The hockey world was not spared the tragedy of Tuesday morning’s terrorist attacks on the United States.
Former Boston University star Mark Bavis was among the 65 people on board United Airlines Flight 175 that were killed when hijackers crashed the plane into the World Trade Center. The flight departed from Boston’s Logan Airport, bound for Los Angeles.
Bavis, a native of Roslindale, Mass., had been working for the past year as an amateur scout for the Los Angeles Kings. Also aboard the plane was fellow scout, and former NHL forward Garnet “Ace” Bailey, who played 14 years of pro hockey from 1967-81, including time with the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals.
“First and foremost, we are shocked by the tragedies that have occurred today and the tremendous loss of life that has taken place,” said Los Angeles Kings general manager Dave Taylor. “We had a number of scouts traveling to Los Angeles today from all parts of the world as we prepare for the opening of training camp on Wednesday and, unfortunately, two of our staff members, Ace Bailey and Mark Bavis, were scheduled to be aboard United Airlines Flight 175.
“We have received confirmation from their families that both Ace and Mark were in fact on that flight and our entire organization is deeply saddened and shaken by the loss of these individuals.”
Bavis, 31, and twin brother, Mike — currently an assistant coach at BU — played for the Terriers from 1989-93, participating in four straight NCAA Final Fours. Mark Bavis, a ninth-round draft pick of the New York Rangers, played three seasons of minor pro hockey in the AHL and ECHL, before leaving to coach in the USA Hockey program. He was an assistant at Harvard, and then with the Chicago Freeze of the NAHL junior league before joining the Kings’ staff last year.
The plane Bavis and Bailey were on, one of four apparently hijacked early Tuesday morning, was the second of two that crashed into the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Both skyscrapers and a number of surrounding buildings eventually crumbled.
Five years ago, former Harvard defenseman Michel Breistroff was killed when TWA Flight 800 exploded and crashed off the coast of Long Island. Speculation said that was part of a terrorist act, too, but that was never confirmed.
[Please check back with USCHO for more details as they come in.]
