Dan Snyder
Encyclopedia
Daniel Snyder was a professional Canadian
ice hockey
player. He played as a centre
in the National Hockey League
(NHL) for the Atlanta Thrashers
. Following a single-vehicle accident
, in which he was a passenger, Snyder fell into a coma
as a result of his injuries, he died six days later of septic shock
.
Despite Snyder's having played in only forty-nine NHL games, the Thrashers named an annual award after him. The Dan Snyder Memorial Award
is given each year to the player that "best embodies perseverance, dedication, and hard work without reward or recognition, so that his team and teammates might succeed." The Vancouver Canucks
' American Hockey League
affiliate, the Chicago Wolves
also have a yearly award given in his honor, the Dan Snyder Man of the Year Award, and have honored his number 19 by hanging a banner with other retired and honored player numbers. Likewise the Ontario Hockey League
renamed their Humanitarian of the Year trophy in his honor, making it the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy
.
. 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. The following year he tried out for the Owen Sound Platers
, a Major junior team playing in the Ontario Hockey League
(OHL). 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. He played four years for the Platers registering 75 goals and 221 points, captaining
the team in his final two seasons.
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.
, being driven by his friend and teammate Dany Heatley
, crashed. Heatley, who was driving between 55-82 MPH in a 35 MPH zone, lost control and skidded into a brick pillar and iron fence. Both players were ejected from the car, which was split in half by the force of the impact. Snyder required surgery to repair a depressed skull fracture and was coma
tose. Six days later on October 5, he lapsed into septic shock
and died, never regaining consciousness. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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
auction 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, 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.
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.
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. After his passing 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. The Atlanta Thrashers held a practice and promotional session in the arena on October 18, 2009.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. He played as a centre
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) for the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
. Following a single-vehicle accident
Single-vehicle accident
A single vehicle collision or single-vehicle accident is, as the name implies, a type of road traffic accident in which only one vehicle is involved...
, in which he was a passenger, Snyder fell into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
as a result of his injuries, he died six days later of septic shock
Septic shock
Septic shock is a medical emergency caused by decreased tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery as a result of severe infection and sepsis, though the microbe may be systemic or localized to a particular site. It can cause multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death...
.
Despite Snyder's having played in only forty-nine NHL games, the Thrashers named an annual award after him. The Dan Snyder Memorial Award
Dan Snyder Memorial Award
The Dan Snyder Memorial Award was awarded each year to the player of the Atlanta Thrashers who best embodies perseverance, dedication and hard work without reward or recognition, so that his team and teammates might succeed....
is given each year to the player that "best embodies perseverance, dedication, and hard work without reward or recognition, so that his team and teammates might succeed." The Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
' American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, the Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
also have a yearly award given in his honor, the Dan Snyder Man of the Year Award, and have honored his number 19 by hanging a banner with other retired and honored player numbers. Likewise the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
renamed their Humanitarian of the Year trophy in his honor, making it the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy
Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy
The Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the player of the Ontario Hockey League that is the most humanitarian. Each year the OHL awards a player that has demonstrated outstanding qualities as a positive role model in the community with the OHL Humanitarian Award.The Ontario Hockey...
.
Juniors
In 1994 Snyder was one of the last players selected for his hometown Junior B team, the Elmira Sugar KingsElmira Sugar Kings
The Elmira Sugar Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Elmira, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
. 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. The following year he tried out for the Owen Sound Platers
Owen Sound Platers
Owen Sound Platers was a name used for a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1989 to 2000, in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. In 2000, after the team was sold, new ownership renamed the team the Owen Sound Attack.-History:...
, a Major junior team playing in the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(OHL). 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. He played four years for the Platers registering 75 goals and 221 points, captaining
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
the team in his final two seasons.
Professional
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 LeagueAmerican Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
champion Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
In 2001–2002, he was called up to the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, he scored 10 goals and four assists in 36 games with the Thrashers in the 2002–2003 season.
Death and legacy
On September 29, 2003, Snyder was critically injured after the Ferrari 360 ModenaFerrari 360
The Ferrari 360 is a mid-engine midsize two-seater sports car produced from late 1999 until 2005. The 360 replaced the Ferrari F355 and was itself replaced by the fairly similar Ferrari F430...
