Billy Reay

William "Billy" Reay (August 21, 1918 - September 23, 2004) was a Canadian National Hockey League hockey player and coach.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he played in the NHL for 10 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings. In 479 games, he scored 105 goals and 267 points and in 63 playoff games, he scored 13 goals and 29 points. He won two Stanley Cups in 1946 and 1953, both with the Montreal Canadiens. He was a coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs (1957-1959) and for the Chicago Blackhawks (1963-1977). He has won the most games for a Chicago Blackhawks coach. Although he coached the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup finals (1965, 1971, and 1973), he was never able to win.

For his service to the Wirtz family, owners of the Blackhawks, Reay was fired with a note under his office door shortly before Christmas, 1976. [1]

Billy Reay has been credited as the first person to raise his arms and stick in celebration after scoring a goal.

Preceded by Howie Meeker	Head Coaches of the Toronto Maple Leafs	Succeeded by Punch Imlach

Preceded by Rudy Pilous	Head Coaches of the Chicago Blackhawks	Succeeded by Bill White

ARENAS: D. Carroll • ST. PATS: Heffernan • Sproule • F. Carroll • O'Donoghue • Querrie • Powers • Rodden • MAPLE LEAFS: Romeril • Smythe • Duncan • Irvin • Day • Primeau • Clancy • Meeker • Reay • Imlach • McLellan • Kelly • Neilson • Smith • Duff • Crozier • Nykoluk • Maloney • Brophy • Armstrong • Carpenter • Watt • Burns • Beverley • Murphy • Quinn • Maurice