Don Hay

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Don Hay (born February 13, 1954 in Kamloops, British Columbia is a former minor league ice hockey player, and the current head coach of the Vancouver Giants.

Hay was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars in the 12th round in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft and by the Houston Aeros in the 18th round of the 1974 WHA Entry Draft, however he never made it to either league as a player.

Hay became an assistant coach of his home town Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League in 1986-87. After six years as an assistant, Hay took over the reins as the Blazers head coach in 1992-93. In his three years as Blazers coach, he led the team to two President's Cup titles, as well as two Memorial Cup championships.

Hay's success with the Blazers caught the attention of the NHL, and after spending a year as an assistant with the Calgary Flames, Hay was named the head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996-97, posting a respectable 37-36-7 record. Despite this, Hay was let go by the Coyotes after only one year.

Hay then spent two years back in the "Dub", coaching the Tri-City Americans, where he won the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL coach of the year in 1998-99.

This earned him a second chance in the NHL, this time as the head coach of the Calgary Flames. Hay's second stint in the NHL was even shorter, as he was fired by the Calgary Flames after only 68 games in 2000-01. Overall, Hay coached 150 games in the NHL, compiling a record of 61-65-20-4.

More recently, Hay coached the Utah Grizzlies of the American Hockey League from 2001-04.

[edit] References

• Don Hay's profile at hockeydb.com
• 2005-06 WHL Media Guide
• 2006-07 Calgary Flames Media Guide