REMEMBERING DAN SNYDER: ONE YEAR LATER

Heatley privately mourns friend's loss
'I'm going to deal with this forever,' player says as charges loom

By JOHN MANASSO
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/24/04

 

Almost nine months after his car crash, Dany Heatley was indicted by a Fulton County grand jury on six counts, including first- and second-degree vehicular homicide.

He waived his right to an arraignment hearing and entered a plea of not guilty. His next court date is Nov. 29.

PHIL SKINNER / Staff
Dany Heatley (above) was driving the night of the wreck that killed his friend and Thrashers teammate Dan Snyder. He was later indicted by a Fulton County grand jury on six counts, including first- and second-degree vehicular homicide.
 
 

With the charges pending, he has been allowed by the district attorney to play with the Thrashers and compete for Canada at both the World Championships in Prague and the World Cup in Montreal and in Toronto.

He had a remarkable 13 goals and 12 assists in his last 28 games for the Thrashers, ranking eighth among the team's forwards in scoring after missing the first 51 games because of reconstructive knee surgery, which was necessary after the crash. However, coach Bob Hartley said after the season he thought Heatley was not close to regaining the form that made him the 2003 All-Star Game MVP.

After a practice at the World Cup two weeks ago, Heatley said he would likely split his time between Calgary and Atlanta if an NHL lockout took effect - as it did on Sept. 16. At the same time, he elected not to comment about his legal situation.

Partly because of the charges and partly because he chooses to keep the matter private, Heatley has not spoken much about the subject since talking publicly for the first time on Dec. 26.

On that day, he spoke of how the Snyder family had given him strength and how he missed his friend, whom he called "a great person."

"It's a private thing," Heatley said. "I'm going to deal with this forever. Every time I go to sleep I think about Dan. It'll be with me for the rest of my life."