Bill Hay, director of the Hockey Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 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 years old.

Hockey Canada, where Hay was president and chief operating officer from 1990 to 1995, confirmed Hay’s death in a statement Saturday. No cause of death was given.

“Bill Hay led an extraordinary hockey life that reflected the best of our sport,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “The National Hockey League family mourns his passing and sends our deepest condolences to his family and many friends around the world.”

Hay played eight NHL seasons with the Blackhawks and was named league Rookie of the Year in 1959–60 after scoring 24 goals and 30 assists in 70 games.

The Saskatoon center scored 11 goals and 48 assists the following regular season and added two goals and five assists in 12 playoff games while solidifying Bobby Hull’s lead in helping the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup.

Hay scored 113 goals and 273 assists in 506 NHL games and was a two-time All-Star before retiring in 1967.

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

He continued playing after retirement, serving as president and CEO of the Calgary Flames from 1991-95, alongside his work at Hockey Canada.

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

Hockey legend in Canada

Saturday, Hockey in Canada issued a statement paying tribute to Hay, who was also a member of the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame and the 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 Hockey Canada president and CEO Katherine Henderson.

“Thanks to his generosity, the Bill Hay Future Leaders Program also provided college graduates with the opportunity to gain work experience in sports, which has positively impacted the lives of all program participants and their colleagues.

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

“Just an amazing man”

On Saturday morning, the Calgary Flames paid tribute to Hay on social media.

“Simply an amazing man, a wonderful friend and mentor, and a champion of all that is 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 was also a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee from 1980-97 and a member of 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 was named to the Order of Hockey Canada in 2021.

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

With files from The Canadian Press