Don Hay Don Hay ( born February 13 , 1954 in Kamloops , British Columbia ) is a coach at the major junior level and a former professional player . As a player , Hay played shortly in the International Hockey League before becoming a three - time Memorial Cup - winning coach , predominantly in the Western Hockey League with brief stints in National Hockey League . He is the current head coach of the Vancouver Giants of the WHL . Playing career . After three years of junior in the BCJHL and WCHL , Hay was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars in the 12th round , 193rd overall , of the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft , as well as by the Houston Aeros in the 18th round , 230th overall , of the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft . However , he never made it to either league as a player , and instead played in the minors during two seasons with the Lansing Lancers , Columbus Owls and Flint Generals of the IHL , and one season with the Philadelphia Firebirds of the NAHL . Coaching career . Hay began his coaching career in in 1986 – 87 as an assistant coach with his hometown Kamloops Blazers of the WHL . After six years as an assistant , Hay took over the reins as the Blazers head coach in 1992 – 93 and immediately distinguished himself , subsequently leading his team to two President ' s Cup titles ( 1994 , 1995 ) and two Memorial Cup titles ( 1994 , 1995 ) in three years . In 1995 , Hay was also chosen to coach the Canadian junior team and successfully won gold . Hay ' s success in the major junior ranks caught the attention of the NHL , and after spending a year as an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames , Hay was named the head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes for the 1996 – 97 NHL season , their first year in Phoenix . Despite posting a respectable 37 - 36 - 7 record , Hay was let go by the Coyotes after a single season and after one more season in the NHL as an assistant coach with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim , Hay returned to the WHL . Immediately upon returning to major junior with the Tri - City Americans in 1998 – 99 , Hay won the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL coach of the year ; furthermore , he was pretigiously honoured as the WHL ' s best coach of all - time by the CHL . This earned him a second chance in the NHL , after two seasons with Tri - City , as the head coach of the Calgary Flames . His second stint in the NHL , however , was even shorter , as he was fired by the Flames just 68 games into the 2000 – 01 season . Overall , Hay coached 150 games in the NHL , compiling a record of 61 - 65 - 20 - 4 . Moving to the AHL , Hay coached the Utah Grizzlies from 2001 to 2004 before once again returning to the WHL to coach the Vancouver Giants , guiding them to a President ' s Cup title in 2006 and a Memorial Cup title in 2007 . He was nominated once more for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy in 2006 , but lost to Will Desjardins of the Medicine Hat Tigers . At the start of the 2006 – 07 season , his second with the Giants , Hay became the fourteenth head coach in WHL history to win 300 games . Two seasons later , Hay became the ninth coach to win 400 games , defeating the Brandon Wheat Kings 4 - 3 on November 1 , 2008 . He currently sits ninth overall on the all - time wins list . On July 25 , 2008 , Hay was inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame , along with former NHLers Steve Yzerman and Cliff Ronning . Leading the Giants to within 3 points of the Calgary Hitmen for their first WHL regular season title , he won his second Dunc McCallum Trophy for the 2008 – 09 season .