Garnet Bailey is one of a select few to play on the same team as Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky. Bailey made his first NHL appearance with Orr's Bruins in 1968 and played one season with Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers in the WHA in 1978-79.
The second Ace Bailey (no relation to Toronto's Ace of the 1920s and 1930s) was not the offensive star his predecessor was. But the tough winger did score some timely goals, none more so than his game winner in the first game of the 1972 Stanley Cup finals against the New York Rangers.
Bailey won two Cups with Boston and then ended his career in the Oilers organization, the WHA team that had drafted him in 1972 because of his junior days with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He also played for Detroit, St. Louis, and Washington, three franchises that never made the playoffs during the six years he was on those teams during their worst years.
After a brief stay as a player with the Houston Apollos, the Oilers farm team in the CHL, Bailey retired and was named the Houston head coach. He was later a scout with Edmonton, from 1981 through 1994. Helping build the team's dynasty and developing a new era of future Hall of Famers, notably Mark Messier, Paul Coffey, and Grant Fuhr.
Sadly, Bailey was one of the passengers on board United Airlines Flight 175 that crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
At the time of his death, Bailey was working as director of pro scouting for the Los Angeles Kings. In his memory, the Los Angeles Kings named their new mascot "Bailey". His family founded the Ace Bailey Children's Foundation in his honor and memory. The foundation raises funds to benefit hospitalized children, infants and their families.
