Bill Chadwick
First US-born NHL referee; pioneered hand signals for penalties.
William Leroy "The Big Whistle" Chadwick (October 10, 1915 – October 24, 2009) made history as the first American-born referee in the NHL. Though he lost sight in his right eye after being hit by a puck during an amateur game in 1935, he went on to officiate throughout the 1940s and 1950s. During that time, he invented the hand-signal system for penalties that is now standard in hockey worldwide. After retiring from officiating, he became a well-known radio and television broadcaster for the New York Rangers.
Chadwick grew up in Manhattan and played center for a Metropolitan Amateur Hockey League All-Star team. In 1935, while changing lines against a Boston team at Madison Square Garden, a stray puck struck his right eye. Doctors at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital could not restore his vision, but he continued playing for the New York Rovers in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League.
His former Rovers coach, Tommy Lockhart, encouraged him to try refereeing. Chadwick first served as an on-ice official in March 1937, filling in for a referee delayed by a snowstorm. His work in amateur hockey impressed NHL president Frank Calder, who hired him as the league’s first American-born linesman in 1939. His first professional game was between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Americans at Madison Square Garden. After one season, he was promoted to referee. He began using hand signals in the early 1940s, and the NHL adopted his system in 1956, a year after he retired. Over fifteen seasons, he officiated more than 900 regular-season games and a record 42 Stanley Cup Finals matches, 13 of which were series-deciding games. In 1964, he became the fifth on-ice official—and the first American-born one—inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Chadwick is also enshrined in the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. For 14 seasons, he served as a color commentator for the New York Rangers on radio and television. From 1967 to 1972, he worked on radio with Marv Albert, then moved to television on WOR-TV, Channel 9, and the MSG Network. His broadcast partners included Sal Marchiano (1972–73) and Jim Gordon (1973–81).
He died on October 24, 2009, at age 94.
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- William Leroy Chadwick
- Birth Date
- 1915-10-10
- Birth Place
- Manhattan, New York, U.S.
- Death Date
- 24 October 2009 · 1915 · 10 · 10
- Death Place
- Cutchogue, New York, U.S.
- Occupation
- Former NHL referee / Broadcaster
- Honors
- Hockey Hall of Fame (1964)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Born in Manhattan, New York City, Chadwick attended Jamaica High School. While playing as a center for a Metropolitan Amateur Hockey League All-Star team at Madison Square Garden in 1935, he was struck in the right eye by an errant puck during a line change against a team from Boston. Doctors at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital were unable to restore vision to his right eye, but he continued to play with the New York Rovers of the Eastern Amateur Hockey League.
Chadwick was encouraged to become a referee by his former Rovers' coach, Tommy Lockhart. His first experience as an on-ice official was in a Rovers game in March 1937, substituting for the scheduled referee who was stuck in a snowstorm. His work in the amateur circuit caught the attention of then-NHL president Frank Calder, who hired him as the league's first American-born linesman in 1939. The first professional match Chadwick worked was between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Americans at The Garden.
After one year of service in the NHL, he was promoted to referee, eventually becoming the first to use hand signals during games in the early 1940s. The system he developed was adopted by the NHL in 1956, one year after his retirement. During his fifteen seasons as a referee, he worked over 900 regular season contests and a record 42 Stanley Cup Finals matches, 13 of them series deciders. He became the fifth on-ice official, the first American-born, to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1964.
Reader's Guide
Chadwick's significance lies in his pioneering role as the first US-born NHL referee and his development of the hand-signal system for penalties, which was adopted by the NHL in 1956 and is now used internationally. Despite being blind in his right eye from a 1935 playing injury, he officiated over 900 regular season games and a record 42 Stanley Cup Finals matches over fifteen seasons. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1964 as the fifth on-ice official and the first American-born official. After retiring from officiating, he spent 14 seasons as a hockey color commentator for the New York Rangers on radio and television, working with broadcasters including Marv Albert, Sal Marchiano, and Jim Gordon. He was also elected to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.
Did You Know?
- Chadwick was blind in his right eye after being struck by a puck in 1935.
- He substituted as referee for a Rovers game in March 1937 when the scheduled referee was stuck in a snowstorm.
- He was the first American-born official inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, in 1964.
More in Hockey Hall of Fame Players 1-24
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