Former Hockey Canada President & Stanley Cup champion Bill Hay has sadly passed away at 88
We have some sad news to share in the hockey world on Saturday morning following a press release from Hockey Canada.
On Saturday, Hockey Canada announced that their former President and 1961 Stanley Cup champion Bill Hay has sadly passed away at the age of 88.
We send our condolences to Bill's family and friends, and everyone who has benefited from his significant contributions to the game." Hockey Canada said.
Hay rose to prominence during his time in the NCAA with Colorado College from 1956 to 1958. From there, Hay became the first NCAA graduate to play regularly in the National Hockey League after he joined the Chicago Blackhawks in 1959.
After a solid rookie campaign in 1959-60 where he had 55 points in 70 games, Hay was named the recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy. Hay would go on to spend eight seasons in the National Hockey League, all with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he registered 386 points (113 goals, 273 assists) in 506 games. In 1961, Hay had seven points in 12 playoff games as the Chicago Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup since 1938.
In retirement, Hay remained in hockey and in the early 1990s, was CEO of the Calgary Flames. Hay also played a key role, along with Murray Costello in merger of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and spent time as the President and COO.
For his contributions to hockey off the ice, Bill Hay was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder's category in 2015.
The thoughts of everyone here at Canucks Daily are with Bill Hay's family and friends at this difficult time.
