Fan arrested for threatening Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A passionate hockey fan made physical threats against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a series of phone calls to the team's arena during a game, police said.

Peter Stenzel was arrested Thursday night and charged with inducing panic for threatening physical harm against the team during their 5-0 win over the Calgary Flames, Columbus Police Sgt. Rick Weiner said.

Police traced the phone calls to Stenzel's Columbus home, where they found him wearing a Flames T-shirt, Weiner said. Police would not say if specific players were targeted or what the threats entailed.

Stenzel, 52, was being held at the Franklin County Jail pending a Saturday court hearing. Weiner did not know if he had a lawyer.

Blu Jackets spokesman Todd Sharrock didn't comment on the specific incident but sad the club has procedures in place to respond to security threats to players and coaches.

Columbus and Calgary are potential first-round playoff opponents. The Flames are in third place in the Western Conference with eight games to play, while the sixth-place Blue Jackets are attempting to qualify for their first playoff appearance ever.

The top eight teams in the conference will go on to the postseason.