Sat, June 19, 2004

 

Hip tribute to Thrashers
 

Snyder, Heatley featured on new album
 

TORONTO -- The Tragically Hip pay homage to NHL Atlanta Thrashers teammates Dan Snyder and Dany Heatley on their new album In Between Evolution. Snyder, a native of Elmira, Ont., died of his injuries and Heatley was seriously injured when the Ferrari that Heatley was driving crashed last September in Atlanta.

The Canadian band's tribute to the players comes on the song, Heaven Is A Better Place Today.

The Hip had just arrived at Whistler, B.C., when they heard the news of the accident, singer Gord Downie told Sun Media during an interview this week at the band's longtime studio in Bath, Ont.

"Like for everybody, the TV coverage was very compelling," said Downie. "We had met Dany Heatley earlier in Atlanta."

Added Hip guitarist Robby Baker: "Yeah, he came on the bus and we offered him a beer and he said, 'No. I'm driving. No drinking."'

"Nice kid, nice kid," Downie said of Heatley, who was raised in Calgary. "And the way that it has been handled. There's a lot of eloquence around that death, all the way around, on the family's part."

Snyder's family publicly forgave Heatley, whose blood-alcohol was found to be under the legal limit.

Downie said the Snyder family has been made aware of the song, which is dedicated to the hockey player in the liner notes. The band plans to play at the upcoming Dan Snyder Memorial golf tournament next month.

It's not the first time the band has been influenced by hockey. Fifty-Mission Cap is about the death of former Toronto Maple Leafs star Bill Barilko while Fireworks makes mention of the 1972 Summit Series.

In Between Evolution is in stores on June 29.