Bill Hay, a former Chicago Blackhawks hockey star turned sports manager, has died at the age of 88.

A native of Saskatchewan, Hay played eight seasons in the National Hockey League and won the sport’s ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup, in 1961.

After his playing days were over, Hay had a successful career in hockey as an executive before eventually becoming chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Hay was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 under the Builders category – alongside his father Charles Hay, who was inducted in 1974.

Bill began his junior career with the Regina Pats in what is now the WHL in the 1952-53 season. He played briefly for the University of Saskatchewan hockey team before returning to the Pats in 1954-55.

Bill Hay, former Stanley Cup winner and president of the Hockey Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 88

From there he moved to the United States to play at Colorado College – where he won the national championship and was named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team in the 1956-57 season.

After briefly playing professional hockey in Calgary, Alberta, Hay made his National Hockey League debut in the 1959-60 season with the Chicago Blackhawks.

In his rookie season, he scored 55 points and won the Calder Trophy as the best rookie in the league.

The following season, Hay made a name for himself on what was affectionately known as the ‘Million Dollar Line’, alongside wingers Bobby Hull and Murray Balfour.

Together, the trio led the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup title in 1961. It would be the franchise’s third and remain their most recent championship until the start of the Chicago dynasty in the 2009-10 season.

Hay retired briefly after the 1965–66 season before being convinced to return midway through the 1966–67 campaign. After being selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 1967 expansion draft, he retired for good and pursued a career in the oil industry.

Hay stayed in hockey, becoming president and CEO of the Calgary Flames in the 1990s and would later become president and COO of Hockey Canada.

In 1980, Hay joined the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee. He was later appointed to the Hall of Fame’s board of directors, serving from 1995 until his retirement in 2013, serving as chairman and CEO for 15 years.

Hay served as president of the Calgary Flames, Hockey Canada and the Hall of Fame during his career

In a statement, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said: “Bill Hay was born into a hockey family, won the Stanley Cup as a player and then dedicated his post-playing career to growing the game at all levels and honoring its brightest stars .

“As a Saskatchewan resident, his impact crossed borders. He led Colorado College to the 1957 NCAA title as a First Team All-America forward. He became a pioneer for American colleagues playing in the NHL when he joined the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he played eight seasons, winning the Calder Trophy in 1960 and forming a line with Bobby Hull on the Cup-winning team of 1960-61 .

“After retiring, he was president and CEO of the Calgary Flames, COO of Hockey Canada and chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame for fifteen years.

“When he was inducted into the Hall as a builder in 2015 – along with his father, Charles Hay, who was enshrined as a builder in 1974 – Bill Hay led a remarkable hockey life that reflected the very best of our sport.

“The National Hockey League family mourns his passing and extends our deepest condolences to his family and many friends in the hockey world.”