Garnet Bailey

Early Life and Junior Career

Garnet Edward Bailey was born on June 13, 1948, in the border city of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, which straddles the provincial boundary with Alberta. His path to professional hockey was forged in the Western Canadian Hockey League with the Edmonton Oil Kings, where he was a key contributor to the team's success. Bailey helped the Oil Kings win the Memorial Cup, Canada's national major junior championship, in 1966, and his offensive performance during the 1966-67 season saw him record 93 points. This point total made him a highly sought-after prospect and led to his selection by the Boston Bruins in the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft, marking the beginning of his professional journey. The nickname Ace, which he used throughout his career, was acquired during his youth, though he was not related to the earlier Hockey Hall of Famer Irvine Ace Bailey.

Professional Playing Career

Bailey began his professional career in the Boston Bruins' system, spending two seasons primarily with their American Hockey League affiliates. During the 1968-69 season, he helped lead the Hershey Bears to the Calder Cup championship, leading the AHL in playoff assists with 10, and he also made eight appearances for the Bruins that season. His notable game for Boston came on March 16, 1969, where he scored a hat trick and added an assist in an 11-3 victory, a performance that demonstrated his scoring ability at the NHL level. The following season, 1969-70, Bailey played 58 games for the Bruins team that would win the Stanley Cup, but his season was cut short on March 7, 1970, when he broke his ankle in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. This injury prevented him from appearing in any playoff games and, under the rules at the time, resulted in his name not being engraved on the trophy despite being part of the championship team.

He returned to play a full 73-game schedule for the Bruins during their 1971-72 championship season, and Bailey scored a crucial game-winning goal in the Stanley Cup Final against the New York Rangers. He broke a 5-5 tie at 17:44 of the third period in Game 1 to secure a victory, and the Bruins went on to win the series, ensuring his name was engraved on the Stanley Cup this time. His tenure with Boston ended when he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for the 1972-73 season, and after two seasons in Detroit, he was dealt to the St. Louis Blues. Bailey's final four NHL seasons were spent with the Washington Capitals, where he posted his best statistical season in 1974-75, split between St. Louis and Washington, scoring 19 goals and 39 assists for 58 points. NHL Career Statistics

After his time with the Washington Capitals, Garnet Bailey played one year in the World Hockey Association. He then moved to the Central Hockey League as a player-assistant coach for the Houston Apollos for the 1979-80 season. The following year he was named head coach of the Wichita Thunder prior to the start of the 1980-81 season. During that season he also played his final professional game.

Scouting Career and Post-Hockey Roles

Following his coaching stint, Bailey transitioned into scouting, where he found significant and lasting success with one of the NHL's premier dynasties. He was named a professional scout for the Edmonton Oilers, a position he held from the early 1980s through the 1993-94 season, during which the Oilers won five Stanley Cups. Bailey earned five Stanley Cup rings as a member of the organization's scouting staff for their championships in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990, though due to limits on the number of names engraved on the Cup each year, his name appears only once, alongside the 1990 championship team. In 1994, he joined the Los Angeles Kings as their director of pro scouting, a role he held until his death, and former Kings general manager Dave Taylor praised Bailey's unique ability to evaluate the intangible qualities a player could bring to a team, a skill that made him a valued member of the organization.

Death on September 11, 2001

Garnet Bailey died at the age of 53 while aboard United Airlines Flight 175, which was deliberately crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City during the September 11 attacks. Bailey and amateur scout Mark Bavis were travelling from Boston to Los Angeles when the flight was hijacked. They had been in Manchester, New Hampshire, visiting the Los Angeles Kings' AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs. Airphone records indicate that he attempted to call his wife four times. Neither of their remains were ever recovered.

