EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Garnet "Ace" Bailey, director of pro scouting for the Los Angeles Kings, was one of 65 passengers aboard one of the flights that crashed into the World Trade Center on Tuesday.

Remembering Bailey

The Phoenix Coyotes released the following statement by co-owner Wayne Gretzky, a former teammate of Ace Bailey's in Edmonton: "We are all deeply saddened by the loss of Ace Bailey. Our hearts go out to his wife Kathy and his son Todd. 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." The following statement was released by Edmonton Oilers general manager and former player Kevin Lowe: "Ace was one of the most popular guys in the NHL, and he was a friend to all of us. You will be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn't been touched by his incredible personality, and words simply can't express how we feel right now. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Ace's wife Kathy and his son Todd."

Team spokesman Mike Altieri said Mark Bavis, an amateur scout for the Kings, also was aboard United Airlines Flight 175 -- the second plane to hit the skyscrapers in New York. The Boeing 767 was scheduled to fly from Boston to Los Angeles, where the Kings opened training camp Wednesday.

After considering postponing, the Kings decided Wednesday to go ahead and open camp as scheduled.

Bailey, 53, who won two Stanley Cups as a player, was entering his 33rd season as a player or scout in the NHL -- his eighth as Kings director of pro scouting. He spent the previous 13 years as a scout with the Edmonton Oilers, who won five Stanley Cups during that time.

Bailey broke in with the Boston Bruins in the 1968-69 season, and spent five years with the Bruins, winning Stanley Cups in 1970 and '72. He spent parts of two seasons each with Detroit and St. Louis, and three-plus seasons with Washington.

Bailey jumped to the World Hockey Association in 1978, joining the Oilers, where he was a linemate of Wayne Gretzky.

Bailey retired after that season, then coached for one year each with Edmonton's CHL affiliates in Houston and Wichita. He became a scout for the Oilers a year later.

Bailey, who lived in Lynnfield, Mass., is survived by his wife, Katherine, and son, Todd.

"First and foremost, we are shocked by the tragedies that have occurred today, and the tremendous loss of life that has taken place," Kings general manager Dave Taylor said in a statement. "We had a number of scouts traveling to Los Angeles today from all over the world as we prepare for the opening of training camp on Wednesday.

"Our entire organization is deeply saddened and shaken by the loss of these two individuals. We would ask that everyone please respect the privacy of their families and direct all inquiries to our office. Our thoughts and prayers and with their families."

Altieri said that Bavis, 31, was responsible for the scouting of college teams, and was instrumental in the Kings' drafting of David Steckel of Ohio State with one of their first-round picks in June.

Bavis, who was entering his second season as an amateur scout for the Kings and lived in West Newton, Mass., is survived by his mother and two brothers. Bavis attended Boston University, where his twin brother, Michael, is an assistant coach for the hockey team.