IT’S a HOCKEY LIFE & PARKDALE ROUNDERS
By Tim “Ace” Bailey
Queen St. West - 1950s Parkdale Gang, Juice Chasers, West End Bridge and Social Club operated by Gabourie, Weaver and a cast of rounders🩸
While playing in the Western Hockey League 79-80, Ernie “Punch” McLean former coach/GM of the New Westminster Bruins stated “there’s a 18 year old playing for the Great Falls Americans who is really dynamite. His name is Tim Bailey; he is tabbed as a certain NHL prospect”.
Line-mates like Dave Brown & Joey Kocur help Bailey achieve G-52 A-29 PTS-81 in only 45 games.
Career ending injury changes Baileys life.
“It’s a Hockey Life” true journey.
IT’S a HOCKEY LIFE & PARKDALE ROUNDERSAug 15, 2020
00:00
00:60
S2 E4 And Now The Cigarette Thefts Began.
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Nothing didn’t stop the loose net Parkdale crew. Besides the gambling dens, they had many other money making operations in the works.
“At first it was mostly break-ins, they’d hit the warehouses, then they started hitting the railways, then the transports.”
It's started spreading across the province and into the States and Quebec.
In 1957, it started slowly for a way to make extra money.
“At first it was mostly break-ins, they’d hit the warehouses, then they started hitting the railways, then the transports.”
It's started spreading across the province and into the States and Quebec.
In 1957, it started slowly for a way to make extra money.
Jun 16, 202331:08
S2 E3 “Slippin Into Darkness” Letter to 12 year old Timmy.
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The reason I’m writing to you now is because you’re about to go through one of the toughest times you’ll ever have to face.
You’re about to experience more than your fair share of violence.
In 1981, just eight years from now, you will get the luckiest break of all time.
My advice to you, Tim, is to remember more. And to cherish your time more, because your time is going to be shorter than you think.
In the future, when medical science gets more advanced, they’ll discover that this kind of imbalance has an effect on your body and mind in many ways.
And when the shoulder goes, it’s over.
You’re not going to be able to write the ending to your story on your own terms. And that will be a very tough pill to swallow.
But it will also be a good lesson for you as a young man. It’s just how life works.
There’s only so much of our story that we can write ourselves.
A lot of it is prewritten for us.
It’s a hockey life.
You’re about to experience more than your fair share of violence.
In 1981, just eight years from now, you will get the luckiest break of all time.
My advice to you, Tim, is to remember more. And to cherish your time more, because your time is going to be shorter than you think.
In the future, when medical science gets more advanced, they’ll discover that this kind of imbalance has an effect on your body and mind in many ways.
And when the shoulder goes, it’s over.
You’re not going to be able to write the ending to your story on your own terms. And that will be a very tough pill to swallow.
But it will also be a good lesson for you as a young man. It’s just how life works.
There’s only so much of our story that we can write ourselves.
A lot of it is prewritten for us.
It’s a hockey life.
Feb 09, 202330:45
S2 E2 1960’s Counterculture Explosion
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1960’s was a real sense of meaningful revolution in the air. Sex, drugs, rock’n’roll, religion, and revolutionary politics – the key philosophy of the American Sixties – were just as central to the Canadian experience of the period.
And Toronto’s Yorkville, the half square kilometre of boutiques, coffee houses, crashpads and go-go bars, was Canada’s psychedelic ground zero.
I our home on Maplewood Avenue was only five minutes away.
And Toronto’s Yorkville, the half square kilometre of boutiques, coffee houses, crashpads and go-go bars, was Canada’s psychedelic ground zero.
I our home on Maplewood Avenue was only five minutes away.
Nov 19, 202228:59
S2 E1 1960’s - Season Preview
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I look back on my childhood and think, "how did I make it out alive? We would leave the house for hours at a time, run wild and come home when the street lights came on.
However, by the mid-to-late 1960s, the rambunctious cultural and political happenings were changing family life.
