Bill McCreary (referee)
NHL referee who officiated 1,737 regular season games and 15 Stanley Cup Finals.
Bill McCreary was a National Hockey League referee who hung up his whistle in 2011 after 1,737 regular-season games, 297 playoff contests, and one All-Star Game. He wore number 7 from the 1994–95 season onward and spent most of his career with a helmet on. Over the years, he worked 15 Stanley Cup Finals, the 1991 Canada Cup, the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, and the Winter Olympics in 1998, 2002, and 2010—officiating the gold medal game each time.
Born November 17, 1955, in Guelph, Ontario, McCreary learned to skate at age three after surviving meningitis, a disease that had killed his sister. He played junior hockey with the Buffalo Tondas, Windsor Spitfires, and Guelph Holody Platers in the SOJHL from 1973 to 1976. Undrafted, he took a job at a machine shop and refereed local minor hockey on the side.
In 1981, after three years as an official, McCreary was invited to an NHL training camp. Following one major junior playoff game, Scotty Morrison hired him. He worked his first NHL game in 1984 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, home of the Washington Capitals. At the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, he refereed the men’s gold medal game, where Canada beat the United States 5–2. During the 2004–05 lockout, he built kitchen cabinets to pay the bills. In 2007, he officiated the Stanley Cup Finals for the 13th straight year. On February 16, 2008, he worked his 1,500th NHL game, a matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. The next year, he refereed his 14th Stanley Cup Final. He was one of 13 NHL referees at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, again handling the gold medal game. On December 22, 2009, he was on the ice when Martin Brodeur recorded his 104th career shutout, breaking Terry Sawchuk’s record. Though he planned to retire after the 2009–10 season, he returned for 2010–11. That year, he entered the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame. His final NHL game came on April 2, 2011, in Washington, D.C., where the Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 5–4. On June 23, 2014, the Hockey Hall of Fame announced McCreary as part of its 2014 induction class. In November 2025, he was named Director of Officiating, Strategy & Performance for the PWHL for the 2025–26 season.
McCreary has two sons from an earlier relationship and two daughters with his wife Mary Ann.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1955-11-17
- Birth Place
- Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Occupation
- Ice hockey referee
- Years Active
- 1984–2011
- Employer
- National Hockey League
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
McCreary learned to skate at age three after beating meningitis, which his sister had died from. He competed with the Buffalo Tondas, Windsor Spitfires, and the Guelph Holody Platers in the SOJHL from 1973-76. After going undrafted out of junior hockey, he accepted a position at a machine shop and worked side jobs as a referee in local minor hockey games. He was invited to an NHL officials training camp in 1981 after officiating for three years, and after refereeing one major junior playoff game, he was hired by Scotty Morrison for the NHL. He refereed his first NHL game in 1984 at Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, then home of the Washington Capitals. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, McCreary worked building kitchen cabinets to make ends meet. On February 16, 2008, he refereed his 1,500th NHL game in a match between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins. On December 22, 2009, he officiated when Martin Brodeur broke Terry Sawchuk's career shutout record with his 104th shutout. He officiated his last NHL game on April 2, 2011, in Washington, D.C., between the Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres.
Reader's Guide
McCreary's career is notable for its longevity and high-profile assignments. He officiated fifteen Stanley Cup Finals, including a streak of 13 consecutive years by 2007. He was selected to officiate the gold medal game at three Winter Olympics (1998, 2002, 2010), including the 2002 game won by Canada vs USA by the score of 5-2. He also worked the 1991 Canada Cup and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Despite announcing retirement after the 2009-10 season, he returned for the 2010-11 season before retiring. He was inducted into the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014. In November 2025, he was announced as the Director of Officiating, Strategy & Performance for the PWHL for the 2025-2026 season.
Did You Know?
- He officiated his 1,500th NHL game on February 16, 2008, between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins.
- He officiated the gold medal game at the 2002 Winter Olympics, won by Canada vs USA 5-2.
- During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he worked building kitchen cabinets to make ends meet.
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