Hines Presented with Ace Baily Award by NHL Alumni

Courtesy of Army Athletic Communications

TORONTO, Canada - Former Army hockey standout Derek Hines was honored with the "Ace Bailey Award of Courage," last week by the NHL Alumni Association during the 7th annual Gala Dinner presented by Scotiabank at the Westin Harbour Castle.

Army hockey coach Brian Riley was among the evening's speakers and Hines' family -- his father Steve, mother Sue and brothers Mike and Trevor -- accepted the award on Derek's behalf in front of more than 600 people, including former NHL players.

The NHL Alumni Association also celebrated Bobby Hull as the "Man of the Year." Proceeds from the event benefitted "Hockey's Greatest Family Fund" and the 1st Lt. Derek Hines Solders Fund.

The Bailey Award is presented to "an individual who turns a tragedy into a triumph." It is named after Garnet (Ace) Bailey, an ex-NHL player and director of pro scouting for the Los Angeles King, who was on board one of the two planes that crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

"I was humbled to be able to speak about Derek and share the story of a great young man," said Riley. "He is everything you would want your son to be and I am grateful for the opportunity to help tell his story of leadership and courage."

Hines, a 2003 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, was a four-year letterwinner for the Army hockey team.

Described as a natural born leader and soldier, Hines made the ultimate sacrifice when he was killed in action on Sept. 1, 2005, and his devotion to West Point's cadet motto of, "Duty, Honor, Country," has not gone unnoticed by the NHL.

Hines wasn't the biggest player on the ice for the Black Knights, but he played big according to Riley. Hines contributed 12 goals and 32 points during his four-year career and was perhaps better known for his unofficial fan club, whose members would show up at every home contest and bang Heinz ketchup bottles against the glass in an enthusiastic show of support for No. 7. He was named as alternate captain of the team as a senior.
 
After graduating from Army in 2003, Hines completed Army Ranger School and Airborne School. Eventually he was deployed to Afghanistan where the constant danger provided a backdrop for Hines' numerous acts of courage before he was killed in action six months later.

A month into his tour of duty, Hines' unit was surprised by small-arms fire while on patrol. Hines' men ran for cover behind a rock but left a mortar exposed 15 feet away, which Hines retrieved. Several weeks later, his unit was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade while on Humvee patrol. Despite being wounded by shrapnel from the attack, Hines climbed on an abandoned Humvee and began firing a .50-caliber machine gun, a weapon he had never handled before, to help stave off insurgents and protect other members of his unit.

Then on Aug. 21, a Humvee in Hines' unit was hit directly by a roadside bomb. Though he was able to pull the soldiers from the burning wreckage, none survived the blast. A hunt for the individual responsible for the attack led military personnel to Taliban Commander Thor Mullah Manan.

Early in the morning Sept. 1, members of Hines' squad, Afghan soldiers and police surrounded a house in the small village of Baylough, where Manan was hiding. While plans were being finalized for the arrest, the Taliban leader came out of the house disguised in the traditional black robes of a woman. He pulled out an automatic weapon and began firing.

Hines jumped out of hiding and returned fire, killing Manan, but not before being fatally wounded himself. An Afghan interpreter also was killed. Hines was 25.

Larry Playfair, a former NHL player who competed for the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angles Kings during his 14-year career, heard about the Hines story from Riley. He passed it along to the NHL Alumni Association who chose to honor Hines.