nucklehead Posted May 12, 2018 Share Posted May 12, 2018 http://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/legendary-coach-don-hay-retires-with-750-whl-wins-3-memorial-cups/wcm/5f2a4077-b9ec-406d-9e46-bd5528f5a53b Quote KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The Kamloops Blazers have announced that three-time Memorial Cup winner Don Hay is retiring as head coach. Hay will remain with the Western Hockey League team in an advisory role. He leaves the bench with a WHL-record 750 wins in over 20 seasons with the Blazers, Tri-City Americans and Vancouver Giants. He also coached Canada to a world junior hockey titles 1995. Hay’s coaching career started with the Blazers in 1986 as an assistant coach. After seven seasons under Ken Hitchcock and Tom Renney, Don was named head coach in 1992. In three seasons he led the Blazers to two WHL Championships and two Memorial Cups in 1994 and 1995. He later coached the Americans for two seasons from 1998 to 2000 and the Giants from 2004-2014, leading Vancouver to a Memorial Cup title in 2007. Hay returned to the Blazers for the 2014-15 season. He also had stints as a head coach in the NHL with the Phoenix Coyotes (1996-97) and Calgary Flames (2000-01). “Don Hay is a legend and it is only fitting that he is able to retire with his hometown Kamloops Blazers as the winningest coach in WHL history,” said Blazers majority owner Tom Gaglardi. “Don leaves a storied legacy within junior hockey circles. His accomplishments are astounding and he will be forever regarded as one of the greatest coaches in junior hockey history. We are extremely grateful to have had Don return to the Blazers and be able to end his coaching career where it all began.” The Blazers also announced that general manager Stu MacGregor has been reassigned within the Dallas Stars organization and director of player personnel Matt Recchi and assistant coach Mike Needham will not have their contracts renewed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted May 12, 2018 Share Posted May 12, 2018 Best junior coach of all time that I can think of; though to be fair, I don't know too much about junior coaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted May 12, 2018 Share Posted May 12, 2018 Thanks for bringing Vancouver a Memorial Cup Don. Always grateful for that. Great coach, seems like a humble down to earth person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted May 12, 2018 Share Posted May 12, 2018 9 hours ago, -AJ- said: Best junior coach of all time that I can think of; though to be fair, I don't know too much about junior coaches. The one other that comes to mind is Brian Kilrea. He coached the Ottawa '67s for 35 years and won two Memorial Cups. One big difference with Hay is that he had success with three different teams. I suppose it was fortunate for junior hockey that Hay couldn't quite translate that success to the NHL level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
189lb enforcers? Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 Well earned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mll Posted August 25, 2018 Share Posted August 25, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Where's Wellwood Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 That was a short retirement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyBoy44 Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 On 2018-08-26 at 12:32 PM, Where's Wellwood said: That was a short retirement. KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The Kamloops Blazers have announced that three-time Memorial Cup winner Don Hay is retiring as head coach. The Portland Winterhawks welcome Don Hay as Assistant Coach! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzle Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 1 hour ago, MikeyBoy44 said: KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The Kamloops Blazers have announced that three-time Memorial Cup winner Don Hay is retiring as head coach. The Portland Winterhawks welcome Don Hay as Assistant Coach! Why didn't he step down? I don't get it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mll Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 2 hours ago, Dazzle said: Why didn't he step down? I don't get it... He was let go. Don Hay got interviewed after taking the job in Portland and was asked what happened up in Kamloops. He said that's the nature of the business. He says they wanted to make some changes and that's their right. He said it surprised him but you just have to make the best of it. He was then contemplating retirement but Mike Johnston called him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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