Hockeytown_Ryan 122 Report post Posted April 3, 2011 I know we complain about the Referee's here alot. BUT! I think Bill McCreary deserves recognition. 1,737 career regular season games 297 Playoff games (record) 44 Stanley Cup Finals Games (record) With one of the best gone, we are in real trouble... Congratulations Bill, Thanks for everything! 4 atodaso, aflac9262, hooon and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted April 3, 2011 Yeah, it's really too bad. He made mistakes, like all refs do, but he was almost always consistent, he had a tendency to let the players play, and he was good at keeping control of a game. The NHL just lost the best it had, IMO. 1 aflac9262 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Sample 31 Report post Posted April 3, 2011 A Zebra Legend. Great ref. He will be missed on the ice. Good Luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edicius 3,269 Report post Posted April 3, 2011 If I could find a gif of a stick tap, I'd post it here. Instead, I'll just commend Mr. McCreary for his years of service. The game's losing a good one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jusek 437 Report post Posted April 3, 2011 I will miss his stache... What a great career. Congrats and thanks Bill! 1 commadore183 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted April 3, 2011 I will miss his stache... What a great career. Congrats and thanks Bill! I will miss his perfectly-gelled hair I remember a commentator remarking upon how the NHL's rule requiring all officials to wear helmets would prevent us all from admiring McCreary's hairstyling. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeymom1960 5,107 Report post Posted April 3, 2011 Yes he was one of the best. I, for one, felt a lot better when he was reffing our games. Have a great life Bill. We will miss you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick Zombos Ghost 82 Report post Posted April 3, 2011 "During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, McCreary worked building kitchen cabinets to make ends meet." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted April 3, 2011 No complaints here about Mr. McCreary; hopefully, some of his knowledge and class rubs off on the young'uns. 1 commadore183 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MCleveland89 122 Report post Posted April 3, 2011 No complaints here about Mr. McCreary; hopefully, some of his knowledge and class rubs off on the young'uns. I hope so too. We'll never see another like you BIll. Good luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
26point2 203 Report post Posted April 3, 2011 I always like the way he flipped the puck in the air before the opening face-off. Story was, early in his career his daughter was in the hospital and that was his way of saying hello to her on TV. Stuck w/it thru his career. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted April 3, 2011 McCreary has been my favorite ref for years, and the one I trusted the most. It's a shame to see him go. I remember being happy he was one of the refs for Game 7 of the 2009 Final. I knew with him in charge, nothing controversial would happen, like 6 Penguins on the ice for 25 seconds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Donaldjr2448 43 Report post Posted April 3, 2011 "During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, McCreary worked building kitchen cabinets to make ends meet." That is simply amazing if that is indeed true! As much s*** as I gave him, he still was one of the best! Now O'Hallaran would follow him, the NHL would be a better place! We will miss McCreary! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted April 3, 2011 McCreary will definitely be missed. One of the best at managing a game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
commadore183 103 Report post Posted April 4, 2011 (edited) McCreary is one of the refs where you can excuse a bad call/missed call because he gets it right more often than not. He certainly had the respect of his peers and the players, that's for sure. I did hear, though, that even though McCreary himself is retiring, his mustache will stay on as a mentor to the other officials. EDIT: Here's a fun fact: Bill McCreary is the cousin of NHL player Bill McCreary Jr, who is more well-known as the player that delivered this hit against a young Wayne Gretzky: Edited April 4, 2011 by commadore183 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mabuhay Red Wings 177 Report post Posted April 4, 2011 Who in here would rather have a worn out McCreary as opposed to O'Halloran? 5 commadore183, Hockeymom1960, Datsyuk Fan and 2 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
puckloo39 5,686 Report post Posted April 4, 2011 Good man. You will be missed, Bill. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted April 4, 2011 I will miss his perfectly-gelled hair I remember a commentator remarking upon how the NHL's rule requiring all officials to wear helmets would prevent us all from admiring McCreary's hairstyling. That was Kerry Fraser, not McCreary. McCreary wore a helmet long before they became mandatory. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SweWings 45 Report post Posted April 4, 2011 Too bad he couldn't cap off his career by reffing a Stanley Cup final. In any case an amazing career that won't be matched; no doubt that he makes the HHOF... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mabuhay Red Wings 177 Report post Posted April 4, 2011 Too bad he couldn't cap off his career by reffing a Stanley Cup final. In any case an amazing career that won't be matched; no doubt that he makes the HHOF... I almost responded to this with the ultimate corrective tone but I'm almost positive you meant that you wish he could have ended his reffing career after working for this year's cup finals. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
#19=Legend 29 Report post Posted April 4, 2011 yes... im pretty sure u just said the same exact thing as he said... i got it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jwo 7 Report post Posted April 4, 2011 He is the only ref I liked. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
achildr1 255 Report post Posted April 4, 2011 Can't stand him. He used to be rediculous during the Wings - Avs rivalry, haven't liked him since. Good riddance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SweWings 45 Report post Posted April 4, 2011 I almost responded to this with the ultimate corrective tone but I'm almost positive you meant that you wish he could have ended his reffing career after working for this year's cup finals. Well duh... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crymson Report post Posted April 4, 2011 Can't stand him. He used to be rediculous during the Wings - Avs rivalry, haven't liked him since. Good riddance. I distinctly recall him reffing game four between the Flyers and the Red Wings in the 1997 finals. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