Honours and Memorials

In the wake of his death, numerous tributes were established to honour Bailey's memory within the hockey world and beyond. His family founded the Ace Bailey Children's Foundation, which raises funds to benefit hospitalized children, infants, and their families, and the Los Angeles Kings named their team mascot Bailey in his honour. The Kings also wore special AM patches on their jerseys throughout the 2001-02 season to commemorate both Bailey and Mark Bavis, and at the National September 11 Memorial in New York, Bailey and Bavis are memorialized at the South Pool on Panel S-3. In a poignant hockey tradition, the Los Angeles Kings brought the Stanley Cup they won in 2012 to the memorial on October 14, 2012, placing it on the panels bearing their names so their families could have their day with the trophy. Other cultural references include the Boston-based band Dropkick Murphys mentioning him in their song Your Spirit's Alive and actor Denis Leary wearing a Bailey memorial T-shirt on the television series Rescue Me, and in 2023, the Boston Bruins organization named Bailey one of the top 100 players in the franchise's history, a posthumous recognition of his contributions to the team. Key Honours and Memorials

• Memorial Cup champion with Edmonton Oil Kings (1966).
• Stanley Cup champion as a player with Boston Bruins (1970, 1972).
• Five Stanley Cup rings as a scout with Edmonton Oilers (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990).
• Los Angeles Kings mascot named Bailey in his honour.
• Ace Bailey Children's Foundation established by his family.
• Commemorated at the National September 11 Memorial, South Pool, Panel S-3.
• Named one of the Top 100 Boston Bruins players of all time (2023).

Personal Life

Bailey was married to his wife Katherine. Together, they had a son named Todd. They resided in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. He enjoyed cooking.

Questions about Garnet Bailey

How did Garnet 'Ace' Bailey die?

Garnet Bailey died on September 11, 2001. He was aboard United Airlines Flight 175, which was hijacked and deliberately crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City during the September 11 attacks. He was 53 years old at the time of his death. Neither his remains nor those of fellow scout Mark Bavis were ever recovered.

How many Stanley Cups did Garnet Bailey win?

Garnet Bailey won the Stanley Cup twice as a player with the Boston Bruins in 1970 and 1972. He also earned five Stanley Cup rings as a scout for the Edmonton Oilers. However, his name was engraved on the trophy only once, for the 1989-90 championship. This was due to limits on the number of names that could be engraved on the Cup in each of those years. As a player, he broke his ankle near the end of the 1970 season and did not appear in the playoffs, so his name was not added that year. His name is on the Cup from the Bruins' 1972 victory and from his scouting work with the Oilers in 1990.

What team did Bailey scout for at the time of his death?

At the time of his death, Garnet Bailey was the Los Angeles Kings' director of pro scouting. He had held that position since 1994. Former Kings general manager Dave Taylor said Bailey had a gift for measuring the intangibles a player could bring. He was travelling from Boston to Los Angeles with amateur scout Mark Bavis when he died. They had been in Manchester, New Hampshire, visiting the Kings' American Hockey League affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs.

What is the Ace Bailey Children's Foundation?

The Ace Bailey Children's Foundation is a charitable organization founded by Bailey's family in his memory. The foundation specifically raises funds to benefit hospitalized children, infants and their families. It was established following his death in the September 11 attacks. The foundation serves as a lasting legacy to his life and character.

Was Garnet Bailey related to the older hockey player Ace Bailey?

No, Garnet Bailey was not related to Hockey Hall of Famer Irvine Wallace Ace Bailey. Despite sharing a nickname, there was no familial connection between the two players. Garnet Bailey obtained his Ace nickname during his youth and used it throughout his own career. The two men are distinct figures in hockey history.

What junior hockey achievement did Bailey accomplish?

Garnet Bailey accomplished a significant junior hockey achievement by winning the Memorial Cup in 1966. He achieved this victory as a member of the Edmonton Oil Kings. This championship marked the pinnacle of his successful junior hockey career. Following that season, he recorded a 93 point year during the 1966-67 campaign. His performance led to his selection by the Boston Bruins in the 1966 amateur draft.

Sources and further reading

• Garnet Bailey (Wikipedia)
• Ace Bailey Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title (hockey-reference.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-18.