Tag: Ace Award

PHSF honours four with Ace Award

OKOTOKS, AB (April 1, 2026) — Four men who combined to spend more than 100 years working for NHL teams will share in the Ace Award when the non-profit Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation holds its annual Wall of Honour induction dinner in Okotoks on Aug. 28.

Lorne Davis, Del Wilson, Ted Hampson and Marshall Johnston will be honoured on an evening when 21 other scouts will be inducted into the Wall of Honour. Davis, Wilson, Hampson and Johnston were among the original inductees in 2024.

The Ace Award is presented in honour of the late Garnet (Ace) Bailey, a longtime NHL scout. He was the Los Angeles Kings’ director of pro scouting and was en route to their training camp when the plane he was on was hijacked and deliberately flown into the South Tower of New York City’s World Trade Centre on Sept. 11, 2001. The Ace Award is presented annually to an individual or individuals who are seen to have made outstanding contributions and efforts to the NHL scouting profession.

This year’s recipients are recognized by those in the scouting fraternity for their dedication to the profession and their willingness to help those who were working to follow in their footsteps.

“Congratulations to Lorne, Del, Ted and Marshall, all of whom deserve to be honoured with the Ace Award,” said Erin Ginnell, the Foundation’s president. “All four gentlemen are pillars in the scouting community, not only for their successes but by also being the great people that they have been over the many years of scouting.” 

Archie Henderson, a now-retired scout and a member of the Wall of Honour, chaired the selection committee.

“I went back and looked at the history of these guys; I would encourage hockey fans to do the same and look at what these guys did, not just in their scouting careers, but as players and executives,” Henderson said. “The number of championships they won . . . the number of teams they impacted is amazing.

“The one word I would use to describe the four of them is ‘passion’ . . . they had to have passion for hockey and the game of life to do what they did. They were iconic, not just in scouting but in all different facets and levels of North American and international hockey.”

Davis, who died in 2007 at the age of 77, was an NHL scout for more than 40 years — 29 of those with the Edmonton Oilers and 10 with the St. Louis Blues. He also worked with the New York Rangers and the WHA’s Houston Aeros. During his time with the Oilers, he helped the organization win five Stanley Cup titles. He also won a Stanley Cup as a player with the 1952-53 Montreal Canadiens. He has been a member of the Regina Sports Hall of Fame since 2003.

Wilson, who died in 2015 at the age of 88, was a scout with the Montreal Canadiens for 47 years, during which time they won 18 Stanley Cup titles. He also was an owner and general manager of the Regina Pats, and a founder of what now is the Western Hockey League. The Del Wilson Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the WHL’s top goaltender. He is a member of the Regina and Saskatchewan sports halls of fame, and the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame.

Hampson didn’t go scouting until ending his playing career at the age of 44. He started his scouting career with NHL Central Scouting, before moving on to the St. Louis Blues (21 years), Colorado Avalanche (2) and Vancouver Canucks (10). He was 85 when he retired in 2022. He is a member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.

Johnston, 84, moved from the New Jersey Devils’ coaching staff to become director of player personnel in 1983, a role he filled through nine seasons. He then spent nine seasons with the Ottawa Senators as director of player personnel and then general manager. He followed that with three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and 11 as director of pro scouting for the Carolina Hurricanes, winning the Stanley Cup with them in 2006. He has been inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame — he was a regular on Canada’s national team in the mid-1960s — and the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2025, the Ace Award was presented to two veteran scouts — Mike Penny and the late Barry Fraser. The initial recipients, in 2024, were former team executive and long-time play-by-play man Dennis Beyak and Gregg Drinnan, a sports journalist for more than 40 years.

You are able to follow the PHSF and its happenings at its website — hockeyscoutsfoundation.com.

For further information, contact:

Garth Malarchuk

PHSF chairman of the board

GMalarchuk@torontomapleleafs.com

Gregg Drinnan

PHSF editor/historian

greggdrinnan@gmail.com

WCPHSF to honour veteran scouts with Ace Award

Two veteran scouts — Mike Penny and the late Barry Fraser — will be saluted at the Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation’s second annual Wall of Honour induction dinner in Okotoks on July 29.

The Foundation announced today that the two will be presented with its most-prestigious honour, the Ace Award. In honour of the late Garnet (Ace) Bailey, the award is given annually to a member of the scouting fraternity or someone involved with the scouting community for contributions above and beyond what might have been expected.

Bailey, an incredibly popular member of the scouting family, was the Los Angeles Kings’ director of pro scouting when he died aboard the plane that crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was 53.

After ending his playing career, Bailey split a 20-year scouting career between the Edmonton Oilers and the Kings. He was on the Oilers’ scouting staff for 12 seasons under Fraser.

Fraser, a native of Kirkland Lake, Ont., passed away on Dec. 4, 2022. He was 82. Fraser spent two seasons scouting for the WHA’s Houston Aeros before joining the Oilers as director of scouting in 1978. He retired in 2000.

