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 its former president and 1961 Stanley Cup champion, Bill Hay, sadly passed away at the age of 88.

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 joining the Chicago Blackhawks in 1959.

After a strong rookie campaign in 1959-60 in which he recorded 55 points in 70 games, Hay was named the recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy. Hay then spent eight seasons in the National Hockey League, all with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he recorded 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 he was CEO of the Calgary Flames. Hay also played a key role, alongside Murray Costello, in the merger of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and spent time as president and chief operating officer.

For his contributions to off-ice hockey, Bill Hay was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder category in 2015.

The thoughts of everyone here at Canucks Daily are with Bill Hay’s family and friends during this difficult time.

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