Dan Snyder (ice hockey)

File:Snyder Banner.JPG

In 1994 Snyder was one of the last players selected for his hometown Junior B team, the Elmira Sugar Kings. He struggled early in the season and was warned that if his poor play continued he might be replaced. Snyder's play improved following the talk, eventually earning the Sugar Kings rookie of the year honors.Manasso p. 23 The following year he tried out for the Owen Sound Platers, a Major junior team playing in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).Manasso p. 18 After starting his try-out slowly, the coaching staff gave him the option to stop and pursue an NCAA scholarship. Snyder decided to continue his try-out and made the team after leading the Platers in scoring during the exhibition season.Manasso p. 24 He played four years for the Platers registering 75 goals and 221 points, captaining the team in his final two seasons.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=1690367|title=Snyder captained Attack for two years| work = ESPN.com|date=2003-12-20|access-date=2010-09-08}}

Undrafted, Snyder was signed by the Thrashers as a free agent in 1999. During his time in the minor leagues, he was a member of the International Hockey League champion Orlando Solar Bears in 2000–2001, and the American Hockey League champion Chicago Wolves. In 2001–2002, he was called up to the NHL, he scored 10 goals and four assists in 36 games with the Thrashers in the 2002–2003 season.

On September 29, 2003, Snyder was critically injured after the Ferrari 360 Modena, being driven by his friend and teammate Dany Heatley, crashed. Heatley, who was driving between {{convert|55|and|82|mph}} in a {{convert|35|mph}} zone, lost control and skidded into a brick pillar and iron fence.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/2003/10/13/351376/a-sadness-in-atlanta-dan-snyders-tragic-death-casts-a-long-shadow-over-the-thrashers-season|title=A Sadness In Atlanta| magazine = Sports Illustrated|date=2003-10-13|access-date=2018-01-23}} Both players were ejected from the car, which was split in half by the force of the impact.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/06/sports/thrashers-snyder-dies.html|title=Thrashers' Snyder Dies| newspaper = The New York Times|date=2003-10-06|access-date=2010-09-06}} Snyder required surgery to repair a depressed skull fracture and was comatose.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/snyder-in-critical-condition-heatley-injured-in-car-crash-1.362947|title=Snyder in critical condition; Heatley injured in car crash| publisher = CBC|date=2003-10-01|access-date=2018-01-23}} Six days later on October 5, he lapsed into septic shock and died, never regaining consciousness.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=1693071|title=Snyder's death brings teammates closer | magazine = ESPN the Magazine|date=2003-12-23|access-date=2010-09-08|first=Eric|last=Adelson}} Heatley was charged with vehicular homicide as a result of the crash, a sentence that could have carried as much as 15 years in prison.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/29/sports/hockey-heatley-returns-to-ice-months-after-a-fatal-crash.html|title=HOCKEY; Heatley Returns to Ice Months After a Fatal Crash| newspaper = The New York Times|date=2004-01-29|access-date=2010-09-06|first=Ray|last=Glier}} He pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide, driving too fast for conditions, failure to maintain a lane, and speeding. He was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to give 150 speeches on the dangers of speeding, and pay $25,000 to Fulton County for the cost of investigating the crash.{{cite news | title =Heatley Sentenced to 3 Years' Probation| url =https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/05/sports/hockey/05heatley.html| newspaper = The New York Times|date=2005-02-05|access-date=2010-09-06|first=Ray|last=Glier}} The lighter sentence was due in part to Snyder's parents forgiving Heatley for the accident, their desire that he not be sent to prison, and the judge's opinion that Heatley being in prison would not benefit the community.

