ELMIRA, Ontario - Dan Snyder was buried in his hometown Friday, and the parents of the Thrashers player said they forgive the teammate charged in their son's death.
Members of the Thrashers, including Dany Heatley on crutches, joined friends and family at the private burial for the 25-year-old forward. Heatley, the driver in the car crash, had a cast on his right leg and red flower in his suit lapel.
Graham Snyder read a statement after the service attended by players and hundreds of others in Elmira, 70 miles from Toronto.
"We are all human beings and human beings make mistakes," Snyder said in an even voice. "We want you to know we do not lay blame on Dany Heatley for the accident that took our son from us. Forgiveness is also a part of being human and we are here to support him through this difficult time."
Among those attending were commissioner Gary Bettman, union president Bob Goodenow, Toronto Maple Leafs president Ken Dryden, Leafs players Tie Domi and Bryan McCabe and former teammates from Snyder's minor league teams in Chicago and Orlando.
Snyder died Sunday, six days after a sports car driven by Heatley hit a wall in Atlanta, throwing both men. Heatley, who needed knee surgery, has yet to comment publicly. He is charged with vehicular homicide and other counts.
Snyder's family and friends walked to the packed Elmira Mennonite Church, with young players tapping their sticks on the street in a hockey tribute as they passed. Snyder played junior hockey in nearby Owen Sound.
GA.: HEATLEY NOT DRUNK: Heatley was not drunk when he was driving in the accident that killed Snyder, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's crime lab. Heatley, 22, consumed alcohol before the Sept. 29 accident but not enough to accurately register on a crime lab test, said Erik Friedly, spokesman for the Fulton County district attorney's office.
Friedly said the reading was below 0.015, the crime lab test reporting limit. In Georgia, the legal limit for drunken driving charges is 0.08.
