Don Hay: The Architect Behind Generations of NHL Stars
When the Kelowna Rockets hired Don Hay as Associate Coach, they didn’t just add a veteran bench boss; they welcomed one of the most influential coaches in Canadian junior hockey history. Over the past four decades, Hay has developed more NHL talent than arguably any coach at the CHL level. His coaching tree stretches through eras, franchises, and generations, producing talent that ranges from gritty role players to Hart Trophy winners, Stanley Cup champions, and first-overall picks.
The Kamloops Dynasty: Foundations of Greatness
Hay’s first head coaching gig with the Kamloops Blazers set the tone for his career. Between 1992 and 1995, Hay turned the Blazers into a powerhouse, winning back-to-back Memorial Cups and building a culture of professionalism that launched numerous NHL careers.
Notable Blazers Alumni:
- Jarome Iginla – Hockey Hall of Famer, two-time Olympic gold medalist
- Shane Doan – Longtime Coyotes captain, 1,540 NHL games
- Darcy Tucker – World Junior Champion, 947 NHL Games
- Ryan Huska – Current NHL Head Coach, Calgary Flames (Former Rockets Head Coach)
- Scott Niedermayer – Hall of Fame defenseman, four-time Stanley Cup champion
- Mark Recchi – Hall of Famer, three-time Stanley Cup winner
NHL Experience: Coaching Legends at the Pro Level
Hay’s eye for detail and structure took him to the NHL in the mid-90s after his back-to-back Memorial Cup runs, where he became the first head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes (1996-97) and later coached the Calgary Flames (2000-01).
Notable NHLers Coached:
- Keith Tkachuk – USA Hockey Hall of Fame, 500-goal scorer with over 1,200 NHL games
- Jeremy Roenick – Hockey Hall of Famer, over 1,300 NHL points
- Marc Savard – One time Stanley Cup Champion, current NHL assistant coach, Toronto Maple Leafs
- Craig Conroy – Former Flames captain and current NHL General Manager, Calgary Flames
- Valeri Bure – Olympic Bronze and Silver Medalist
AHL & Pro Development: Building Future NHLers
In the early 2000s, Hay led the Utah Grizzlies (AHL), where he continued to mentor players on the cusp of the NHL.
Future NHLers in Utah:
- Mike Smith – NHL All-Star goaltender with 670+ NHL games, Olympic Gold Medalist
- Steve Ott – Longtime NHL Forward with 840+ NHL Games, current NHL Associate Coach, St. Louis Blues
- Jim Montgomery – Current NHL Head Coach, St. Louis Blues
Vancouver Giants Era: Reviving a Franchise, Repeating the Model
From 2004 to 2014, Hay took the Vancouver Giants from expansion status to WHL champions (2006) and Memorial Cup winners (2007), developing a new wave of NHL stars in the process.
Notable Giants Alumni:
- Milan Lucic – Stanley Cup champion, 1,150+ NHL games
- Evander Kane – 4th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
- Brendan Gallagher – Longtime NHL Forward and Canadiens Assistant Captain
- Cody Franson, Brett Kulak, Kevin Connauton, Jordan Martinook – Steady NHL contributors
- Calvin Pickard – Longtime NHL goaltender with 150+ games played, back-to-back Stanley Cup Final Appearances
WHL All-Star Coaching: Best of the Best
Hay represented the league in numerous CHL Canada-Russia Series events and WHL All-Star showcases, helping mentor future NHLers at the top of their junior careers.
WHL All-Star Players Coached by Hay:
- Carey Price, Kris Russell, Darren Helm, Karl Alzner (2007)
- Jordan Eberle, Luke Schenn (2008)
- Tyson Barrie, Travis Hamonic, Brayden Schenn (2010)
- Morgan Rielly, Sam Reinhart, Laurent Brossoit, Eric Comrie (2013)
- Adin Hill, Matthew Barzal, Brayden Point (2016)
Team Canada: Gold Medal Pedigree
Hay’s international resume is as decorated as his club coaching. He led Team Canada to Gold at the 1995 IIHF World Junior Championship, going 7-0, and later coached the 2012 World Juniors and 2013 U18 World Championship, both of which featured future NHL stars.
Team Canada Players Under Hay:
- Ryan Smyth, Darcy Tucker (1995 WJC – Gold)
- Dougie Hamilton, Jamie Oleksiak, Jonathan Huberdeau, Mark Scheifele, Boone Jenner, Jaden Schwartz, Ryan Strome (2011–12 World Junior Championships – Bronze)
- Connor McDavid, Shea Theodore, Sam Bennett, Josh Morrissey, Jason Dickinson, Carter Verhaeghe (2013 U18 World Championships – Gold)
- Alexis Lafrenière, Bowen Byram, Ty Smith, Kevin Bahl, Joe Veleno, Akil Thomas, Jack McBain, Raphaël Lavoie, Matthew Robertson (2018 U18 World Championships)
Late Career with Kamloops & Portland: Still Shaping Pros
Even in the later stages of his career, Hay remained committed to developing future stars. In Kamloops (2014-2018) as Head Coach and (2022-2025) as Associate Coach as well as with the Portland Winterhawks (2018-2022) as an Associate Coach, Hay mentored a new era of NHL-bound talent.
Notable Recent Alumni:
- Connor Ingram, Dylan Ferguson – NHL Caliber goaltenders
- Caedan Bankier, Olen Zellweger, Logan Stankoven – NHL Prospects from 2023 Memorial Cup Run
- Joel Hofer, Cody Glass, Seth Jarvis – Emerging NHL talent from Portland
- Dylan Garand, Connor Zary, Fraser Minten, Connor Levis, Garrett Pilon – WHL stars & NHL prospects
A Coaching Tree That Spans Generations
From Recchi and Niedermayer to McDavid and Lafrenière, Hay’s coaching resume is a blueprint for hockey excellence. He didn’t just win games; he developed people, captains, and cornerstones of championship teams. His systems demanded accountability, his teams played with identity, and his players left prepared for the next level.
Now, as he returns to the bench with the Kelowna Rockets, a team set to host the 2026 Memorial Cup, Hay’s legacy will continue to grow, shaping yet another generation of future NHL greats.
