Hockey Hall of Fame director Bill Hay dies at 88

Former Chicago Blackhawks star and Hall of Fame hockey executive Bill Hay, who was also the former president and CEO of the Calgary Flames, has died. He was 88.

Hockey Canada, where Hay was president and chief operating officer from 1990 to 1995, confirmed Hay’s death in a news release on Saturday. A cause of death was not provided.

“Bill Hay lived a remarkable hockey life that reflected the very best of our sport,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “The National Hockey League family mourns his passing and extends our deepest condolences to his family and many hockey friends. world.”

Hay played eight NHL seasons with the Blackhawks and was named the league’s rookie of the year in the 1959–60 season, when he had 24 goals and 30 assists in 70 games.

The Saskatoon center had 11 goals and 48 assists the following regular season and added two goals and five assists in 12 playoff games while anchoring a line with Bobby Hull to help the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup.

Hay had 113 goals and 273 assists in 506 NHL games and was a two-time all-star before retiring in 1967.

Former Chicago Blackhawk players, left to right: Eric Nesterenko, Bill “Red” Hay, Stan Mikita and Glenn Hall sing the national anthem after being honored for the 50th anniversary of the 1961 Stanley Cup champions before the Chicago Blackhawks win the New York Islanders 5 defeated -0 in an NHL hockey game in Chicago on Sunday, January 9, 2011. Hay, former president and CEO of the Calgary Flames, has passed away. He was 88. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Charles Cherney

He continued the game after his retirement, serving as president and CEO of the Calgary Flames from 1991 to 1995, in addition to his role at Hockey Canada.

He was instrumental in the merger of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association in the mid-1990s.

Hockey Canada legend

Saturday, Hockey Canada issued a statement a tribute to Hay, who was also a member of the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.

“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,” said Katherine Henderson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada.

“Thanks to his generosity, the Bill Hay Future Leaders Program also provided recent university graduates with the opportunity to gain work experience in sport, positively impacting the lives of everyone who took part in the program and their colleagues.

“We extend our condolences to Bill’s family and friends, and all who benefited from his important contributions to the game.”

‘Just a great man’

The Calgary Flames also paid tribute to Hay on social media Saturday morning.

“Just a great man, a great friend and mentor, an advocate for all that was good in life,” they said. “The Flames mourn the passing of former President and CEO Bill Hay. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hay family.”

He also served on the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee from 1980-97 and on the hall’s board of directors from 1995 until his retirement in 2013, including 15 years as chairman.

Hay was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2015 and invested in the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2021.

His father, Charles Hay, helped organize the 1972 Summit Series and is also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder.

With files from The Canadian Press