From: Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Friday, December 1, 2006
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

SNYDER FAMILY TOURING 30 NHL CITIES DURING 2006-07 SEASON

...Graham Snyder, father of Dan Snyder, to deliver message of forgiveness, hope and determination to players, teams and communities

Elmira, Ontario - Graham and LuAnn Snyder, parents of Dan Snyder - former NHL hockey player tragically killed in a car accident in 2003 - are driving a recreational vehicle (RV) across North America, visiting all 30 NHL cities during the 2006-07 NHL season (www.37risingstars.com). In each NHL city, the Snyders will attend a game, visit with teams and do community–minded speaking engagements to raise awareness and funds for the Dan Snyder Memorial Fund. The Snyders are visiting just one non-NHL city on the tour – Houston. Snyder was Curtis Murphy’s teammate in Orlando, and Aeros assistant coach/front office advisor Cam Stewart is also close friends with the Snyder family.

The Snyders will be in Houston next Tuesday, Dec. 5-Thursday, Dec. 7. Tuesday from 2-3:30 p.m., the Snyders will be welcoming Aeros players into their RV to deliver food to Houston Food Bank. The food was collected at last month’s Houston Aeros Charities Food Drive. Wednesday from 7-9 p.m., the Snyders will attend a youth hockey function at Space City Ice Station. The Snyders, and the RV, will also be at Thursday’s home game versus Omaha. They will participate in the ceremonial puck drop, and will receive proceeds from Houston Aeros Charities’ “Golden Puck”.

"In the dark hours after the accident, I began to think about things Dan and I used to talk about throughout his hockey career," Graham remembers. "How often the only thing we can control is how we respond to what life sets in front of us. Whether it is being traded or losing a loved one, never underestimate the power of forgiveness."

While Graham is not a professional speaker by trade, his remarkable ability to impact and inspire an audience has been much heralded following his experiences as a key-note speaker for various community functions and conferences throughout Canada. His message of forgiveness is a powerful one, originating from his family’s tragic personal saga and evolving into a heart-warming lesson on strength and perspective in our everyday lives.

The National Hockey League Players' Association, the National Hockey League and NHL Member Clubs have committed their assistance through funding, tickets and other available resources, indicative of the full support Graham has received from the entire hockey community.

Dan Snyder played his junior hockey for the Owen Sound Platers and signed with the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999 as a free agent. A feisty centre from Elmira, Ontario, Dan was a key member of the International Hockey League champion Orlando Solar Bears in 2000-01, and the American Hockey League (AHL) champion Chicago Wolves in 2001-02. Snyder scored one of the most memorable goals in Aeros’ history – but for Chicago, in 2002. His goal 14 minutes into the second overtime in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals gave the Wolves a 4-3 lead and a split in Houston. Chicago won the next three games by a combined 13-2 score en route to the Calder Cup title. The Wolves will also host the tour later this season. In the 2002-03 season, Dan achieved his dream of playing in the NHL, scoring 10 goals and four assists in 36 games with the Thrashers.

Dan Snyder was popular on the ice and off. He has community awards named after him in Atlanta and Chicago (AHL), and also the Ontario Hockey League. The Snyder family continues to keep his legacy alive through various initiatives, including this tour designed to create positive messaging in each of our communities.


---HOUSTON AEROS---