ATLANTA, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Atlanta's Dany Heatley is to return to the ice Tuesday for the first time since the September car accident that claimed the life of teammate Dan Snyder.
Heatley, Thrashers' right winger, has been recovering from torn ligaments in his right knee suffered in the Sept. 29 accident, when he slammed his Ferrari into a pillar on a winding road in Atlanta.
Snyder was a passenger in the car and died of massive brain injuries six days later at the age of 25.
Heatley is facing criminal charges as a result of the accident.
He was supposed to resume skating last week, but the session was postponed after he felt soreness in his surgically repaired knee.
A 22-year-old All-Star right wing, Heatley will include light skating as part of his daily rehabilitation program.
Heatley was sixth in the league last season with 41 goals and ninth with 89 points.
