This is so sad. I just got this from TSN.
Thrashers Snyder dies in hospital
Canadian Press
10/5/2003
ATLANTA (AP) - Atlanta Thrashers forward Dan Snyder died Sunday night, six days after he was involved in a horrific car crash with teammate Dany Heatley.
Snyder of Elmira, Ont., died in hospital from massive brain injuries without ever regaining consciousness, the team said.
Police said Heatley was driving his Ferrari at about 130 kph on a narrow two-lane road last Monday night when he lost control, spun off the road and smashed into a brick and wrought iron fence.
The car split in half. The players were thrown into the road.
Heatley already was facing several charges, including a felony - and prosecutors are likely to upgrade the seriousness of the charges with Snyder's death.
Snyder, 25, underwent surgery for a skull fracture but never emerged from his coma.
``We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Dan Snyder,'' the Thrashers said in a statement. ``Dan was a teammate and friend to all of us. We feel a tremendous amount of pain as an organization and extend deepest sympathies to his family.''
Snyder, a centre who had 10 goals and four assists in 36 games for Atlanta last season, had surgery on his ankle in September before the start of training camp. He was expected to start the season on the injured list.
Snyder signed with the Thrashers as a free agent in 1999 after playing four seasons of junior hockey for Owen Sound in the Ontario Hockey League.
He spent most of his first three professional seasons in the minor leagues, helping Orlando win the International Hockey League title in 2000-01 and playing on the Chicago Wolves' American Hockey League championship team in 2001-02. He also played 35 games for Chicago last season, getting 11 goals and 12 assists.
In addition to his legal problems, Heatley also sustained serious injuries in the crash.
He underwent surgery Saturday for a broken jaw and an MRI found that he tore two ligaments in his right knee. He will require more surgery in about a week for the knee injury, certainly threatening any return to the ice this season.
Heatley is the gap-toothed leader of the Thrashers, a 22-year-old with both toughness and great skill with the puck. Last season, he scored a team-record 41 goals and was MVP of the all-star game.
The Thrashers would only say that Heatley is out indefinitely, but it's clear general manager Don Waddell was planning for the season without his best player. He traded for Carolina Hurricanes goalie Jani Hurme on Friday with an eye toward acquiring help up front.
Atlanta also claimed left wing Serge Aubin from Colorado and left wing Ronald Petrovicky from the New York Rangers in the waiver draft on Friday.
Waddell said it's not known if Heatley will miss the entire season.
``Until doctors go in and see the extent of the tear, it's impossible to give an accurate recovery timetable,'' he said.
Heatley, who posted a $50,000 bond, already faced felony charge of serious injury by vehicle and three misdemeanour charges. Police are awaiting test results to determine if Heatley was drinking on the night of the wreck.
. My mother was 60......Snyder is only 25......what a shame
