Family, friends bid farewell to Dan Snyder
Canadian Press
10/10/2003
ELMIRA, Ont. (CP) - The healing process may finally begin for NHL all-star Dany Heatley after the family of Dan Snyder, his fallen Atlanta Thrashers teammate, extended the hand of forgiveness and friendship at a memorial service Friday.
"I know from talking to my brother that you had become very close and really good friends," Jake Snyder said to Heatley in a poignant address. "And if you're one of Dan's guys then you're one of my guys. Friends look out for each other no matter how tough things are.
"So I'll look out for you as much as I can because I know in my heart that's exactly what my brother would have wanted."
Dan Snyder was buried in a private ceremony Friday morning before an afternoon memorial service that drew hundreds of people to Elmira, a town of about 7,000 people over an hour's drive west of Toronto.
Snyder died on Sunday at the age of 25 from head injuries suffered in a car wreck on Sept. 29 in Atlanta.
Heatley, Snyder's Thrashers' teammate, was the driver of the vehicle. The 22-year-old has been charged with vehicular homicide. The district attorney in Atlanta announced Friday that alcohol was not a factor.
Heatley, NHL rookie of the year in 2002, attended the morning burial and afternoon service at Elmira Mennonite Church using crutches and wearing a cast on his right leg.
After the memorial service, Snyder's parents, Graham and LuAnn Snyder, read a statement to a packed news conference in the arena where their son grew up playing hockey.
They spoke of forgiveness.
"We are all human beings and we know that humans make mistakes," said Graham Snyder, staring down at his statement.
"We want you to know that we do not lay blame on Dany Heatley for the accident that took our son from us. Dany is a good person and no one feels more sorry for what happened than he does.
"Forgiveness is also a part of being human and we know there is nothing to gain from harbouring resentment or anger towards others. We are here to support him (Heatley) through this difficult time and know that he, too, is hurting so much."
From Owen Sound, where Snyder played junior hockey, to Orlando and Chicago, where he helped teams win minor league championships, to Atlanta, where he was to become a full-time NHLer for the first time in his career, Snyder's death sent shock waves throughout the hockey community.
A special ceremony had been held the night before at the Thrashers' season opener in Atlanta. Snyder will be honoured in Owen Sound and Chicago on Saturday and his jersey will be hung in the Elmira arena on Sunday.
Family, friends and the Thrashers met at the family residence after the burial and Graham was presented with the game puck from Thursday night's 2-1 win over Columbus.
"The Snyder family gave us the strength to play last night," Thrashers general manager Don Waddell said.
Over 500 minor hockey players of all ages lined Snyder Avenue - the family name is a long-standing one in Elmira - and tapped their sticks on the pavement in a very Canadian sendoff while Snyder's family and the Thrashers walked to the church.
The players, including captain Shawn McEachern, shook hands with all the youngsters.
Snyder's brother spoke of the pride Dan gave his community in becoming an NHL player and the admiration he inspired because he had never been drafted and paid his dues in the minor leagues.
"He's a person from a small town who not only made his family proud but the whole community," Jake said in a moving tribute. "We all felt we were there (in the NHL) with him."
The service's program featured a picture of Snyder in his Thrashers' uniform and the words "Snydes. Forever in our hearts."
People lined the streets and the lawn beside the church filled to capacity with 300 people during the 90-minute service, which was broadcast on speakers to those standing outside.
Among those inside were NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Players' Association head Bob Goodenow. Thrashers head coach Bob Hartley also spoke at the end of the memorial service.
Tie Domi and Bryan McCabe of the Toronto Maple Leafs attended, as did Leafs executive Ken Dryden and head coach Pat Quinn. Snyder had a tryout with the Leafs in 1998.
Hockey Night In Canada fixtures Ron MacLean and Don Cherry stood outside on the church's lawn with over 100 mourners.
Also on hand were Snyder's former minor-league teammates from clubs in Orlando, Chicago and Owen Sound, where Snyder was captain of the junior team.
The service was highlighted by anecdotes and memories of Snyder, portrayed as a prankster, always smiling, always seeing the glass half-full.
"You touched so many lives in such a short time," Jeff Snyder, Dan's uncle and Junior B coach, said tearfully during his tribute.
The Thrashers have little time to mourn as they play their second game of the season on Saturday in Washington. They are faced with adjusting to a dressing room without Snyder in it.
"The last 10 days have been emotional for all of us," said Waddell. "The process of healing is taking place. The one thing about this hockey team is that we're a very tight family. The sanctuary for us is being in the arena."
But it won't be easy. They will be reminded of Snyder's tragic death by reporters' questions in every NHL city.
"The next few weeks are going to be difficult," Waddell said. "We're going to have to stick together."
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In Antwort auf:
Over 500 minor hockey players of all ages lined Snyder Avenue - the family name is a long-standing one in Elmira - and tapped their sticks on the pavement in a very Canadian sendoff while Snyder's family and the Thrashers walked to the church.
Wenn man sich das vorstellt, läufts einem eiskalt den Rücken runter....
Ansonsten absolute Hochachtung vor Snyders Familie, wie sie Heatley vergeben haben und helfen wollen. Das finde ich nach so einem Vorfall nicht selbstverständlich...
D.S.