Dany Heatley

Dany Heatley (born January 21, 1981, in Freiburg, Germany) is a Canadian hockey player for the NHL's Ottawa Senators.

Playing Career

Heatley was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers 2nd overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft and is widely considered one of the rising stars of the game. He won the NHL Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year after scoring 26 goals and 67 points in 82 games. He was also picked as Most Valuable Player of the 2003 NHL All-Star Game.

Related Topics:
Atlanta Thrashers - 2000 NHL Entry Draft - Calder Memorial Trophy - NHL All-Star Game

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On September 29, 2003, Heatley was seriously injured after he lost control of the Ferrari 360 Modena he was driving and struck a wall, splitting the car in half and ejecting him and his passenger. Heatley suffered a broken jaw, a minor concussion, a bruised lung and, bruised kidney, and tears of three ligaments in his right knee; his passenger, teammate Dan Snyder, was critically injured with a skull fracture, fell into a coma, and died six days later on October 5. Heatley was charged with vehicular homicide as a result of the crash. He pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide, driving too fast for conditions, failure to maintain a lane, and speeding. He was sentenced to three years probation.

Related Topics:
September 29 - 2003 - Ferrari 360 Modena - Dan Snyder - October 5 - Vehicular homicide - Probation

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During the 2004-05 lockout, Heatley initially played for the Swiss team SC Bern. He played well, scoring more than a point per game, until being injured. In November 2004, he required surgery for a broken orbital bone after being struck in the left eye with a puck. He finished the year with the all-star laden Ak Bars Kazan in the Russian Superleague, joining former Thrashers teammate and friend, Ilya Kovalchuk, among others, but his play was unimpressive. Heatley played in the IIHF world hockey championship in Austria from April 30 to May 15, 2005, but had a disappointing tournament compared to his previous one.

Related Topics:
2004-05 lockout - Swiss - SC Bern - November 2004 - Orbital bone - Ak Bars Kazan - Russian Superleague - Ilya Kovalchuk - IIHF - April 30 - May 15

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Prior to the return of the NHL in 2005, Heatley asked to be traded from Atlanta. On August 23rd, 2005 he was sent to the Ottawa Senators for established Slovak star Marian Hossa and veteran defenceman Greg de Vries.

Related Topics:
August 23rd - 2005 - Ottawa Senators - Slovak - Marian Hossa - Greg de Vries

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Heatley's father, Murray Heatley, also played professional hockey from 1970 to 1984.

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