DiPenta has bond with Snyder’s family

Joe DiPenta and Graham Snyder don’t know each other well but share a bond that will last a lifetime.

DiPenta, the Ducks’ second-year defenseman, played with Snyder’s son, Dan, on the 2002 Chicago Wolves team that won the Calder Cup, the American Hockey League’s equivalent of the Stanley Cup.

DiPenta met with the elder Snyder after a recent practice to swap stories about Dan, who was killed in an Atlanta auto accident in 2003 involving Dany Heatley, who now plays for the Ottawa Senators.

“When I got traded [to Chicago], I didn’t know anybody on the team,” DiPenta said Thursday. “Dan was the first guy that kind of made me feel welcome.

“I remember this feeling that I liked him right away. He just had this smile and this quiet demeanor about him. You couldn’t ask for a better teammate.”

Graham Snyder and his wife, LuAnn, are traveling in a rented motor home to all 30 NHL cities to raise money for their son’s foundation. The money will go toward building an ice rink and community center in their hometown of Elmira, Canada. Along the way, they’ll meet some of his former teammates and spread their message of forgiveness.

Heatley pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide and received three years of probation, in part because the Snyders insisted he not get jail time.

“He’s a human being like us,” Graham Snyder said of Heatley. “That’s the way we felt about it right from the start. That’s the way we feel today.”

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What can a bad loss do?

Jean-Sebastien Giguere’s first regulation defeat in 13 starts in goal increased his goals-against average from 1.98 to 2.28 and dropped his save percentage from .928 to .918 after he allowed five goals in 11 shots Wednesday against Philadelphia. Backup Ilya Bryzgalov gave up two goals in five shots; his save percentage went from .925 to .908.

TONIGHT

vs. Chicago, 7, FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Honda Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 13-2-4; Blackhawks 6-9-2.

Record vs. Blackhawks -- 1-0-0.

Update -- The Ducks have won seven straight against Chicago. In his Ducks debut Wednesday, George Parros played nearly seven minutes and was credited with one hit and one blocked shot.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.

eric.stephens@latimes.com