Many of our parents grew up in tough times, the first 20–30 years of their lives were filled with trauma, insecurity, and possibly horrific violence.
The turbulent ’60s were not just peace, love, sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll. THAT was merely to numb the reality.
The 1960s was a time of questioning authority, debating options and changing the rules.
For many families, it was "the best of times and the worst of times.
This all created an ever growing "live for today attitude about life", with sexuality and mind-numbing drug use becoming freer and more open.
The 1960s were turbulent, violent, but also colorful years. There were assassins and flower children, alienation and idealism, rebellion and repercussion.
The 60s were defiantly far from perfect, but it was the perfect time to be an adventurous kid.
It was a hockey life.
However, by the mid-to-late 1960s, the rambunctious cultural and political happenings were changing family life.
Many of our parents grew up in tough times, the first 20–30 years of their lives were filled with trauma, insecurity, and possibly horrific violence.
The turbulent ’60s were not just peace, love, sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll. THAT was merely to numb the reality.
The 1960s was a time of questioning authority, debating options and changing the rules.
For many families, it was "the best of times and the worst of times.
This all created an ever growing "live for today attitude about life", with sexuality and mind-numbing drug use becoming freer and more open.
The 1960s were turbulent, violent, but also colorful years. There were assassins and flower children, alienation and idealism, rebellion and repercussion.
The 60s were defiantly far from perfect, but it was the perfect time to be an adventurous kid.
It was a hockey life.
Nov 19, 202248:51
S1 E6 LOSING THE EDGE - PARKDALE GANG SYNDICATE
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Town Tavern, Queen and Yonge Sts., Toronto - Jazz great Oscar Peterson recorded at the Town here in 1958, and three years later, in April 1961, Johnny (Pops) Papalia had several hits of his own at the Town.
Papalia, McDermott, Gabourie, Weaver and Marchildon along with crew of close friends gave gambler Maxie Bluestein what Toronto Star columnist Pierre Berton called "as terrible a beating as it is possible to give a man without killing him."
The beating was Papalia's way of announcing that he would be running Bluestein's gambling operation.
There were 100 patrons in the Town at the time, but a dearth of witnesses, as the headline to Berton's column read, "AN AMAZING CASE OF MASS BLINDNESS AT THE TOWN TAVERN."
Papalia, McDermott, Gabourie, Weaver and Marchildon along with crew of close friends gave gambler Maxie Bluestein what Toronto Star columnist Pierre Berton called "as terrible a beating as it is possible to give a man without killing him."
The beating was Papalia's way of announcing that he would be running Bluestein's gambling operation.
There were 100 patrons in the Town at the time, but a dearth of witnesses, as the headline to Berton's column read, "AN AMAZING CASE OF MASS BLINDNESS AT THE TOWN TAVERN."
Nov 19, 202201:00:24
S1 E5 PARKDALE - TORONTO’S NEW GAMBLING BOSSES
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Toronto gambling bosses changed with Parkdale’s tight knit crew lead by Joe McDermott, and Pete Feeley—they also changed the game of illegal gambling having an Anti-Gambling Squad officer on their payroll.
As McDermott put it….to have success in the illegal gambling world, Three Things are required:
Clients, Capital and the EDGE.
The EDGE is an agreement with police to let the club operate in return for a share of the take.
The Parkdale Gang had this and more…
Their influence grew with their income.
They made the acquaintance of members of parliament.
They became the bosom pals of a cabinet minister.
McDermott and Feeley were partners, in one case with Detroit Mafia, in the two biggest casinos in Ontario, Windsor & Cooksville and they had the major book in Parkdale - west-end Toronto.
The game is about to get dirty in Toronto’s gambling underworld.
Backed by Stefano Magidino (Buffalo) Johnny Papilla was muscling in on the two biggest gambling groups in the province of Ontario.
Partners McDermott, Feeley and biggest of all, with two hundred runners in downtown Toronto, was a dark - haired, blue - eyed, hard - faced man, Max Bluestein, alias Baker, bold and clever, once an important figure in Toronto’s biggest crime ring, then a silent partner in Feeley and McDermott's Cooksville casino.
