OKOTOKS, Alta. (March 4, 2025) — 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 now available on the Foundation’s website — hockeyscoutsfoundation.com.

For more information, contact:

Garth Malarchuk, Chairman of the Board
gmalarchuk@torontomapleleafs.com

Tim Lenardon, Foundation Co-ordinator
timlenardon78@gmail.com