Thrashers' Snyder buried in hometown

ELMIRA, ONTARIO - With young players tapping their sticks on the street in tribute, Dan Snyder was buried in his hometown Friday, five days after he died in a crash in a car driven by an Atlanta Thrashers' teammate.

Members of the Thrashers, including star forward Dany Heatley on crutches, joined friends and family at the private burial for the 25-year-old forward.

Dozens of mourners hugged each other at the cemetery. Heatley, the driver in the crash, had a cast on his right leg and red flower in the lapel of his dark suit.

Later, young players tapped their sticks on the street as the funeral procession headed on foot for a service at the Elmira Mennonite Church, where a long line of people waited to enter.

Snyder died Sunday, six days after the car crashed into a wall in Atlanta, throwing both men from the vehicle. Heatley, who sustained a broken jaw and knee ligament damage that required surgery, has been charged with vehicular homicide.

The Thrashers won their season opener in Atlanta on Thursday night, then flew to Canada for the funeral in Elmira, 70 miles from Toronto.

The Thrashers said they would give the puck from the winning goal in Thursday's 2-1 victory over Columbus to Snyder's family as a tribute.

``We have to have closure,'' said defenseman Chris Tamer, who scored the decisive goal. ``This will help us move on. We have to move on.''

Snyder grew up in Elmira and played junior hockey in nearby Owen Sound. On Friday, police cordoned off the main road through the town of 7,800 to prevent a traffic jam as thousands converged.

``We remember Dan Snyder,'' read a sign in one shop window. A photo store across the street displayed jerseys and photos from Snyder's career.

Heatley, an All-Star in his second NHL season last year, is out indefinitely, but Thrashers general manager Don Waddell said he expects the player to return this season, if legally permitted to do so.