Nov 19, 202201:10:07
S1 E4 “TORONTO’S PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1” GAMBLING KING PIN MANNY FEDER
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The Combine Club, opened by Manny Feder sometime in 1939, a short time after he closed down the Brown Derby was reckoned to be “the most lavish joint in North America” by senior police officers.
Just before 5 p.m. on a Saturday in November 1940, a loud cheer arose from the 300 gamblers gathered at the Combine Club.
The crowd’s enthusiasm came as Foster “Buck” Dryden, once dubbed “the best-known voice in Ontario racing,” called a photo finish over the public address system, as Sir Marlboro, a long-shot racehorse owned by Conn Smythe, won in ankle deep mud at Bowie.
But just as Sir Marlboro’s jubilant backers moved to the wickets to cash their tickets for a 12 to 1 payday including one unfortunate gentleman who stood to collect $1,320—raiding police broke into the club shouting: “Stand where you are! Do not move!”
Manny Feder set up a number of his “crew members” in legitimate, but unspecified, businesses. Some of his associates seemed to go clean. Philip Feder and partners invested $100,000 to open Tops Restaurant, a long-standing presence at Yonge and Dundas in 1948, and crew member Marshak eventually became owner of Winfield's Restaurant at Wellington and York.
Crew member Ben Litman, on the other hand, remained clearly planted on the wrong side of the law. He became the owner of the Atlas Sporting Club— From second-floor premises at Spadina and Dundas, the club was a hangout for gamblers and criminals and suspected to be part of a betting ring focused on hockey games.
Gambling remained a big business In and around the city of Toronto with $150,000 to $200,000 bets through illegal channels every day according to 1949 Financial Post estimates.
But the bosses changed with the Parkdale Gang members Joe McDermott and Pete Feeley—with an Anti-Gambling Squad officer on their payroll—emerging to replace Manny Feder through the mid-1940s and beyond.
Just before 5 p.m. on a Saturday in November 1940, a loud cheer arose from the 300 gamblers gathered at the Combine Club.
The crowd’s enthusiasm came as Foster “Buck” Dryden, once dubbed “the best-known voice in Ontario racing,” called a photo finish over the public address system, as Sir Marlboro, a long-shot racehorse owned by Conn Smythe, won in ankle deep mud at Bowie.
But just as Sir Marlboro’s jubilant backers moved to the wickets to cash their tickets for a 12 to 1 payday including one unfortunate gentleman who stood to collect $1,320—raiding police broke into the club shouting: “Stand where you are! Do not move!”
Manny Feder set up a number of his “crew members” in legitimate, but unspecified, businesses. Some of his associates seemed to go clean. Philip Feder and partners invested $100,000 to open Tops Restaurant, a long-standing presence at Yonge and Dundas in 1948, and crew member Marshak eventually became owner of Winfield's Restaurant at Wellington and York.
Crew member Ben Litman, on the other hand, remained clearly planted on the wrong side of the law. He became the owner of the Atlas Sporting Club— From second-floor premises at Spadina and Dundas, the club was a hangout for gamblers and criminals and suspected to be part of a betting ring focused on hockey games.
Gambling remained a big business In and around the city of Toronto with $150,000 to $200,000 bets through illegal channels every day according to 1949 Financial Post estimates.
But the bosses changed with the Parkdale Gang members Joe McDermott and Pete Feeley—with an Anti-Gambling Squad officer on their payroll—emerging to replace Manny Feder through the mid-1940s and beyond.
Nov 19, 202254:35
S1 E3 Hey Bo Diddley
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“Squirrel Williams” wants to shank a made mob guy “Bo Bo Dominic” in Guelph Reformatory.
Friday October 15, 1954 brings hurricane hazel that demolished Toronto.
Grama Eileen says good night Easter weekend Saturday April 9, 1955.
