Don Hay
Don Hay ( born February 13, 1954 in Kamloops, British Columbia ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current coach, standing since 2004 with the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League as head coach at the gang.
Career
Don Hay played during his junior time for the Rockets Kamloops and Calgary Centennials. In the 1973/74 season he went for the New Westminster Bruins of the Western Hockey League on the ice and was selected Stars following this season with the NHL Amateur Draft 1974 in the twelfth round at position 193 of the Minnesota North, but never managed the jump in the National Hockey League. The following two years he was at the Columbus Owls in the International Hockey League in use and then went a season for the Flint Generals on the ice. After Hay had completed the 1976/77 season with the Philadelphia Firebirds in the North American Hockey League, the offensive player at the age of 23 years ended early on his career.
The Canadians opted for a career as a head coach and became the 1986/87 season entrusted with the task of the assistant coach of the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. A total of six years, he worked in this position and took over for the season 1992/93 as the successor to Tom Renney 's position as head coach for the Blazers. In the following three years had the game each have a positive balance and won with the Kamloops Blazers in 1994 and 1995 two consecutive President's Cup and Memorial Cup. The focus was during this time, among other Jarome Iginla, Darcy Tucker, Shane Doan and Brad Lukowich for the Blazers in use and advanced to become top players in the NHL later. After these successes Don Hay was recruited in 1995 by the Calgary Flames, where he was working as an assistant coach. A year later, took him the Phoenix Coyotes as their first head coach for the first season under contract. In his only season with the Coyotes managed the way into the play-offs, in which the team in the first round in seven games, failed against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
Following the Canadians was relieved of his duties and replaced by Jim Schoenfeld. After assistant coach with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim was active during the 1997/98 season, he returned to the Western Hockey League and was assigned to lead the Tri -City Americans, which he led through the next two years. After that, he was presented as head coach of the Calgary Flames and held this position a total of 68 game days. Shortly before the end of the season 2000/ 01 has been laid off. However, his successor Greg Gilbert was able to convince any more and also had a negative balance. He found a new job as head coach of the Utah Grizzlies of the American Hockey League, which he led through the next three years and twice reached the final. For the season 2004 /05 the Canadians returned again back to the WHL and took over the Vancouver Giants. After a shaky start, he could pick up where the old successes and won with the team the 2006 President's Cup. A year later the Memorial Cup was won.