NHL Lockout 2012: Players Forced To Rent Ice Time To Train

With the NHL lockout in its second day, the members of the league's players association have been left to their own devices to continue training for the 2012-13 season, whenever and wherever that ultimately ends up being. For some, that means signing contracts with foreign teams overseas. For others, it means remaining in North America training at their team's practice rinks.

Since the players are locked out, they are not allowed to use the teams' facilities (weight rooms, locker rooms, etc). However, they are allowed to rent the ice just like any regular citizen can, which is what several groups of players are doing.

Scott Hartnell of the Philadelphia Flyers rented out the ice surface at the team's practice facility in Voorhees, New Jersey every day this week so that he and a group of his teammates could continue training. Eight members of the Washington Capitals followed suit as did several members of the Florida Panthers and a contingent of Tampa Bay Lightning players rented out the club's practice rink at the Ice Sports Forum.

Toronto Maple Leafs all-star forward Phil Kessel was seen carrying his own laundry out of a public locker room during an informal practice on Tuesday. While renting ice time and doing their own laundry isn't a problem for the players, they hope they won't have to do it for too long.

Via NBC Washington:

"It's obviously weird, but going into it, we knew that if something didn't get done, this was going to be our life for hopefully just a little bit," forward Jay Beagle said, bucket of pucks lying next to his feet. "It's not a surprise that we've got to carry our own pucks and waters and rent our own ice, but obviously, it's not ideal."

For a full list of confirmed and rumored transfers, click here. For more on the NHL lockout, continue to check out this Storystream and SB Nation's NHL hub, which will have all the latest news and updates.