Bill Hay, a former Chicago Blackhawks hockey star turned sports executive, has died at the age of 88.
A native of Saskatchewan, Hay played eight seasons in the National Hockey League and won the sport’s top prize, the Stanley Cup, in 1961.
With his playing days over, Hay had a successful hockey career as an executive before eventually becoming president of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Hay was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 in the Builders category, alongside his father Charles Hay, who was inducted in 1974.
Bill began his junior career with the Regina Pats in what is now the WHL in the 1952-53 season. He played briefly for the University of Saskatchewan hockey team before returning to the Pats in 1954-55.
Bill Hay, former Stanley Cup winner and president of the Hockey Hall of Fame, has died at age 88
From there, he moved to the United States to play for Colorado College, where he won the national championship and was named to the NCAA championship all-tournament team in the 1956-57 season.
After briefly playing professional hockey in Calgary, Alberta, Hay made his National Hockey League debut in the 1959-60 season with the Chicago Blackhawks.
In his rookie season, he scored 55 points and won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
The following season, Hay made a name for himself on what was affectionately called the ‘Million Dollar Line’ alongside wingers Bobby Hull and Murray Balfour.
Together, the trio led the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup title in 1961. It would be the franchise’s third and would remain their most recent championship until the beginning of the Chicago dynasty in the 2009-10 season.
Hay retired briefly after the 1965-66 season before being convinced to return midway through the 1966-67 campaign. After being selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 1967 expansion draft, he retired permanently and pursued a career in the oil business.
Hay remained in hockey, becoming president and CEO of the Calgary Flames in the 1990s and would later serve as president and chief operating officer of Hockey Canada.
In 1980, Hay joined the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee. He was later named to the Hall of Fame’s board of directors, serving from 1995 until his retirement in 2013, serving for 15 years as president and CEO.
Hay was president of the Calgary Flames, Hockey Canada and the Hall of Fame in his career.
In a statement, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said: “Bill Hay was born into a hockey family, won the Stanley Cup as a player and then dedicated his post-playing career to growing the game at all levels and honoring to its brightest stars.”
‘A native of Saskatchewan, his impact transcended borders. He led Colorado College to the 1957 NCAA title as a first-team All-America forward. He became a pioneer for American college players playing in the NHL when he joined the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he played eight seasons, winning the Calder Trophy in 1960 and centering a line with Bobby Hull on the 1960 Cup-winning team. -61.
‘In retirement, he served as president and CEO of the Calgary Flames, chief operating officer of Hockey Canada and, for 15 years, as president of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
‘Inducted into the Hall as a Builder in 2015, joining his father, Charles Hay, who had been enshrined as a Builder in 1974, Bill Hay lived an extraordinary life in hockey that reflected the best of our sport.
“The National Hockey League family mourns his passing and sends our deepest condolences to his family and many friends throughout the hockey world.”
