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Atlanta Thrashers coach Bob Hartley called the team's practice ice a sanctuary, so it was fitting the players kneeled for a prayer Tuesday after their first practice since center Dan Snyder died.
``It's a situation you never want to come across,'' center Marc Savard said. ``It's tough. It's in the back of your mind with every little thing you do.''
Snyder died Sunday night of injuries he sustained in a Sept. 29 car crash in which teammate Dany Heatley was driving. Heatley, who was also injured, was charged with vehicular homicide.
With the encouragement of Snyder's family, the Thrashers decided to play their season opener Thursday night at home against Columbus. The team then will fly to Canada for Snyder's funeral in Elmira, Ontario, on Friday.
Earlier Tuesday, Magistrate Richard Hicks said Heatley, who is free on $50,000 bond, would be allowed to travel for the funeral. One of Heatley's attorneys, Ron Samuel, said that as a routine condition of the bond, Heatley must turn in his passport when he returns from the funeral. Ticketmaster
Heatley had surgery Tuesday at St. Joseph's Hospital to repair complete tears of the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee, according to team physician Dr. Scott Gillogly, who performed the surgery. Gillogly said he also repaired the lateral meniscus in the knee.
Heatley likely will require a lengthy rehabilitation period that would keep him out this season even if he is legally cleared to play. Ticketmaster
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Prosecutors said the vehicular homicide charge, which carries a prison sentence
of three to 15 years, was based on a preliminary finding that Heatley was driving
recklessly.
Heatley broke his jaw and hurt his knee in the accident. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery Tuesday and faces nine months to a year of rehabilitation.
Samuel said he has hired an expert to examine a crash data recorder in the Ferrari driven by Heatley. Adam Rawley of Ferrari North America said no such recording device is standard equipment on Ferrari automobiles. Ticketmaster
Even so, investigators can retrieve data from other computer boxes in most newer cars, possibly including the speed of a vehicle at impact.
Attorney Ed Garland says his client is ``an emotional wreck'' and is grieving Snyder's death.
Nameplates for Snyder and Heatley were still on their lockers Tuesday.
Savard promised to win their first game for Snyder, but the coach said hockey is not the priority this week.
``We are definitely
facing the ultimate adversity, and we have to face it as a team,'' Hartley said.
``The game now is not about winning. It's about taking care of our family. This
is basically our sanctuary right now. Going on the ice is what we enjoy the
most.''
Shawn McEachern, who will assume Heatley's starting position as the first line
right wing, said the players needed to be with their teammates.
``It feels good to be with the guys, to tell the truth, and do what we do,'' McEachern said. Ticketmaster
Goalie Byron Dafoe said the group prayer Tuesday would not be the last.
``It was just all of us getting together with our thoughts and prayers for Dan,'' Dafoe said. ``That's what it's going to be every time we get on the ice.''
Team officials were still discussing how Snyder will be honored Thursday night. Players likely will wear a patch with Snyder's initials or his No. 37. There also will be a moment of silence before the game.
``It's bringing guys closer together, knowing he's there with us,'' Savard said. ``He's looking over us.''
The Thrashers rescheduled a Sister Hazel concert that had been planned to follow Thursday night's game. The concert will a game against Florida on Oct. 25.