, being driven by his friend and teammate Dany Heatley
Dany Heatley
Daniel James Heatley is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger, and alternate captain for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League . Originally drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers second overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the top NHL rookie in 2002...
, crashed. Heatley, who was driving between 55-82 MPH in a 35 MPH zone, lost control and skidded into a brick pillar and iron fence. Both players were ejected from the car, which was split in half by the force of the impact. Snyder required surgery to repair a depressed skull fracture and was coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
tose. Six days later on October 5, he lapsed into septic shock
Septic shock
Septic shock is a medical emergency caused by decreased tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery as a result of severe infection and sepsis, though the microbe may be systemic or localized to a particular site. It can cause multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death...
and died, never regaining consciousness. Heatley was charged with vehicular homicide
Vehicular homicide
Vehicular homicide in most states in the United States, is a crime. In general, it involves death that results from the negligent operation of a vehicle, or more so a result from driving while committing an unlawful act that does not amount to a felony...
as a result of the crash, a sentence that could have carried as much as 15 years in prison. 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
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
and ordered to give 150 speeches on the dangers of speeding, and pay $25,000 to Fulton County
Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat is Atlanta, the state capital since 1868 and the principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
for the cost of investigating the crash. 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.
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. 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. On December 31, 2003 the Thrashers played the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, during the game both teams wore the commemorative patch. Following the game the NHLPA
NHLPA
NHLPA is an initialism for:* The National Hockey League Players Association, a players' union* The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000-Video games:...
auction off the game-worn jerseys with the proceeds going towards the scholarships, the resulting auction raised $56,029. The Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
paid tribute to Snyder by renaming their community service award the Dan Snyder Man of the Year award, while the OHL renamed their Humanitarian of the Year trophy in his honor, making it the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy
Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy
The Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the player of the Ontario Hockey League that is the most humanitarian. Each year the OHL awards a player that has demonstrated outstanding qualities as a positive role model in the community with the OHL Humanitarian Award.The Ontario Hockey...
.
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.
Canadian band The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as The Hip, is a Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario, consisting of Gordon Downie , Paul Langlois , Rob Baker , Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay . Since their formation in 1983 they have released 12 studio albums, two live albums, and 46 singles...
recorded a song called "Heaven Is a Better Place Today" in honor of Snyder. The song appears on their In Between Evolution
In Between Evolution
In Between Evolution is the ninth full-length album by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. It was recorded at Studio X in Seattle and was released June 29, 2004. The album debuted at #1 in Canada, selling 22,500 copies in its first week. However, sales of the album dropped by 50 percent the...
album.
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. After his passing 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. The Atlanta Thrashers held a practice and promotional session in the arena on October 18, 2009.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1995–96 1995–96 OHL season The 1995–96 OHL season was the 16th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Seventeen teams each played 66 games. The Peterborough Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Guelph Storm. The Detroit Junior Red Wings become the Detroit Whalers.-Notes:... |
Owen Sound Platers Owen Sound Platers Owen Sound Platers was a name used for a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1989 to 2000, in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. In 2000, after the team was sold, new ownership renamed the team the Owen Sound Attack.-History:... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
63 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 78 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 1996–97 1996–97 OHL season The 1996–97 OHL season was the 17th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Seventeen teams each played 66 games. The Oshawa Generals won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Ottawa 67's... |
Owen Sound Platers | OHL | 57 | 17 | 29 | 46 | 96 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 1997–98 1997–98 OHL season The 1997–98 OHL season was the 18th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Eighteen teams each played 66 games. The Guelph Storm won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Ottawa 67's. The Toronto St. Michael's Majors name is re-activated when they are awarded a franchise, they would play in the... |
Owen Sound Platers | OHL | 46 | 23 | 33 | 56 | 74 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 16 | ||
| 1998–99 1998–99 OHL season The 1998–99 OHL season was the 19th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams each played 68 games. The Belleville Bulls won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the London Knights.... |
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 Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 2001–02 AHL season The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion... |
Chicago Wolves Chicago Wolves The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
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 2002–03 AHL season The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Chicago Wolves | AHL | 35 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 49 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||