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The hockey world is mourning the passing of longtime Calgary resident Invoice Hay, a difference-maker within the sport for a span of a number of many years — from his days as a Calder Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champion as a participant to his stints as a prime govt for the Flames and for Hockey Canada.
Hay was additionally a previous chairman of the Hockey Corridor of Fame and was himself enshrined within the builder class.
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He died Friday on the age of 88.
“Invoice Hay was born right into a hockey household, gained the Stanley Cup as a participant after which devoted his post-playing profession to rising the sport in any respect ranges and honouring its brightest stars,” stated NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. “A local of Saskatchewan, his impression transcended borders. He led Colorado School to the 1957 NCAA title as a First Workforce All-America ahead. He turned a trailblazer for U.S. collegians enjoying within the NHL when he joined the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he performed eight seasons, gained the Calder Trophy in 1960 and centred a line with Bobby Hull on the Cup-winning 1960-61 staff. Upon retirement, he served as president and CEO of the Calgary Flames, COO of Hockey Canada and, for 15 years, as chairman of the Hockey Corridor of Fame.
“Invoice Hay lived a outstanding hockey life that mirrored the easiest of our sport. The Nationwide Hockey League household mourns his passing and sends our deepest condolences to his household and lots of buddies all through the hockey world.”
Initially from Saskatoon, Hay was fiercely proud to be a pioneer for Canadian-born gamers selecting the NCAA route and to be proof that highway might finally result in the NHL.
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He additionally skated for one winter with the Calgary Stampeders of the WHL and have become an instantaneous star within the Windy Metropolis, skating between Hull and Murray Balfour on the Blackhawks’ prime line. He had an ‘A’ stitched on his jersey in his second season, which ended with a Stanley Cup celebration.
Hay totalled 113 objectives and 386 factors in 506 regular-season video games with the Blackhawks earlier than hanging up his gear to pursue a profession in enterprise.
He later served as president of Hockey Canada, similar to his father Charles had completed, and was chairman of the Hockey Corridor of Fame from 1998-2013.
In recent times, he was a mentor to a household pal and rising-star defenceman named Cale Makar. He was delighted when Makar adopted in his footsteps as a Calder Trophy recipient.
“Each side of the sport, each nationally and internationally, he touched and had a serious impression on,” stated former Flames common supervisor Al Coates, who counted Hay as an in depth pal. “And never simply on the sport, however on all of the those that had been in and across the sport.”
Hay’s stint as president of the Flames spanned from 1991-95.
“Mr. Hay will all the time be remembered as a devoted household man, a beautiful husband and father,” the group stated in an announcement. “Whereas household was his precedence, he made super contributions to the sport of hockey in Alberta and throughout Canada. A Stanley Cup champion on the ice, he additionally loved nice success in hockey’s boardrooms. An amazing believer in grassroots improvement for hockey, he left an indelible mark on our sport by his management roles with Hockey Canada, the Hockey Corridor of Fame and the Calgary Flames. At present we bear in mind Mr. Hay and the legacy he left behind.”
Hay was inducted to the Alberta Hockey Corridor of Fame, the Saskatchewan Sports activities Corridor of Fame and the Colorado School Athletics Corridor of Fame.
He was humbled to be honoured by the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 2015, saying that day: “I believe as a builder, I go away one thing behind to be pleased with.”
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