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Dany Heatley "feel good" story

I happened to be in San Francisco for a conference the other week, where I had a dinner meeting with some partners.  I ended up chatting with a high-level executive who also happened to be a Ducks fan who lives in Orange County.  He grew up a Canadiens fan in Montreal, but moved to the OC for the job.  Basically, he is a pure Hockey dad who has his kid in every league available in Southern California.

Of course I mentioned that I was a huge Sharks fan, and immediately the banter started back and forth.  The first-round infamous playoff series, the fact the Ducks traded away a Hall-of-Fame D-man and couldn't make the playoffs last year... we hit everything.  When the topic got to Dany Heatley, I expected the usual insults about Heatley's "character".  Boy was I wrong...


The story goes like this.  They were on vacation in Hawaii at a pretty exclusive resort.  His son at the time was only 12 years old, and an aspiring goalie.  While waiting for a shuttle which was to take them to the airport, they noticed none other than the Ottawa Senators Dany Heatley standing in line waiting too.  He said he had his Ottawa Senators bag, so it was pretty obvious who he has.  So, being a good Dad he went over to Heatley and introduced himself and his kid.  He said Dany was very nice and polite, shook hands with the kid and even snapped a picture with Heatley.  The Dad said thank you and they walked back over to their spot in line and waited for the shuttle thinking how awesome it was that he just got his son a picture with an NHL All-Star.  His family got on the bus before Heatley and took their seats.  When Heatley walked onto the shuttle, instead of taking one of the many open seats, he sat down next to the kid.  Of course the Dad was shocked.  Apparently Dany talked to the kid about hockey and the kid's league all the way there- over a 30 minute ride.

What an awesome story.  Reminds me of some of the things I have heard about Thornton and the way he interacts with the young fans too.  It's always refreshing to know that the guys you root for on the ice are people you can feel good about rooting for off the ice as well.

This item was created by a member of this blog's community and is not necessarily endorsed by Fear The Fin.

Comment 57 comments  |  13 recs  | 

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I like hearing stuff like this

It makes me feel better about the team I support!!

by kiwi93 on Sep 20, 2010 6:52 PM PDT reply actions  

Solid story.

"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Sep 20, 2010 7:28 PM PDT reply actions  

Awesome story.

Proud member of the "Bring back Semenov" Club !!

by idunno723 on Sep 20, 2010 7:53 PM PDT reply actions  

What a wonderful story!

It's not that I don't enjoy our nights together." -Drew on rooming with Randy

by ohmymarleau on Sep 20, 2010 7:54 PM PDT reply actions  

Thank you

for sharing the good story with us!

"Take a deep breath sometimes, a break, and play some hockey."
"Hockey is a great way to take a pause from day-to-day hard work." -- Lt Gen. D.H. Huntoon Jr. (paraphrased)

by Soloact on Sep 20, 2010 8:29 PM PDT reply actions  

Great story.

resident cartoonist @CouchTarts Lightning is seven times as hot as the surface of the sun.
That’s still not as hot as Douglas Murray. -mymclife
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports

by CTGray on Sep 20, 2010 8:36 PM PDT reply actions  

Very cool story. :)

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin

by Angy on Sep 20, 2010 9:23 PM PDT reply actions  

Great story. Thanks for sharing! I’ve heard only good things about Heater’s fan interactions.

..:Fear The Fin:..

by OtherKid on Sep 20, 2010 9:28 PM PDT via mobile reply actions  

Nice story. I love hearing about players’ personal interaction with fans.

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"-Wayne Gretzky"-Michael Scott.

by SharksFanEst.1994 on Sep 20, 2010 9:47 PM PDT reply actions  

That’s pretty great. What I like about it, from his point of view, he’s loving hockey enough that when it comes to the choice between staring out the window or listening to his iPod, he wants to talk hockey with a young kid :D

please to be exiting my eyebrow parade, son. You appear to be raining on it. - CTGray

by ninakix on Sep 20, 2010 10:27 PM PDT reply actions  

Heatley's a class act.

Glad he’s on our team. Nice story!

"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
Tweet Tweet.

by ZeroIndulgence on Sep 20, 2010 10:29 PM PDT reply actions  

And Edmonton…. hopefully…

by skilletboy on Sep 21, 2010 8:52 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions  

He gets a bad rap for knowing what he wants and making it happen. Besides, screw Canada!

"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
Tweet Tweet.

by ZeroIndulgence on Sep 21, 2010 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions  

Yes thank you for sharing Ronnibily

I saw him Saturday and he was the nicest of them all! When I asked for a photo he didn’t just say sure or yea. He said ABSOLUTELY then he proceeded to asked how I was, if I had a good time today, if I was going to come back the next day. I think the pure joy in my face was happier in that picture than with Clowe! Then, on his way out he rolled down his window to his gorgeous Bentley and said “Bye. Have a great day ladies”. He was so nice, genuine and happy. It definitely changed my opinion on him immensely.

