would be done. Most of us had pretty much transformed into Grumpy Cat and just stopped caring.

Later in the week, the two sides met. And worked with a mediator. And kept working on the problem at hand. We refused to let hope grow in our hearts. They would probably just crush our dreams like the last time, right?

After months of back posturing, the news started trickling in yesterday that progress was being made on key issues. It was completely baffling. Fast forward to this morning and…

The agreement was announced. It took a while to get past disbelief and betrayal, but the excitement is finally starting to come. My team will be back on the ice soon. I’ll be back in my seat, back to my game day traditions, back to seeing all of the people you see at the arena. All the little stuff that helps to make it even more special.

Now I’m pretty much like:

The NHL is back. The season is saved. If that doesn’t deserve this, I don’t know what does.