Image:37 Snyder Patch.svg

The following season, Atlanta dedicated the season to Snyder and Heatley, while further honoring Snyder with a patch displaying his number 37 on it and painting the same logo on the boards.{{cite news | title =Team to wear tribute patch, donate game-worn jerseys| url =https://www.espn.com/nhl/preview?gameId=231231005| work = ESPN.com|date=2003-12-31|access-date=2010-09-06}}{{cite news | title =Game provides relief from grieving| url =https://www.espn.com/nhl/columns/story?id=1634614| work = ESPN.com|date=2003-10-09|access-date=2010-09-06|first=Jeff|last=Merron}} Snyder was further honored with the creation of The Dan Snyder Memorial Scholarship. The scholarships were to be given to three recipients from the Elmira area.{{cite news | title =$56,029 Raised for the Dan Snyder Memorial Scholarship Through an Online Auction| url =http://www.nhlpa.com/News/Media-Releases/Details.aspx?R=4BADCF46-37AA-4AB3-A774-C433E9B86A71| publisher = NHLPA|access-date=2010-09-06}} On December 31, 2003, the Thrashers played the Detroit Red Wings; during the game both teams wore the commemorative patch. Following the game the NHLPA auctioned off the game-worn jerseys with the proceeds going towards the scholarships; the resulting auction raised $56,029. The Chicago Wolves paid tribute to Snyder by renaming their community service award the Dan Snyder Man of the Year Award,{{cite news|title=Wolves get emotional boost on Snyder Night |url=http://www.roenickchick.com/Snyder/wolvesgetemotional.htm |newspaper=Daily Herald |access-date=2010-09-09 |first=Mike |last=Spellman |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715195556/http://www.roenickchick.com/Snyder/wolvesgetemotional.htm |archive-date=2011-07-15 }} while the OHL renamed their Humanitarian of the Year trophy in his honor, making it the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy.

During the 2006–07 NHL season, Snyder's parents, Graham and LuAnn Snyder, traveled across North America in an RV attending NHL games and speaking at engagements to raise awareness for the Dan Snyder Memorial Foundation, a foundation that provides four college scholarships a year and helps raise money for the Elmira recreation center.{{cite news | title =Parents of Dan Snyder Forgive but Can't Forget | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/sports/hockey/16snyder.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=dan_snyder| newspaper = The New York Times|date=2007-05-16|access-date=2010-09-06|first=John|last=Branch}}

Canadian band The Tragically Hip recorded a song called "Heaven Is a Better Place Today" in honor of Snyder. The song appears on their In Between Evolution album.{{cite news|url=http://www.roenickchick.com/Snyder/oneyearlater_8.htm |title=Canadian band honors Snyder in song |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=2004-09-24 |access-date=2010-09-09 |first=John |last=Manasso |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715195508/http://www.roenickchick.com/Snyder/oneyearlater_8.htm |archive-date=2011-07-15 }}

In 2003, plans for a new sports complex in Elmira were completed with a projected completion date in 2017. Snyder felt that the project needed to be completed much quicker and wanted to help make it happen sooner.{{cite news |url=http://espn.go.com/nhl/blog/_/name/lebrun_pierre/id/4565774|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825065630/http://espn.go.com/nhl/blog/_/name/lebrun_pierre/id/4565774|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 25, 2010|title=Dan Snyder's dream to come true in Elmira| work = ESPN.com|date=2009-10-16|access-date=2010-09-06|first=Pierre|last=LeBrun}} After his death the Dan Snyder Memorial Foundation contributed $750,000 to the project which opened in 2009. The main arena houses the Sugar Kings and was named the Dan Snyder Memorial Arena.{{cite news|last=O'Brien |title=Elmira arena campaign nets $1.75M |url=http://news.therecord.com/article/269824 |newspaper=Waterloo Region Record |access-date=2009-05-03 |date=2007-11-15 |first=Richard |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720094811/http://news.therecord.com/article/269824 |archive-date=July 20, 2008 }} The Atlanta Thrashers held a practice and promotional session in the arena on October 18, 2009.{{cite news | title = Thrashers returning to Elmira to honor Snyder | url = http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=502375 |publisher =NHL| date = 2009-10-16 | access-date = 2009-10-19}}

• List of ice hockey players who died during their playing careers

{{reflist|2}}

• {{cite book |last=Manasso|first=John |title=A Season of Loss, a Lifetime of Forgiveness: The Dan Snyder and Dany Heatley Story|url=https://archive.org/details/seasonoflosslife0000mana|url-access=registration|year=2005|publisher=ECW Press |location=Toronto}}

• {{icehockeystats|legends=19265}}
• [http://www.37risingstars.com Dan Snyder Memorial Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218114005/http://www.37risingstars.com/ |date=2012-02-18 }}

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Category:1978 births

Category:2003 deaths

Category:Atlanta Thrashers players

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Category:Chicago Wolves players

Category:Ice hockey people from Ontario

Category:Orlando Solar Bears (IHL) players

Category:Owen Sound Platers players

Category:People from Woolwich, Ontario

Category:Road incident deaths in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Undrafted National Hockey League players

Category:Sportspeople from the Regional Municipality of Waterloo