Brunswick Hockey Club

Bob Bailey was a wonderful, well-liked man who had a soft spot for his family and a passion for sports.  He was born in Kenora, Ontario on May 29, 1931.  Bob met his wife, Jean, in October 1952 while playing hockey for the Cleveland Barons. They were married on June 11, 1955 at St. Angela’s Church in Fairview Park.  They settled in Bay Village for 6 years followed by a move to North Olmsted where they lived for 27 years.  Bob and Jean retired in 1987 and moved to Florida.  When Bob became ill, he and Jean moved back home to be with their three children, other family members and friends.  Bob Bailey died peacefully on October 24, 2003.

Bob played professional hockey for 21 seasons, from 1947 to1968. Bob’s time in the NHL (1953-1958) was during the Original Six era when he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Chicago Blackhawks. He also played for many other AHL and IHL teams. After almost 19 years of tough, grinding hockey, Bob had his best offensive season.  He was 34 years old at this time and scored 132 points for the Dayton Gems in the IHL in 1965-66. Bob retired from hockey in 1968 and was inducted to the Dayton Gems Hall of Fame on March 17, 1970.

I met Bob in the late 1970s. We played on Cleveland men’s league hockey teams together. No matter what team we were on, he always wore his Cleveland Barons socks and pants. I remember his big grin and whole-hearted greeting, “Hey Kev”. Bob always made others look great. We just had to get open, and the puck would be on our sticks. Even in his 50’s, he could score from anywhere, and no one could take the puck away from him. He was a great teammate.

Just as it was an honor to know and play hockey with Bob Bailey, it is an honor to win this trophy. Congratulations to this year’s winner of the Bob Bailey Memorial Cup, Randy Hrabak and the Medina Bees.     

Kevin Kittrick

Rocky River Buccaneers