As the 2014-15 National Hockey League season prepares to face-off, a veteran player ponders if it will bring some renewed success. It’s been a long haul.
Regretfully, he put himself in this awkward and uncomfortable position—and only he can continue to skate his way out,
Dany Heatley is familiar to many local hockey fans as he is a part-time Kelowna resident when not playing hockey in California.
Heatley was the second overall 2000 draft pick going to the Atlanta Thrashers.
He justifiably earned the 2001-02 Calder Trophy as rookie of the year amassing an impressive 67 points and turning a lot of hockey heads.
In the 2002-03 season, Heatley emerged as an NHL superstar finishing ninth in league scoring with 41 goals and 89 points in just 77 games.
However, all his laughter died in sorrow when in September of 2003 Heatley lost control of his Ferrari at high speed and struck a wall seriously injuring himself and killing teammate and very close buddy Dan Snyder.
Heatley suffered a broken jaw, concussion, bruised lung, bruised kidney, and tore three ligaments in his right knee.
He was later charged with vehicular homicide, 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 along with a list of other conditions and community work assignments.
Because of injuries he suffered from the car accident, Heatley’s season did not start until January 2004 and he appeared in only 31 games.
A disappointing season ended with an early elimination in the race for a playoff spot and 25 points.
The incident rattled everyone involved.
Eventually Heatley requested a trade which ironically inspired the wrath of some fans yet again. The soft spoken forward bounced back with several successful seasons in Ottawa setting a franchise record for single-season goals (50) in 2005-06 and repeated that feat again the next year when he also set a team record 105 points.
Still fighting his demons, however, Heatley eventually demanded a trade from Ottawa landing in San Jose for two seasons and finally landing in Minnesota for the past three.
While Heatley may finally have been ready to settle down and play hockey in the frozen confines of Minnesota, the NHL Players Association and team owners had other plans and went into a contract war.
The lockout-shortened 2012-13 season saw Heatley record just 21 points in 36 games with Minnesota before dislocating his left shoulder.
Last season Heatley’s production declined even further totalling just 28 points in 76 games.
After 12 seasons and having suffered some significant injuries, many speculated Heatley would retire or play in Europe.
Some pundits suggested he had lost his heart for the game or his fire; however Heatley refuted the comments saying he fully intends to return to top form.
Earlier this summer Heatley signed as a free agent with Anaheim Ducks, a club many regard as among the top four contenders for the Stanley Cup.
With 372 goals and 791 points to his career Heatley would like to the join the 400 goal list and add a Stanley Cup to his list of accomplishments and leave the game a proven winner.
Some suggest if Heatley gets a day with the Stanley Cup this coming summer that the famous mug may find its way back to Atlanta for a few hours.
Seems Heatley feels there is some unfinished matters there. If Dany Heatley has things go his way, it could be an interesting season for him. .season. ***
If you have nothing planned for this Sunday (Sept. 28) afternoon then perhaps take in a parade downtown.
Kelowna Culture Days are organizing their first Art Sidewalk Parade at 3 p.m. The parade starts at the Arts Common area at the Rotary Centre for the Arts on Cawston Ave. and follows the art walkway to Ellis St. Ellis to Bernard, north on Bernard to Richter, across Richter and down Bernard to Kerry Park. ”Let’s make a positive colourful street spectacle that is alive with style and culture,¨ Rawle James of Kelowna Culture Days says.
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Today’s column concludes with a sad farewell to Nico Bohren who died last week after a nasty battle with cancer.
Like many it was dancing that first connected me with Nico. The man lived to dance and dance he could. A gifted dance instructor his limited classes were always jam packed.
I often marvelled at how Nico could quietly walk into any club with a live band and own the dance floor the minute he wanted. He was rarely flashy, instead putting the attention on his dance partner though clearly he was the one running the show. Women loved him, men hated him. The boy could dance.
I had the pleasure of getting to know him as a friend over the years and he was a caring, gentle soul who has left us way too early. He loved people and he loved Kelowna.
We will miss you Nico.
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