[Devils-list] Hockey takes a back seat to harsh reality as U.S. terrorist attacks cast a pall

[John Lopez]

No fun at Leafs camp
Hockey takes a back seat to harsh reality as U.S. terrorist attacks cast a
pall
By MIKE ZEISBERGER and LANCE HORNBY -- Toronto Sun

Tie Domi's glazed eyes reflected the sorrow and shock of the entire Maple
Leafs hockey club yesterday.

As the Leafs resident tough guy emerged from the dressing room at the Air
Canada Centre to address reporters shortly before noon, he valiantly fought
back tears.

He did not want to talk about hockey, about the newcomers who were added to
the roster during the off-season or about the opening of training camp,
which was scheduled for today in St. John's, Nfld.

"None of that matters," he said, his voice crackling with emotion. "I just
want to go home and hug my kids."

The day had started out with the 2001-02 Leafs full of hope and optimism as
they congregated at the arena to undergo medicals before winging their way
to The Rock.

But by 10 a.m., horrified players were glued to the television in the
players lounge watching as the twin towers of the World Trade Center
crumbled to the ground as part of the bloodshed that dominated the worst day
of terrorism in U.S. history.

FORCED BACK

"Everyone came here excited until we started watching the television,"
forward Darcy Tucker said.

A number of Leafs prospects were scheduled to get a head start on the rest
of the team by flying to St. John's yesterday morning, but were forced to
return to the ACC because of the imposed ban on all outgoing flights from
Pearson International Airport.

The Leafs will hit the ice this morning at 11 a.m. at Lakeshore Lions Arena.
The team remains hopeful it can leave for St. John's later in the day.

For players such as Curtis Joseph, remaining in Toronto could pose a
problem. A significant portion of the team's equipment, including Joseph's
gloves and pads, were sent out to St. John's on Sunday.

"I guess I'd have to play out," Joseph said.

Meanwhile the advance party of Leafs staff in St. John's, which included
equipment men Scott McKay and John Van Beek and community relations
personnel, quickly joined volunteers in converting the new Mile One Stadium
from hockey to a temporary shelter for displaced passengers.

More than 6,000 passengers from 30 re-routed airplanes were scheduled to be
processed at the arena last night before being dispersed into residences
throughout the community.

"We were helping register the people and make some food for them," Van Beek
said last night. "Everyone's helping out. The people here are disappointed
at what has happened, but they're hopeful there will still be (Leafs
exhibition games) on the weekend. It was pretty amazing how they turned a
rink into an eatery so quickly."

Chris Schwartz, communications manager of the AHL's St. John's Maple Leafs,
said weekend plans for training camp, which feature the annual Blue-White
game on Saturday and the much-anticipated sold-out exhibition game against
the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, have not changed as of yet.

"It's pretty smooth," Schwartz said, referring to the services being
provided to people at Mile One Stadium last night. "We have food coming out
of our ears. It's like we've been doing this type of thing all the time."

While Leafs players admit the horror of the events yesterday will be etched
on their minds for a long time, they realize that life -- and hockey -- must
go on.

"What happened was both disappointing and scary," forward Shayne Corson
said. "Everything else is trivial. A lot of guys are in shock. It was like
watching a movie. All our thoughts and prayers are with the people in the
U.S.

"If you're human, this will stick with you for a while. But training camp is
part of our job. We're paid good money to do what we do, and we have to
concentrate on doing it."

As Joseph prepared to leave the arena after his medical, he understood the
task that awaited him at home.

"My kids will have lots of questions," he said. "They've been to New York,
and they've been up a lot of buildings there.

"It's time to do some parenting."