'He was like a second father': Fans get emotional after Wayne Gretzky shares heartfelt tribute for 9/11 victim and close friend
Fans get emotional after Wayne Gretzky shares heartfelt tribute for 9/11 victim and close friend (Image via Getty)
Recently, Wayne Gretzky posted an emotional memorial. He called to mind a teammate that was very meaningful to him. Early hockey years saw Garnet "Ace" Bailey, a teammate, assist him.
Short yet packed of emotion, Wayne Gretzky's message The motivation for this statement was really moving.
Wayne Gretzky honors Garnet 'Ace' Bailey, lost in 9/11
Garnet "Ace" Bailey died on September 11, 2001 aboard United Airlines Flight 175. New York's plane struck the World Trade Center's South Tower. Bailey was going toward the Los Angeles Kings' training facility. At 53, he was close to Gretzky and Bailey.
Wayne Gretzky was only 17 in 1978–79; Bailey, 30, moved in with him for the Edmonton Oilers.
Bailey assisted Gretzky in acclimating to professional life. He accompanied him on and off the ice. They grew to be like family. Their families even gathered sometimes.
Wayne Gretzky shared about Bailey on Instagram on June 13, 2025. "Ace, we are always thinking about you and your family," he scribbled. It reached many admirers. 'Kid, you follow what I say, and you'll win a lot of championships,' Bailey once told Gretzky.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
USDJPY đang đi lên không?
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
That came true; Wayne Gretzky enjoyed one of hockey's most successful careers.
Also Read:
Did Wayne Gretzky Really Join Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce At The Stanley Cup Final
Garnet Bailey's memory still lives in hockey
Garnet 'Ace' Bailey was left wing. In 1970 and 1972, he led the Boston Bruins to their Stanley Cup triumphs. Behind the scenes for the NHL, he served after his playing days.
He was the Director of Pro Scouting for the LA Kings. He helped build winning teams. Bailey also worked with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s. He helped shape their Stanley Cup team.
The LA Kings honored him by naming their mascot 'Bailey.'
They also created the Ace Bailey Memorial Award. The Ace Bailey Children's Foundation helps sick children in hospitals.
In 2012, when the Kings won the Stanley Cup, they took the trophy to the 9/11 Memorial for Bailey's family. Wayne Gretzky once said, 'He reminded me of my dad. He was like a second father.' Bailey's impact, both in hockey and in life, is still felt today.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Mika Singh gets emotional after attending Shefali Jariwala's last rites: 'Itne jaldi chali gayi... Kya wajah thi koi nahi jaanta'
Mika Singh mourned Shefali Jariwala's sudden death at her funeral, expressing disbelief at her passing at just 42. Shefali, famed for 'Kaanta Laga,' died of a reported cardiac arrest. Her husband, Parag Tyagi, and mother, Sunita Jariwala, were heartbroken during the final rites, with Parag pleading for prayers for his 'angel.' Singer Mika Singh was visibly emotional as he exited the crematorium after attending the final rites of actress Shefali Jariwala on June 28. Stopping briefly to speak with the paparazzi, Mika expressed his deep sorrow over her sudden demise and shared a heartfelt message that has resonated with many. He said, 'Bas 42 ki thi… itni jaldi chali gayi. Kya wajah thi, koi nahi jaanta – sirf bhagwan jaanta hai. Par ek baat pakki hai… woh humare dilon mein hamesha zinda rahegi. Bhagwan unki aatma ko shanti de.' Shefali, best known for her breakout appearance in the Kaanta Laga music video, passed away after reportedly suffering a sudden cardiac arrest between June 27 and 28. She was declared dead on arrival at a Mumbai hospital. Several emotional moments from Shefali Jariwala's funeral have gone viral on social media. Her husband, Parag Tyagi, was seen kissing her forehead and breaking down while giving a shoulder to her bier. Another heartbreaking clip showed Shefali's mother, Sunita Jariwala, overcome with grief as she held onto her daughter's body. Celebrities like Arti Singh and Mahira Sharma also attended the funeral, visibly moved by the loss. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sharp Design, Smoother Drives. Toyota Glanza Learn More Undo After shefali's funeral, a devastated Parag appeared in front of the media and requested privacy with folded hands. He also said, 'Meri pari ke liye pray kijiyega aap sab log, please." Parag was surrounded by police personnel while he urged the media to pray for Shefali's soul to rest in peace. Shefali's final rites took place today at the Oshiwara Crematorium in Mumbai—the same venue where actor Sidharth Shukla 's last rites were held in 2021.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka to resume rivalry in bid to secure place on Wimbledon merry-go-round
BENGALURU: The Wimbledon women's throne has turned into tennis' version of musical chairs with new champions in the last seven years and all signs point to another one as Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff resume their simmering rivalry on the pristine lawns of London. The All England Club has not crowned a repeat champion since 2016 when Serena Williams captured the 22nd of her 23 Grand Slam trophies and the chances of injury-hit holder Barbora Krejcikova rediscovering her miraculous level from 12 months ago are slim. Elena Rybakina and Marketa Vondrousova , whose names precede Krejcikova on the iconic honours board, remain dangerous players on the sport's fastest surface but all eyes will be on the women who contested an error-strewn but enthralling French Open final. