Sunset Hills (KSDK) -- The National Hockey League is now one week into a lockout as labor disputes between team owners and players continue.  But for St. Louis' Blues fans and amateur players, there's a reason this holdup may actually make them happy.

Few things make more noise at Johnny Mac's than a little three-on-one shopping trip: Dad vs. his boys.  But starting this week, kids like those will have quite a bit of competition.

While you've always been able to get your ice skates sharpened there, NHL lockout fallout has left St. Louis in luck.

"It's different but I'm a people person," said Bert Godin, the Blues' head equipment manager, about his new job. "I love my business 'cause I meet so many people and this gives me the opportunity to meet even more people."

As of Monday morning, he goes full-time at Johnny Mac's Sporting Goods store.  For forty hours a week, he'll be there helping out, sharpening skates and training other employees on his techniques.

"It's kind of a bummer, right, 'cause he should be behind the bench right now getting our guys ready to go on the ice, but we're glad he's here because we're here today," said that father of three boys, Shannon Zimmerman.

And since the sign outside the store says there are openings, you'll see others.  One of Godin's assistants will be doing the same job at the Swansea store.

 

"For him to meet somebody that's in that professional organization, I think he's already expressed interest in hockey, we're probably gonne get skates today, I'm sure," Zimmerman added about his nine-year-old son meeting Godin.

Godin went on to say that that's his new goal during the lockout: to grow hockey and its St. Louis fan base even if, right now, the professionals and their skates are sitting on the sidelines.