Garnet "Ace" Bailey
Becomes A Hockey Scout
After ending his playing career, Bailey coached with the Houston Apollos and Wichita Wind for a year each, then became a scout for the Oilers. He was an Oilers scout for thirteen years and helped the team to five Stanley Cups before becoming director of pro scouting for the Los Angeles Kings in 1994.
On September 11, 2001, Bailey was on United Airlines Flight 175, en route from Boston to Los Angeles, when the plane was hijacked by terrorists and crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. All on board were killed in the resulting fire-ball, which destroyed the tower. In his memory, his family established the Ace Bailey Children's Fund, which benefits children who need medical care.
Bailey was admired and respected by his colleagues. The Dailey News of Los Angeles reported the feelings of Ray Bennett, the assistant coach of the Kings, after his death. "Ace, if you were introduced to him, you knew him. He didn't just shake your hand. He grabbed your arm. He slapped you on the back.… He under-stood that this game is really about relationships and the people you meet." In an article on the International Ice Hockey Federation Web site, a reporter quoted Wayne Gretzky, who said, "Ace may not have been the greatest hockey player to play in the NHL, but he taught many players how to win championships and more importantly, he was a winner as a person. We will all miss him greatly."
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Famous Sports StarsHockeyGarnet "Ace" Bailey Biography - Son Of A Hockey Player, "coach, I Used It Every Day", Chronology, Becomes A Hockey Scout