A Season of Loss, a Lifetime of Forgiveness: The Dan Snyder and Dany Heatley Story (Hardcover)

by John Manasso (Author)
Key Phrases: prospect camp, hockey world, hockey career, Dan Snyder, Dany Heatley, Owen Sound (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Paints a portrait of a grieving but remarkably compassionate family."  —Times Colonist

Product Description

This narrative about two boys from different backgrounds touches on family, forgiveness, sport, and making peace with tragedy. Dan Snyder was not a sure thing in professional hockey, but defied expectations—playing for both the minor league's Chicago Wolves and the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers. Dany Heatley, on the other hand, had been tapped for success from the start as a college star and high draft pick. The two made an unlikely pair, but became friends. In September of 2003, the then 22-year-old Heatley lost control of his speeding Ferrari; Snyder was thrown from the vehicle and died six days later. The loss of their teammate, friend, and son sent those who knew Snyder looking for healing or revenge. As the legal story unfolds, so too does a story of forgiveness, rooted in the Canadian Mennonite tradition from which Snyder hailed. Snyder's family, taking an approach to their loss dictated by their faith, chose to make peace with both Heatley and his parents. This story of forgiveness reveals a lesson in loss, hope, and peace in the face of tragedy.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Ecw Press (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550227025
• ISBN-13: 978-1550227024
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #537,302 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a hockey book ..., December 14, 2005

By	B. Magrane "Byron Magrane" (Brookline, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The title of my review says it all, this is more than a hockey book ... it's more of a book that plumbs the depths of human emotions and explores the ties that bind young men. Yes, hockey is the background, but it easily could've been about other subjects.

Manasso does a fantastic job delving into the relationship between Snyder and Heatley and investigates why this on-the- surface "odd couple" (one was a star whose skill allowed him to be handed everything and the other was a mucker who needed every bit of Moxie to achieve his dream) became such best friend and how every twist and turn of their lives brought the two together.

If you don't feel touched by the way Manasso describes the fateful events and the grief and sorrow that it brings on to households as well as a National Hockey League franchise, then you are without a soul.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-written, great hockey story, December 13, 2005

By	Sean Egan (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

John Manasso's meticulously researched book tells the story of Dan Snyder's tragic death and its aftermath. There's enough background and detail in this book to satisfy hockey aficionados but the real story is about how the Synders and their extended family and community dealt with their son's passing. The book delves into the forensic investigation of the crash that killed Dan Synder and the subsequent legal negotiations that threatened to jail Danny Heatley, one of Canada's top players. It goes on to reveal much about the family's approach to healing and forgiveness and the vignettes about what went on with teammates in the locker rooms were touching. This was a great book and John's simple, straightforward writing style makes it an enjoyable read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for hockey fans. , January 1, 2006

By	M. M. McMahon (Rockport, MA USA) - See all my reviews

A tragic tale well told. This book is a fitting tribute to the memory of Dan Snyder and the way his parents forgave Danny Heatley for his death.