Former Chicago Black Hawks player Bill “Red” Hay has died at the age of 88. Hay played eight seasons in the NHL before pursuing a career as CEO of the Calgary Flames and then President and Chief Operating Officer of Hockey Canada. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2015 and honored with the “Order of Hockey in Canada” in 2021. He was born into a wealthy hockey family – the son of Charles Hay, who also served as president of Hockey Canada. at some point. Hay’s uncle, Earl Miller, was also a prolific hockey pro, playing six seasons in the IHL and five seasons in the NHL, including a tenure with the Black Hawks 20 years before his nephew joined the team.

Red Hay rose to fame in hockey long before his professional career. He played junior hockey with the Regina Pats in 1952 and 1954 – interrupted by five brief games at the University of Saskatchewan. He had 78 points in 62 WJHL games with Regina and helped the team finish second at the 1955 Memorial Cup, where his tournament-leading 23 points in 15 games were not enough to dominate a team of the Toronto Marlboros led by Mike Nykoluk. . After a solid junior career, Hay moved to Colorado College in 1955 and joined their hockey team in 1956. He had two legendary seasons with the Tigers program, totaling 153 points in 69 games with the school and leading them to an NCAA tournament championship in 1957. This is the most recent championship in Colorado College men’s hockey history, although the team continues to play at a high level today .

Hay would move to the senior WHL for a year with the Calgary Stampeders in 1958, then begin his career with the NHL’s Black Hawks in 1959. He was an immediate sensation, recording 55 points in 70 games as a rookie – enough to beat Murray Oliver, Ken Schinkel and 19-year-old Stan Mikita for the 1960 Calder Trophy. Hay’s production increased over the next two seasons, even helping Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 1961. This season motivated Hay to make a year career in 1961-62 – when he had 63 points in 60 games – although he ultimately lost. in a return to the Cup final, defeated by a Maple Leafs program led by Frank Mahovlich and Dave Keon. Hay’s success continued beyond the disappointing ending, and he ultimately totaled 386 points in 506 games over eight seasons, with Chicago. His playing career ended in 1967, when Hay, 31, was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 1967 expansion draft – and chose to pursue a managerial career rather than play for the new rival of his franchise. He was named CEO of Calgary and president of Hockey Canada in the early 1990s, playing an instrumental role in the merger between Hockey Canada and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association years later.

Hay was born into a successful hockey family and carried the torch for over 40 years in high-end roles. His influence continues through the success of Colorado College, the Calgary Flames and Hockey Canada as a whole. Pro Hockey Rumors extends its condolences to his friends, family and all those touched by his half-century career that influenced high-level hockey.