TORONTO

A handful of fans who have protested lousy Leaf efforts by throwing sweaters on the ice are misguided in the eyes of many players and risking a lifetime ban from Air Canada Centre games and concerts.

The three Leafs’ blowout losses this season have seen a team sweater flung over the glass, while a blue and white scarf was tossed by a pro-Toronto crowd in Buffalo on Saturday.

While the players say they deserve any vocal abuse they get for awful games such as Tuesday’s 9-2 loss to Nashville, one dolt threw a sweater in the middle of third-period play, endangering all on the ice.

Phil Kessel, the Leafs top scorer, called the incident “classless”.

“Not just to us or the organization, but to all the Leafs who’ve ever played,” said Kessel of the individual banners that hang at the ACC. “You want to boo us, but you’re disrespecting all the great players.”

The Leafs, who were also getting standing ovations from the fickle faithful after the first jersey was tossed in October during a run of 6-1-1, can expect the book to be thrown at those caught by police and ACC security.

“It’s important to note that a patron throwing anything on the playing surface could be charged with trespassing,” said an MLSE official, “which would see them barred from all MLSE venues for a minimum of 12 months and possibly for life.

“Any sweater thrown on the ice is held for a period of time in the event that the police require an investigation. After that it is donated to charity.”