Background
Garnet Edward "Ace" Bailey was born June 13, 1948 in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.
Garnet Edward "Ace" Bailey was born June 13, 1948 in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.
He died at the age of 53 when United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City during the September 11 attacks. He was not related to Irvine "Ace" Bailey, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1926 to 1933. He later played for the Detroit Red Wings, Saint Louis Blues and the Washington Capitals.
In 1978-1979, Bailey returned to Edmonton to play with the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association, where he took rookie Wayne Gretzky under his wing.
He was head coach of the Wichita Wind, the Oilers" Central Hockey League affiliate, in the 1980-1981 season. In an National Hockey League career spanning 10 seasons and 568 games, Bailey scored 107 goals and 171 assists with 633 penalty minutes.
His most productive season offensively was 1975, when he scored 19 goals and 58 points for the Blues and the Capitals. In his sole WHA season, he scored 5 goals and 4 assists with 22 penalty minutes in 38 games.
At the time of his death, he was the Kings" director of pro scouting.
Bailey died when the plane in which he was traveling, United Airlines Flight 175, crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City during the September 11 attacks. Bailey and amateur scout Mark Bavis were traveling from Boston to Los Angeles for the Kings" organizational meetings when the flight was hijacked. Bailey and Bavis are mentioned in the Boston-based Dropkick Murphys song "Your Spirit"s Alive." Denis Leary wore a Bailey memorial T-shirt as the character Tommy Gavin in the season 1 episode "Immortal" and the fourth season episode "Pussified" in the television series Rescue Maine.
In his memory, the Los Angeles Kings named their new mascot "Bailey".
Bailey"s family founded the Ace Bailey Children"s Foundation in his memory. The foundation raises funds to benefit hospitalized children, infants and their families.
At the National September 11 Memorial, Bailey and Bavis are memorialized at the South Pool, on Panel South-3. Kings general manager Dean Lombardi was also in attendance.
1969-1970 - National Hockey League - Stanley Cup (Boston).