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 served as president and chief operating officer from 1990 to 1995, confirmed Hay’s death in a statement Saturday. No cause of death was provided.

“Bill Hay lived a remarkable 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 extends our deepest condolences to his family and many hockey friends. world.”

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

The Saskatoon center had 11 goals and 48 assists 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 Cup Stanley.

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 Blackhawk 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 to defeat the New York Islanders 5 -0 in an NHL hockey game in Chicago on Sunday, Jan. 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 role with Hockey Canada.

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

Hockey Canada legend

Saturday, Hockey Canada issued a statement pay tribute to Hay, who was also a member of the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame, the Saskatchewan hHckey 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 President and CEO- ul Hockey Canada, Katherine Henderson.

“Through its generosity, the Bill Hay Future Leaders Program has also provided recent university graduates with the opportunity to gain professional experience in sports, which has had a positive impact on the lives of all those who participated in the program and their peers.

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

He was also a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s 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 president.

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