Hay was a teammate of fellow future Hockey Hall of Famer Dick Irvin when they played for the amateur Winnipeg Monarchs in 1915. His hockey career was put on hold when he served overseas during World War I, but he returned to the ice after the war was over, playing two seasons of senior hockey.

In 1921, Hay turned pro with Regina of the Western Canada Hockey League. He was a First-Team All-Star for three of his four seasons with Regina, remained with the franchise when it relocated to Portland for the 1925-26 season and was a First-Team All-Star in the renamed Western Hockey League in 1925-26.

The WHL went out of business in 1926 and the Portland franchise was sold, becoming the Chicago Black Hawks, one of three expansion teams that joined the NHL for the 1926-27 season. Hay scored the first goal in team history on Nov. 17, 1926, and finished with 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) in 35 games.

Hay was traded to the Detroit Cougars (now the Red Wings) on April 11, 1927 and had his best NHL season with them in 1927-28, finishing with 35 points (22 goals, 13 assists) in 42 games). He remained until 1932-33, when he left the now-Red Wings after one game to become coach of their International Hockey League team. Hay ended his NHL career with 136 points (74 goals, 62 assists) in 240 games, as well as three points (two goals, one assist) in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games.

After leaving hockey, Hay worked in insurance until World War II, when he became a flight instructor in the Canadian Air Force. He returned to his business after the war and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1958. He died July 13, 1975 at age 77.