October 10, 2003

This is So Sad

Last year's amazing NHL second-year All Star Danny Heatley faces a possible 15+ years in prison for vehicular homicide after teammate Dan Snyder was killed when Heatley's Ferrari crashed into a tree late at night. Thrashers Say Farewell to Snyder [The Globe and Mail]. Even more poignant, though, is this account of today's Ontario funeral for 25-year old Snyder.

With young players tapping their sticks on the street in tribute, Dan Snyder was buried in his hometown Friday, five days after he died in a crash in a car driven by an Atlanta Thrashers' teammate. Dozens of mourners hugged each other at the cemetery. Heatley, the driver in the crash, had a cast on his right leg and red flower in the lapel of his dark suit.

Heatley still faces surgery on his knee and nine months of rehab. What a tragedy on so many levels. David Vecsey of Sports Illustrated writes that last year he smiled and said "It's good to be Danny Heatley." Not any more. Heatley will have to live with this forever, whether or not he comes back -- and especially if he does -- to play hockey again. His life sentence has just begun.

 Posted by glenn

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