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo American Gauff prevailed in this month's Roland Garros title clash against Belarusian Sabalenka and the 21-year-old will head to the venue of her breakthrough as a teenager in 2019 eager to finally conquer grass after claycourt and hardcourt success. Gauff did not enjoy a good start to the grass swing after suffering a stunning second-round loss to Wang Xinyu in Berlin, but former Wimbledon quarter-finalist CoCo Vandeweghe said the two-time major champion will learn from the experience. Live Events "I don't think this shakes her confidence," Vandeweghe told the Tennis Channel. "This isn't going to be her best surface, but you know what she's going to do? She's going to take this loss and really work on herself. That's what we've seen time and time again from Gauff. She's the ultimate competitor. "That's what we always see from Coco, as much as we talk about the negative aspects of what goes wrong in her game, what we don't talk about enough is what goes right." POINT TO PROVE Sabalenka, who was beaten by Gauff in another long final at the U.S. Open two years ago, will also have a point to prove in London with the three-time major winner looking to make up for lost time after missing last year's Wimbledon with injury. Since then she has contested three successive Grand Slam finals, triumphing in New York last September but failing to add to her major trophy haul with runner-up finishes in Melbourne and Paris. Despite being one of the most consistent players over the last two years, marked by a rise to the top spot in the world rankings, Sabalenka has yet to solve the puzzle that grass poses having lost both of her finals on the surface. The 27-year-old reached the Berlin semi-finals before crashing to eventual champion Vondrousova and will be eager to quickly rediscover the form that can devastate her opponents. "The grass season is a short one, only a few tournaments before Wimbledon," Sabalenka said after beating Rybakina in the Berlin quarter-finals. "I wanted to play some matches, I wanted to remember how to play on grass and I'm happy I got what I did." Madison Keys became the latest entrant into the Grand Slam champions ' club with an inspired run to the Australian Open title earlier this year and the stage is set for the big-hitting American to prove she is no one-hit wonder. Vondrousova will have a similar mindset after the former world number six, ranked 164 at the start of the Berlin tune-up event, became the lowest-ranked champion in the tournament's history after dismantling Keys and Sabalenka along the way. Iga Swiatek will also hope for the rub of the green after a torrid spell following her short ban for a doping violation last year as she looks to go past the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time and add to her collection of five major titles.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
From Messi to Auckland City, magic shining through Club World Cup issues
The Club World Cup 's various problems have been well documented, from empty seats to storm delays, extreme heat to complaints about FIFA's expanded competition being a cash grab at the expense of the players' long-term health. However, with the right ingredients slow-cooking in the United States summer sun, there has also been plenty to enjoy about the tournament so far. Several stars are getting their encore moments, including Inter Miami 's cast of ageing former Barcelona greats, led by Lionel Messi . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This New AC Cooler Cools the Room In Seconds Sherum Learn More Undo Now 38, Messi helped the Major League Soccer side make the last 16 against the odds, which coach Javier Mascherano said was "historic". Messi's mere presence still provokes intense reactions, including from a young boy in an Argentina shirt at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in tears before the new NBA-style walk-outs, overcome at the prospect of seeing his hero live. Live Events He delivered, too, whipping a superb free-kick into the top corner to earn Miami a shock victory over Porto. "I'm a Messi fan, he's still one of the best players in the world -- that Porto game we weren't supposed to win," said Yemi Obono, a 34-year-old tech product manager who lives in Atlanta. He and many others will get another chance to see the forward when Inter Miami face European champions Paris Saint-Germain in Georgia again this weekend in the last 16. "(Watching Messi) was like a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me... I hope I can go on Sunday and see him again," added Obono. "I'm happy -- at first I wasn't happy we came second (in the group)." Messi's reunion with PSG is one of many narratives to catch the eye. With clubs taking the competition seriously, not least because of the total of $1 billion in prize money on offer, these matches feel "canon", unlike pre-season friendly tours. "I'm pretty sure for the South American teams, for the Brazilian teams, for Argentinian teams, this competition is maybe the maximum," said Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola, who hailed the passion of the South American fans in particular. "People are surprised (when) European teams lose," added Guardiola. "Welcome to the real world my friends." Botafogo stunned PSG in the group stage with a 1-0 win, Chelsea suffered a stinging 3-1 defeat by another Brazilian side in Flamengo, and Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid were eliminated early. The group stage has offered some of the tension the revamped UEFA Champions League first round lacked. The Club World Cup has also offered a first look at Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid project, and new signings like Los Blancos duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, Chelsea's Liam Delap and several Manchester City arrivals. Coaches including Bayern's Vincent Kompany have appreciated the extra time they have to work in depth with players, swallowed up in the season by recovery sessions amid the packed calendar. '99 percent' The tournament has been an opportunity to celebrate teams who rarely get to enjoy the global spotlight. While some mocked New Zealand amateurs Auckland City after their opening 10-0 defeat by Bayern Munich , it highlighted how impressive their 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors was in their final game. "We're representing 99 percent of club teams in world football who are amateurs... we all have day jobs," said vice-captain Adam Mitchell. Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds ' fans went toe-to-toe with their River Plate counterparts in creating a superb atmosphere, which is no mean feat. Although River and Argentine rivals Boca were eliminated, their passionate supporters helped bring the tournament to life. Even if stadiums are not full, the fans who are there are bringing the noise -- and the average attendance is higher than for La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1 last season. Brazilian clubs have flexed their muscles, with all four reaching the last 16, surprising those who thought the gap to Europe's elite was too great. With the likes of PSG, City, Real and Bayern looking to go deep, some impending blockbuster clashes may yet win over those resistant to the spectacle. The Club World Cup is a tournament in its infancy, with room to improve, but is already showing it has more heart than some expected.
