Hall of Famer, Stanley Cup Champion, and Former Hockey Canada President Passes Away at 88
Hockey Canada has seen many legends and key people come through the organization, but now they mourn the passing of the great Bill Hay.
Over the years, Hockey Canada has been crucial in growing the game of hockey not only in Canada but around the world, and in the past 100 years, so many people have played crucial roles in the success of the sport. Unfortunately, one of those people has now passed on, as Hockey Canada announce the passing of Bill Hay, who was once the President of Hockey Canada while also playing 8 seasons in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks while then going on to become the President and CEO of the Calgary Flames.
During that time, Hay played in two All-Star games, and won the Stanley Cup among other honours, before being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.
Unfortunately, it has now been announced that Hay passed at the age of 88-years old, with Hockey Canada releasing this statement about the icon:
Bill played eight seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League, where he earned the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's rookie of the year in 1959-60, won a Stanley Cup in 1961 and was a two-time NHL all-star.
After retiring as a player, Bill continued to have an immense impact on the game, including as chair of the Hockey Hall of Fame and a member of its selection committee, president and chief executive officer of the Calgary Flames and creator of the D.K. (Doc) Seaman Hockey Resource Centre.
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.
Through his generosity, the Bill Hay Future Leaders Program also provided recent university or college graduates the opportunity to gain work experience in sport, which positively impacted the lives of all of those who participated in the program and their colleagues.
In recognition of his accomplishments, Bill was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 and invested into the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2021.
He was also inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.
We send our condolences to Bill's family and friends, and everyone who has benefited from his significant contributions to the game.»
Whether it was his playing career or his time as an executive, Hay was one of the most respected people in the game of hockey for a long, long time, and whether people know it or not, they will feel the impact of his presence for years to come. We take this time to also send our condolences to Bill's family, friends, former teammates, and anyone that was lucky enough to share their time with Hay.
Rest in Peace, Bill Hay.
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