Dan Snyder

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This article is about the late NHL player. For the Washington Redskins owner, see Daniel Snyder.

Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Height Weight	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 196 lb (89 kg/14 st 0 lb)
Pro clubs	Atlanta Thrashers
Nationality	Canada
Born	February 23, 1978(1978-02-23), Elmira, ON, Canada
Died	October 5, 2003 (aged 25), Atlanta, GA, USA
Pro Career	1999 – 2003

Dan Snyder (February 23, 1978 - October 5, 2003) was a professional Canadian ice hockey player. He played as a centre in the National Hockey League for the Atlanta Thrashers.

1 Playing career
2 Death
3 Career statistics
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Playing career

Undrafted, Dan 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. Called up to the NHL, he scored 10 goals and four assists in 36 games with the Thrashers in the 2002–2003 season.

[edit] Death

On September 29, 2003, Snyder was critically injured after the Ferrari 360 Modena being driven by his friend and teammate Dany Heatley, struck a wall along Atlanta's Lenox Road. Both players were ejected from the car, which was split in half by the force of the impact. Snyder suffered a fractured skull and internal brain injuries due to the rapid acceleration/deceleration incident. He lapsed into a coma following emergency surgery, and died six days later on October 5 as a result of his injuries complicated by a subsequently-acquired infection.

Heatley was charged with vehicular homicide as a result of the crash. 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 for his crime.

After Snyder's death, the Ontario Hockey League renamed their Humanitarian of the Year trophy in his honour. It became the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy.

During the 2006–07 NHL season Dan's parents, Graham and Lu Ann Snyder, travelled across North America in an RV attending NHL games and speaking at engagements to raise awareness for the Dan Snyder Memorial Foundation. During their stop in Boston, Bruins centre and former Thrashers teammate Marc Savard donated $1000 to his charity after being named the #1 star of the week.

In 2003, Canadian band The Tragically Hip recorded a song called "Heaven Is A Better Place Today" in honour of Dan Snyder. The song appears on their In Between Evolution album.

[edit] Career statistics

			Regular Season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995–96	Owen Sound Platers	OHL	63	8	17	25	78	6	1	2	3	4
1996–97	Owen Sound Platers	OHL	57	17	29	46	96	4	2	3	5	6
1997–98	Owen Sound Platers	OHL	46	23	33	56	74	10	2	3	5	16
1998–99	Owen Sound Platers	OHL	64	27	67	94	110	16	8	5	13	30
1999–00	Orlando Solar Bears	IHL	71	12	13	25	123	6	1	2	3	4
2000–01	Orlando Solar Bears	IHL	78	13	30	43	127	16	7	3	10	20
2000–01	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL	2	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	-
2001–02	Chicago Wolves	AHL	56	11	24	35	115	22	7	10	17	25
2001–02	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL	11	1	1	2	30	-	-	-	-	-
2002–03	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL	36	10	4	14	34	-	-	-	-	-
2002–03	Chicago Wolves	AHL	35	11	12	23	39	-	-	-	-	-
NHL Totals			49	11	5	16	64	-	-	-	-	-