Bill McCreary (referee)

William "Bill" McCreary (born November 17 1955, Guelph, Ontario) is a referee in the National Hockey League. [http://www.nhlofficials.com/member_listing.asp?member_id=2081 Bill McCreary's profile at NHLOfficials.com]

McCreary first refereed an NHL game in 1984. On February 16, 2008, McCreary refereed his 1,500th NHL game in the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins. [http://www.nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=269 National Hockey League Officials Association - Articles ] ] McCreary wears uniform number 7 since the 1994-95 NHL season, and has been wearing a helmet for most of his refereeing career. McCreary has a pregame ritual in which he flips the puck in the air before dropping it for the opening faceoff.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, McCreary worked building kitchen cabinets to make ends meet. [ [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050713/nhl_referees_050712?s_name=&no_ads= CTV.ca | NHL referees anxious to get back to work ] ]

In 2007, McCreary was selected to officiate the Stanley Cup Finals for the 13th year in a row. McCreary was not selected to work the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008.

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