Former Chicago Blackhawks star and Hockey Hall of Fame executive Bill Hay, who was also former president and CEO of the Calgary Flames, has died. He was 88 years old.

Hockey Canada, of which Hay was president and chief operating officer from 1990 to 1995, confirmed Hay’s death in a statement released Saturday. The cause of death was not provided.

“Bill Hay lived a remarkable hockey life that reflected the best of our sport,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. world.”

Hay played eight seasons in the NHL with the Blackhawks and was named the league’s rookie of the year during the 1959-60 season, when he had 24 goals and 30 assists in 70 games.

The Saskatoon center had 11 goals and 48 assists during the following regular season and added two goals and five assists in 12 playoff games while anchoring a line with Bobby Hull to help the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup.

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

Former Chicago Blackhawks players, from left, Eric Nesterenko, Bill “Red” Hay, Stan Mikita and Glenn Hall sing the national anthem after being honored for the 50th anniversary of the 1961 Stanley Cup champions, before The Chicago Blackhawks defeat the New York Islanders 5 -0 in 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 to play after his retirement, serving as president and CEO of the Calgary Flames from 1991 to 1995, alongside his role with Hockey Canada.

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

Legend of Hockey Canada

Saturday, Hockey Canada issued a statement honoring Hay, who was also a member of the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.

“Bill’s leadership, along with that of the late Murray Costello, was instrumental in the merger of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association in the mid-1990s and gave birth to the Hockey Canada we all know today,” said Katherine Henderson, President and CEO of Hockey Canada.

“Through his generosity, the Bill Hay Future Leaders program has also enabled recent university or college graduates to gain work experience in sport, which has had a positive impact on the lives of all those who participated in the program and their colleagues.

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

“Just an incredible man”

The Calgary Flames also paid tribute to Hay on social media Saturday morning.

“He is just an extraordinary man, a great friend and mentor, an advocate for 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 to 1997 and a member of the hall’s board of directors from 1995 until his retirement in 2013, including 15 years as president.

Hay was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2015 and invested into the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2021.

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

With files from The Canadian Press