“Barry Fraser was a legend and an icon in the world of the NHL scouting community,” Archie Henderson, a member of the selection committee, said. “He set the gold standard for ALL scouts at ALL levels of the game of hockey with his unrivalled scouting contributions to the Edmonton Oilers leading to five Stanley Cups.

“His resume of identifying talent is among the best in the history of the game.”

Penny, who was born in Montreal, has been scouting at one level or another since 1969. He went to work for the Vancouver Canucks in 1980 and spent time with them as a scout, director of amateur scouting and assistant general manager. He moved on to the Toronto Maple Leafs as director of player personnel in 2002 and now is a member of their pro scouting department.

“Mike Penny has worn many hats in the game of hockey over his long career,” said Henderson, a long-time scout who retired in 2022. “He has been a mentor to many of the present-day NHL scouts. His experience and gentle hand in so many roles at different levels of hockey has provided a template for the modern-day scouts to follow.

“He is a true gentleman and a professional at his craft, and is someone other scouts have always looked to for advice and guidance.”

Fraser and Penny both were included in the 2024 Wall of Honour induction class. Penny, 77, is to be inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame in Penticton on July 12.

The first recipients of the Ace Award were Dennis Beyak and Gregg Drinnan. Beyak, best known as a long-time play-by-play voice with TSN, is an associate director with the Foundation and also emcee of its dinners. Drinnan is the Foundation’s editor and historian.

Tickets for the second annual induction dinner are available on the Foundation’s website — hockeyscoutsfoundation.com.

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For more information, contact:

Garth Malarchuk, Chairman of the Board

gmalarchuk@torontomapleleafs.com

Tim Lenardon, Foundation Co-ordinator

timlenardon78@gmail.com

Gregg Drinnan, Editor/Historian

greggdrinnan@gmail.com

Ace Award to honour Bailey; meet two more Wall of Honour inductees . . .

The non-profit Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation will hold its inaugural Wall of Honour induction dinner in Okotoks on July 30. During the evening, The Ace Award, in honour of the late Garnet (Ace) Bailey will be handed out for the first time, while 45 past and present-day scouts will be honoured. . . . Here’s a quick look at Bailey and two of the scouts who will be saluted. . . . For more bios, visit hockeyscoutsfoundation.com and click on Wall of Honour.

GARNET (ACE) BAILEY

(June 13, 1948 — Sept. 11, 2001)

ACE BAILEY

Born in Lloydminster, Alta., he had a 20-year career as a pro scout. . . . Was Los Angeles Kings’ director of pro scouting, and was en route to training camp when he died aboard the plane that crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. . . . The Kings’ mascot, Bailey, is named in his memory. . . . Began scouting with Edmonton Oilers in 1981. Moved to Kings in 1994. . . . Played 568 regular-season NHL games over 10 seasons split between Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals. Also played one season with WHA’s Oilers. . . . Won two Stanley Cups as a player (Bruins, 1970, ’72) and five while scouting with the Oilers (1984-85-87-88-90). . . . Was a key player with the 1966 Memorial Cup-champion Edmonton Oil Kings. . . .

Bailey’s untimely passing left a profound void throughout the scouting fraternity, but his legacy as a dedicated and committed scout lives on through the Ace Award that serves as a testament to his remarkable contributions towards the game of hockey. . . . The Ace Award is a prestigious accolade bestowed upon individuals affiliated with the NHL scouting profession to recognize their outstanding contributions and efforts throughout their years of service.

EARL INGARFIELD SR.

(Oct. 25, 1934 —)

Born in Lethbridge, he was prolific scorer with junior Lethbridge Native Sons (1952-55) before pro career that included nine seasons with New York Rangers (1958-67). . . . Also played with expansion Pittsburgh Penguins and Oakland/California Golden Seals. . . . Went from coaching WHL’s Regina Pats (1971-72) to New York Islanders as a scout (1972-73) and ended up head coach 48 games into inaugural season. Was back scouting in 1973-74. . . . Returned to WHL for two seasons (1974-76) as assistant GM/head coach of Lethbridge Broncos. . . . Returned to Islanders as consultant in 1980. Was back scouting in 1982 and continued into the mid-2000s. Was there for four straight Stanley Cups (1980-81-82-83). . . . Inducted into Lethbridge and Southern Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (1985), Alberta Sports Hall of Fame (2007) and Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (2023).

LES JACKSON

(Dec. 21, 1952 —)

LES JACKSON

A native of Manning, Alta., he joined Minnesota North Stars as an assistant coach in 1985 and spent 33 of the next 35 seasons with the organization. . . . Moved into the front office after two seasons on the coaching staff and spent time as scout, director of amateur scouting, director of player personnel, director of hockey operations, assistant general manager, co-general manager, director of player development and senior advisor to the GM. . . . Made move to Dallas with the franchise in 1993. . . . The two seasons he wasn’t with the Stars (1998-2000), he worked as the Atlanta Thrashers’ assistant GM. . . . Joined Florida Panthers as pro scout when Dallas didn’t renew his contract due to COVID-related cuts in 2020. Three seasons later, he was named senior advisor.