Ted “Ace” Bailey is associated with the biggest gamblers in Toronto, is there a connection with his boxing career having being disqualified 3 times?
Who would bet on that? Whoever did won large cash.
Howard “Baldy” Chard, Toots & Ted “Ace” Bailey take on six guys in the middle of the intersection at Jarvis street and Gerrard Street after a night at the Keystone Hotel, what a night to remember.
Syracuse boxing match held at MacArthur Stadium August 28, 1948 between Howard “Baldy” Chard vs Lee Oma, it ended in a knockout without a single punch being thrown.
Nov 19, 202201:04:47
S1 E2 Making of Shylocks and Juice Parkdale Chasers
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Loose-net rounders form within the Parkdale Gang, Beanery Boys and the Junction Boys. Little do they know, the game will changed once Johnny “Pops” Papalia becomes a player. Jackie Weaver and Freddie Gabourie were master mechanic’s. Police intelligence know who is calling the shots. The so-called tuff loose-net gang of rounders were the stepping stone in the rise in power for the future vicious mafia don in Ontario’s underworld.
Nov 19, 202201:03:05
S1 E1 PINE CONE SUNDAE - 1426 Queen St W, Toronto, ON (Parkdale)
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Season Premier: Bev Allan was just sixteen years of age strolling along her neighbourhood on Queen St. West and bump into for the first time ever Teddy ‘Ace’ Bailey age nineteen. Just out front of the Skyline Restaurant (Parkdale). Teddy asked Bev if he could buy her a Pine Cone Sundae? Teddy, already a young rounder at the time, while Bev was still in high school at Central Tech. They both go into the Skyline, Teddy was no stranger with the staff. At this time period, Teddy was boxing and training at the Parkdale Boxing club a few doors down the street. Teddy winks at the staff and orders a Pine Cone Sundae for Bev, and it was the start of a new beginning. 1) Players need to prepare 2) I didn’t have plan B 3) Pine Cone Sundae 4) October 13, 1951 5) List of characters
Nov 19, 202244:52
PART TWO “MAKING IT AND MONEY” THE COST OF PLAYING JUNIOR AND AAA
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The rising cost of playing hockey is driving families away.
The costs associated with playing the game and the slowed growth in many areas of the game would suggest that our sport may be loosing some of its greatest young athletes because they can not afford to play.
Looking at the past two decades, the costs associated with purchasing ice time from arenas has more than doubled or tripled in both Canada and the USA.
Camps, trainers, extra ice time, travel, nutrition supplements and a number of other factors can escalate these costs further.
I have heard stories of families taking out second and third mortgages on their homes in order to have their children play hockey.
The costs associated with playing the game and the slowed growth in many areas of the game would suggest that our sport may be loosing some of its greatest young athletes because they can not afford to play.
Looking at the past two decades, the costs associated with purchasing ice time from arenas has more than doubled or tripled in both Canada and the USA.
Camps, trainers, extra ice time, travel, nutrition supplements and a number of other factors can escalate these costs further.
I have heard stories of families taking out second and third mortgages on their homes in order to have their children play hockey.
Jan 25, 202148:48
“MAKING IT AND MONEY” THE COST TO PLAY AAA AND JUNIOR HOCKEY. PART ONE
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Look, AAA hockey was started to give kids the opportunity to play with and against other top level players…a notion that I don’t think anybody would deny makes kids better.
But AAA hockey’s model, unfortunately, has shifted from a “developmental model” to a “business model.”
This is especially hurting the parents who are struggling and feel like they have to keep up.
They feel the need to pay an incredible amount of money to make sure their kids aren’t getting left behind.
Hockey is the most exciting game on earth. It comes with a cost and you need to hear it.
But AAA hockey’s model, unfortunately, has shifted from a “developmental model” to a “business model.”
This is especially hurting the parents who are struggling and feel like they have to keep up.
They feel the need to pay an incredible amount of money to make sure their kids aren’t getting left behind.
Hockey is the most exciting game on earth. It comes with a cost and you need to hear it.
