[Devils-list] ACC scares Devil out of players

[John Lopez]

ACC scares Devil out of players

By MIKE ZEISBERGER, TORONTO SUN
  Scott Stevens is worried about his team's safety at the Air Canada Centre.

But his concerns have nothing to do with the fierce hitting taking place on
the ice between the Maple Leafs and the New Jersey Devils.

Stevens is perturbed at the access fans have to players in the hallways
between the visitors bench and their dressing room. Players must stroll
along a winding path that leads them past a number of private boxes in the
bowels of the two-year-old downtown rink.

The issue arose after an unruly fan yelled at Stevens while the Devils
captain was doing a post-game television interview in the corridor outside
the New Jersey dressing room. As security guards quickly ushered the yahoo
away, he continued to berate Stevens.

"You're joking if you think you are going to beat the Leafs!" the fan
screamed. "Canada rules and you don't!"

For the record, Stevens is a native of Kitchener.

"They have arguably the best fans in the league here," Stevens said after
the Devils' 3-2 overtime win over the Leafs. "But how can people be allowed
to have access like that?

"I don't understand why people can be that close to the players. It's a
long, unusual walk because you have to go past all those people.

"I have the utmost respect for the fans here, but all it takes is one person
who is out of control. It is a potentially dangerous situation."