Former Stanley Cup Champion, Hall of Famer, and Hockey Canada President passed away at 88
Hockey Canada is mourning the loss of Bill Hay, a true hockey legend whose contributions left a lasting impact on the sport.
Hay was a major figure in Canadian hockey, both as a player and a leader. After eight NHL seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, he went on to serve as President of Hockey Canada and later as President and CEO of the Calgary Flames. During his playing days, Hay earned two All-Star appearances and won a Stanley Cup. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015, a tribute to his impressive career and lasting influence.
Bill Hay passed away at age 88, and Hockey Canada shared a statement honoring his legacy and impact. Hay's life in hockey touched so many, from his teammates on the ice to his colleagues off it, and his contributions to the game have left a deep mark that will be felt for years.
Bill played eight seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League, where he earned the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's rookie of the year in 1959-60, won a Stanley Cup in 1961 and was a two-time NHL all-star.
After retiring as a player, Bill continued to have an immense impact on the game, including as chair of the Hockey Hall of Fame and a member of its selection committee, president and chief executive officer of the Calgary Flames and creator of the D.K. (Doc) Seaman Hockey Resource Centre.
Bill's leadership, along with the late Murray Costello, was instrumental in the merger of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association in the mid-1990s and created the Hockey Canada we all know today.
Through his generosity, the Bill Hay Future Leaders Program also provided recent university or college graduates the opportunity to gain work experience in sport, which positively impacted the lives of all of those who participated in the program and their colleagues.
In recognition of his accomplishments, Bill was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 and invested into the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2021.
He was also inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.
We send our condolences to Bill's family and friends, and everyone who has benefited from his significant contributions to the game.»
Hay's influence spanned decades, and his work helped shape the success of hockey not only in Canada but worldwide. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, teammates, and everyone who had the chance to know him.
Rest in peace, Bill Hay.
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