Hay played junior with the Saskatoon Legion of the 1946-47 Saskatchewan Junior League and the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey Association in 1947-48 and 1948-49. He also spent parts of the last two seasons in the International Hockey League. Hay played one more season with the Spitfires. In 1950 he turned pro in the Detroit Red Wings farm system and spent five seasons junping between the minors and the Wings. He won a Stanley Cup in 1954-55. After 1955 he spent fifteen seasons in the Western Hockey League. He won the Lester Patrick Cup with the Portland Buckaroos in 1964-65.