Journey begins - Toronto 1920’s with the Parkdale Gang, Juice Chasers, West End Bridge & Social Club operated by Freddie “Gabs” Gabourie, Jackie Weaver backed by a cast of loose net hard core rounders.
A true story about Tim “Ace” Bailey who while playing in the Western Hockey League 1980, Ernie “Punch” McLean former coach/GM of the New Westminster Bruins stated “there’s a 18 year old playing for Spokane who is really dynamite. His name is Tim Bailey and he is tabbed as a certain NHL prospect”.
Bailey played his first Junior A game at the age 15 with the Weston Dodgers in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League.
Continued striving playing in the OHL with the Toronto Marlboros & Kitchener Rangers team who won the OHL Cup 1980-81 and lost in the Memorial Cup final to Cornwall Royals that had players like Dale Hawerchuk & Dougie Gilmour.
Bailey also played in the Western Hockey League with the Great Falls Americans, Spokane Flyers, Medicine Hat Tigers, Yorkton Terriers & Brandon Wheat Kings having line mates like Dave Brown, Joey Kocur, Ken “Mr. Devil” Daneyko and Brian Coughlin.
This lead to playing pro with the Carolina Thunderbirds with then rookie head coach Rick Dudley who himself was a former NHLer and now senior advisor with the Florida Panthers.
The next season Bailey was traded to the Nashville South Stars recording 13 points in 14 games before a serious shoulder injury took place requiring a full shoulder replacement and this changes the course in Bailey’s drive trying make the NHL, his life as a player ends.
THE BIG PICTURE:
Nobody wants to talk about this part?
What happens when that dream ends?
Transition to life after hockey can be a shocking reality check to players.
“It’’s a Hockey Life” with Tim “Ace” Bailey, the family name that’s been around hockey for 100 years.
Follow, when the dream ended for Bailey. Creating a dark & missing 10 years which includes being a bar manager in Canada’s Arctic, operating five Toronto Booze-cans, owing four pizza joints in Ontario leading to BOOZE, SEEDY LIFE & More🩸
Bailey’s decision at age 32 goIng back to college & university earning his degree as a Human Service Counsellor & Social Worker.
This leads to a current successful career the past 25 years as a frontline mental health worker working directly with homeless men in the downtown core in the BIG CITY🍎
Bailey’s 1987 comeback with ACE BAILEY HOCKEY DEVELOPMENT CAMPS.
In 1993 as head coach in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, where his popularity & success explodes and is compared to Mark Messier’s dad Doug Messier who terrorized the AJHL with St. Albert Saints in the 70’s.
Yes, Bailey brings his 70’s & 80’s WHL brand of hockey to his coaching style into the AJHL 1993-94 season as a rookie head coach and absolutely made some noise.
Bailey freaks out AJHL president at the time Marty Knack & actually terrorized the AJHL with his Bonnyville Pontiac cast of stars & tuff guys.
Bailey has been head coaching since 1993 to the present with success capturing championships in AAA, Junior ‘A’, Girls Rep & University Hockey.
This podcast “It’s a Hockey Life” will take listeners on a journey that will blow your mind.