High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own." -Noctro

by mssjsclowie29 on Sep 21, 2010 8:40 AM PDT reply actions  

Uh no! LOL weirdo.

But it would make this post title apropos…mehmehmeh?

High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own." -Noctro

by mssjsclowie29 on Sep 21, 2010 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions  

hyuckhyuck

High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own." -Noctro

by mssjsclowie29 on Sep 21, 2010 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions  

heh

that’s what i was thinking/giggling about when I read this:

Then, on his way out he rolled down his window to his gorgeous Bentley and said "Bye. Have a great day ladies".

Heaters, you are so suave!!!

please to be exiting my eyebrow parade, son. You appear to be raining on it. - CTGray

by ninakix on Sep 22, 2010 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

hey it worked

we all melted hahaha I’m such a sucker for sweet guys like that even though I know most of the time they don’t mean it….aka I’m a sucker. :P

High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own." -Noctro

by mssjsclowie29 on Sep 22, 2010 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions  

Lets see some of those pics!

by Khaaz on Sep 21, 2010 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

:I

I dunno if I want my mug splooshed all over the interwebz w/o privacy preferences LOL!

High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own." -Noctro

by mssjsclowie29 on Sep 21, 2010 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions  

Haha. I thought you posted pics on here before.

I was really just curious if you were hyperventilating during your pic with Clowe, or if you played it cool lol.

by Khaaz on Sep 21, 2010 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

Yea being on TV twice doesn't help the privacy clause huh?

How do you make pictures small again?? I don’t want it to be ginormous. No one needs to see pores. And again Ronnibily sorry for jacking your thread. :(

High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own." -Noctro

by mssjsclowie29 on Sep 21, 2010 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions  

Haha don’t worry about it. I’m just lookin for ways to entertain myself at work lol.

by Khaaz on Sep 21, 2010 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

LOL chhhcheckcheck it out on the Sept OT thread

enjoy! I apologize for the giddy stupid face in advance hah!

High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own." -Noctro

by mssjsclowie29 on Sep 21, 2010 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions  

You played it pretty cool.

"Don't even start"

by ZombieSkittles on Sep 22, 2010 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions  

thanks I think I did pretty good :)

High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own." -Noctro

by mssjsclowie29 on Sep 23, 2010 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions  

nice ride!

Heatley’s Bentley was sweet. On Saturday (9/18) after the practice, me and my boyfriend walked past it and this cute little boy was standing guard by it w/ his hockey stick! He says to us “this is Heatley’s car!!!” then he points out a bird poop on the trunk of the car and says “at least the poop is black so it blends in with his car!” too cute… we ended up missing Heatley, he came out the side door and we were at the back seeing players. At least I got my picture with Boyle and Marleau (who smelt really good!) and a few other Sharks. Cool day!!!!!

by Catstoy on Sep 22, 2010 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions  

LOL yea that boy was hanging out with us while waiting for Heater

he kept complaining how hot it was. At one point he was leaning on Heater’s car and we had to tell him to seriuosly get off. Hahahhaha! He was so funny and that car is amazing! Funny how we’re both there and belong here but didn’t know each other :) yea marleau smeilled amazing so did Heater hahahaha! Sounds so weird to say that.

High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own." -Noctro

by mssjsclowie29 on Sep 22, 2010 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions  

smells good!!!

Ahhh hell… not weird at all to say they smelled good! We just be appreciating females that love the Sharks! Boyle took a picture w/ me and he didnt smell…he was carrying a pink gift bag tho! but Marleau… woot! I told him, well I think I gushed that he smelled good and he laughed at me and said “thanks”. We have great pictures from that day… and even got to pose for a picture w/ coach Todd! Way cool!!!

by Catstoy on Sep 22, 2010 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

Patrick Marleau once had a woman tell him he smelled wonderful; to this day he still blushes and giggles when he thinks of it.

by Auth0r on Sep 22, 2010 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions  

Well PM was only smiling in my pix because I put my arm around him and it tickled.

High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own." -Noctro

by mssjsclowie29 on Sep 23, 2010 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions  

LOL~

When I asked Patty to have my picture taken w/ him he said “sure” and put his arm around me, suprised me… as Boyle didnt put his arm around me.
Guess I got a cheap-o grab-o thrill! LOL!
Hell, now i am the one giggling and blushing about it!

by Catstoy on Sep 23, 2010 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions  

;)

PM fact right there.