Jan 15, 202148:07
AGENT, ADVISOR OR BETRAYAL
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There seems to be a lot of confusion out there about what a family Adviser is, and what an Agent is. When do you hire one of these Advisers or Agents?
The difference in payment is the difference between you being considered an amateur player or pro player.
Get caught taking anything for free and prepare for the consequences.
PLAYERS NEED TO BE BEWARE;
Bobby Orr was betrayed by his agent.
The one thing that nobody would have imagined is that Orr would become a free agent. Except Orr's agent Alan Eagleson.
The Bruins made a generous offer to retain Orr. But Orr had no idea how generous it was since he let Eagleson do the negotiating.
Orr had no intention of leaving the Bruins.
"He wanted security and he wanted to finish out his career in Boston”
“As always, he left the negotiating to Eagleson."
There soon were rumblings about contract problems involving Eagleson and the Bruins.
They made what was described as a "great offer," but Eagleson rejected it.
Meanwhile, Orr had been led to believe the Bruins had no intention of keeping him. As was his norm, Orr never personally entered the contract talks.
“That's why players have agents," Bobby Orr said. "To stay out of that crap." Once Orr learned about the Bruins' enormous contract offer in 1976, he never spoke to Eagleson again.
One could say that the most stunning free agency signing in NHL history failed everyone involved, especially Orr.
The difference in payment is the difference between you being considered an amateur player or pro player.
Get caught taking anything for free and prepare for the consequences.
PLAYERS NEED TO BE BEWARE;
Bobby Orr was betrayed by his agent.
The one thing that nobody would have imagined is that Orr would become a free agent. Except Orr's agent Alan Eagleson.
The Bruins made a generous offer to retain Orr. But Orr had no idea how generous it was since he let Eagleson do the negotiating.
Orr had no intention of leaving the Bruins.
"He wanted security and he wanted to finish out his career in Boston”
“As always, he left the negotiating to Eagleson."
There soon were rumblings about contract problems involving Eagleson and the Bruins.
They made what was described as a "great offer," but Eagleson rejected it.
Meanwhile, Orr had been led to believe the Bruins had no intention of keeping him. As was his norm, Orr never personally entered the contract talks.
“That's why players have agents," Bobby Orr said. "To stay out of that crap." Once Orr learned about the Bruins' enormous contract offer in 1976, he never spoke to Eagleson again.
One could say that the most stunning free agency signing in NHL history failed everyone involved, especially Orr.
Jan 02, 202134:46
Hey Coach “It’s not the players”
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Up close and personal, Tim “Ace” Bailey tells all. I had a long conversation when I popped into the Prince Albert Arena to visit with the late Donn Clark (Former teammate of mine out west who had a nice career in the WHL with Saskatoon Blades and also had a long career as head coach & GM with the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL, and is the older brother of Wendell Clark,
Donn was a good friend and one of the best recruiters in the game. We spoke at length about the importance of players learning how to lose…learning how to fail…and learning how to take constructive criticism……….Why?
Because players are going to lose, fail, and take a lot of criticism with their future in hockey…and in life.
Dec 24, 202035:22
PUNCH IMLACH - MAD MAN or GENIUS -SPOTLIGHT-
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There was no more controversial figure among NHL coaches than Punch Imlach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It seemed that when it came to the bombastic Toronto coach and general manager, you either love him or you hated him. One thing is indisputable: the man knew how to build a winning hockey club.
Dec 11, 202030:30
Making the right choice
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Players need ice time to be scouted. If you didn’t get drafted as a 15 year old, it won’t hurt to play major midget, be that go to player, showcase your talent, show the scouts what they missed. The last thing you want to do is ride the bench as a 16 or 17 year old on any junior B, tier 2 or Junior C team. Time line for players is very critical between the ages 15 & 18. Mixing education and hockey is a great idea for every player.
Oct 14, 202058:11
It’s a Hockey Life & Parkdale Rounders
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.
Aug 15, 202000:60