Memories of Kings scouts still strong

The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 caused the deaths of nearly 3,000 people and impacted the lives of families across the globe. The Los Angeles Kings, and hockey in general, were not spared on that day as the Kings felt the loss of Garnet "Ace" Bailey, the Kings' director of pro scouting, and amateur scout Mark Bavis when hijackers took control of their scheduled Boston-to-Los Angeles flight and crashed the plane into the south tower of New York's World Trade Center.

Today, we remember the lives of these two great hockey men with a tribute piece by Rich Hammond that first appeared on kings.com on Sept. 9, 2011.

The exercise bike sat outside, in the sunshine, right where Ace Bailey enjoyed riding it.

Sept. 11, 2001, would be a busy day around the Kings‚ training facility in El Segundo. Coaches and staffers would be on the move for hours, helping out with players‚ medical examinations and, in general, preparing for the start of training camp the next day.

Bailey was scheduled to arrive at LAX from Boston late that morning. Pete Demers, the Kings‚ longtime trainer, knew this, and knew how Bailey -- with his ever-present tan and friendly smile -- loved to sit in the Southern California sun and get some exercise.

So at 5 a.m., before his work day began, Demers dragged a bike outside. Bailey would be pleased, Demers thought, to arrive in El Segundo and be able to take his daily spin.

Sixteen hours later, Demers quietly brought the bike back inside. Bailey didn't ride it. Didn't see it. Didn't make it to Los Angeles. Instead, he became a part of tragic history.

Garnet "Ace" Bailey, the Kings' director of pro scouting, and amateur scout Mark Bavis lost their lives that day, when terrorists hijacked their scheduled Boston-to-Los Angeles flight and crashed the plane into the south tower of New York's World Trade Center.

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