High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own." -Noctro

by mssjsclowie29 on Sep 23, 2010 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions  

Great story. Heatley’s one of my favorite players. Hearing things like this (and mssjclowie’s story!) just makes me like him even more.

by MisguidedAngel on Sep 21, 2010 9:23 AM PDT reply actions  

Great comments

Loved reading the comments on here today. Ya, it was a story that I had to share after hearing it. Sometimes players get bad raps, and sometimes players just are having bad days when they interact with fans. It has to be tough to be expected to be nice all of the time when you are interacting with fans on a daily basis. Most of the time, the stories you hear are about the time a player or celebrity was NOT nice to a fan. Its important that we share the positive stories as well.

by Ronnibily on Sep 21, 2010 11:57 AM PDT reply actions  

I had a similar kind of experience with Rob Blake. Great guy. My son played baseball with him and was in his class. He was usually at the games watching the kids. Always polite. Nice guy.
After the Sharks took out the redwings, his son (7 or 8 years old) comes into class with signed hockey cards for all of his classmates.

by psantangeli on Sep 21, 2010 1:57 PM PDT reply actions  

Was in his SON’S class that is :-)

by psantangeli on Sep 21, 2010 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

Clearly this person is not a class act.

I hope you feel proud making a comment like that.

by TnSD11 on Sep 21, 2010 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions  

hmmmm such a great comeback but I'd like to stay a class act.

High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing… everything else is just figure skating.
- Anonymous
"Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own." -Noctro

by mssjsclowie29 on Sep 21, 2010 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

Thank God Heatley wasn’t driving the bus

Tool

by jMoneyBrah on Sep 21, 2010 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

Good thing Kane didn’t beat up the bus driver.

"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda

by Evilducks on Sep 21, 2010 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

oh no...

I laughed. But seriously that’s terrible man. Come on.

Remember Marty McSorely as Color guy? ... ouch.

by banx on Sep 21, 2010 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions  

I feel guilty that I LOLed, but get off of here, you jackass.

by JenLovesHockey on Sep 21, 2010 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

Leave it to a hwaks fan to class up the joint

"Like I said, it’s like me giving you a high-five and chest bump after you hit for the cycle against the kid in the wheelchair." Vacafan on May 14, 2010

by adragon on Sep 22, 2010 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

Great story

rec’d

"Like I said, it’s like me giving you a high-five and chest bump after you hit for the cycle against the kid in the wheelchair." Vacafan on May 14, 2010

by adragon on Sep 22, 2010 9:49 AM PDT reply actions  

Dany Heatley...

is still a lousy pitcher! Hahaha. Good story btw, a lot of people that learn about his accident in ATL and the resulting death of his team mate/ friend and subsequent trade to Ottawa might have preconceived notions about what he’s like, so It’s great to hear a story like this. So many athletes are absolute d-bags in real life.

Speaking of down to earth players, anyone remember that story last season about Brooks Laich of the Caps helping a couple of fans (a mother and daughter) change their tire after they just lost their Game 7 against Montreal?

The Sharks need to play like 2 Live Crew, "As Nasty As They Want To Be" -Drew Remenda

by 408SharksFinatic on Sep 27, 2010 1:36 PM PDT reply actions  

Yeah

that was awesome hearing that.

Proud member of the "Bring Back Semenov" Club

by PNK on Oct 2, 2010 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions  

punch line?

im still waiting for the joke about them driving or rather how heater wasn’t driving….

fucking people.

by over5.5 on Sep 27, 2010 1:46 PM PDT reply actions  

I have a story!!

Not quite as good as the Heatley one, but another indication they start ’em young being nice to us fans.

The other day my cell phone rings, but I’m at lunch for a co-workers birthday and I knew the call was personal (bless you caller id) so I didn’t pick up. then I hear the voicemail tone, and then a text and I though geez what’s so urgent?

I didn’t listen to the voicemail until the on the way back to the office, turns out my friend (who knows most of the Woostah players) called me and then asked Alex Stalock to talk to me, which he graciously did, albeit via voicemail lol.

He was so nice and left a decent length message, not just a “hithisisalexstalocksorryimissedyoukbai” lol! It made my day and I play the message for anyone who’ll listen. :oD

Yes, I am a dork.

Al Stalock, his reflexes are so good, he can smell a fart before someone even lays one."

BERTUZZI: "Getting tired, Nabby? You've got another five and a half minutes of hell coming."
NABOKOV: "You've got another five and a half minutes left in your season."

by sharkiesgirl on Sep 28, 2010 4:15 PM PDT reply actions  

Here’s to a 12 yr old kid in the OC clapping and inspired when Heater finally raises the cup in SJ.

GP

Hockey Happens!

by goalp on Oct 5, 2010 2:28 AM PDT reply actions  

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