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'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.

Contents

Playing career

Death

Career statistics

See also

References

Playing career

Undrafted, Dan Snyder was signed by the Atlanta 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.

Death

On September 29, 2003, Snyder was critically injured after the Ferrari 360 Modena being driven by his 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 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 a 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.

Career statistics

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

See also

★ List of ice hockey players who died young

References

★ Thrasher's legacy lives on Atlanta Journal Constitution, September 24, 2004.

★ Dan Snyder Memorial Foundation

★ Dan Snyder Memorial