BOSTON (AP) – Boston Bruins fans and hockey-dependent businesses who have endured a winter without major league games felt the blow Wednesday when word came down that the NHL season was officially canceled.

“It’s huge,” said Brian Ducary, kitchen manager of McGann’s Pub, half a block from the FleetCenter.

Even though Boston Celtics fans would be filling McGann’s and nearby establishments again in a few hours, the news was tough. The loss of hockey games has meant business is down by about half, he said.

“Bruins fans spend a little bit more money than the Celtics fans. The waitresses’ tips aren’t as good as they were,” Ducary said.

Bruins fans Billy and Kathy Mazzone of suburban Needham stopped by the Irish-themed pub as part of a day off in the city.

“I think it’s brutal,” Billy Mazzone said. “I feel bad for the businesses. I feel bad for the fans. Everybody suffers.”

Kathy Mazzone added, “It’s too bad that the kids have to see something like this. It shouldn’t be about money or salary.” They have two sons, 10 and 20 years old.

Billy Mazzone has been been watching college games on TV and has been to an AHL game, where he appreciated the lower ticket prices, but said it’s not the same.

“I miss the big boys,” he said. “I miss the pros.”

In a year when the Red Sox won the World Series and the Patriots took their third Super Bowl title in four seasons, the biggest on-ice moment at the FleetCenter has come from the son of a Bruins great. Boston University freshman Chris Bourque, the son of Hall-of-Fame defenseman Raymond Bourque, scored in overtime Monday night to defeat Northeastern 3-2 in the Beanpot championship.

At an afternoon news conference that followed the league’s cancellation announcement, Bruins officials also expressed their disappointment that the team won’t be taking the ice anytime soon.

“Tragic is a word that comes to mind,” team president Harry Sinden said.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the cancellation of the major league season Wednesday after last-minute negotiations failed. The league and players’ union traded a flurry of proposals and letters Tuesday night, but could never agree on a cap figure.

Sinden said it was unfortunate that union members didn’t believe what they were told about the league’s current economic situation.

“I think you will see the league and its member clubs go to work to get ready to play next season,” Sinden said. “We will come back with a product that works.”

Coach Mike Sullivan said he’d been optimistic until Wednesday afternoon that a deal could be reached between the league and the players’ union in last-minute meetings over a proposed salary cap.

“I’m first and foremost a fan,” he said.

The lock-out that has hurt nearby businesses has also brought losses to the FleetCenter, said Bruins executive vice president Richard Krezwick, who is also president and CEO of the FleetCenter. He wouldn’t disclose figures.

“For this season we’ve been a one-team building,” he said, and Celtics games supplemented by college hockey and other entertainment haven’t made up the Bruins gap.

Krezwick said the team plans to freeze ticket prices when play resumes. Season ticket buyers, who have been paid 7.7 percent interest on their deposits this year, will see that interest rate increase to 15 percent on May 1. They’ll also get 10 free tickets.

Sinden said the team knows it will have to win back some fans, but is confident it can.

The keys, he said, are “the product on the ice and they price that they have to pay.”

“We’ll go back next year, maybe. We’ll see how it goes,” Billy Mazzone said.