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Post by tj on Apr 1, 2011 7:51:58 GMT -5
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Post by FredFan7 on Apr 1, 2011 9:08:40 GMT -5
Best wishes to Mr. McCreary and congratulations on an outstanding career!
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Post by impz45 on Apr 1, 2011 12:09:53 GMT -5
Congratulations on a Great career and we will see you shortly in The Hall of Fame.
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Post by JAYJAYSTRIPES on Apr 1, 2011 14:08:47 GMT -5
One of the old guard leaves the sport, I guess age catches up with all of us.
He ranks up with Kerry Fraser and that group.
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Post by JugglingReferee on Apr 1, 2011 14:11:31 GMT -5
It seems that McCreary is the last of an era. With Fraser, Scapinello, and some others, it just seems to me to be the end of an era - or soon to be.
And McCreary has had among the most successful careers in any professional sport.
Congrats to Bill.
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Post by FredFan7 on Apr 1, 2011 14:12:48 GMT -5
I would hope the NLFRA would take note of the NHLOA site and copy it. Doubt the suits on Park Ave. would let them, though.
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Post by cj on Apr 1, 2011 15:26:34 GMT -5
The referees of today have it far easier than the game I grew up watching. McCreary worked with both systems and was a top referee. But to compare folks like him to Red Storey, Frank Udvari, Art Skov, Bill Friday, Brue Hood, Wally Harris and others none of whom had their most important call, namely goal or no goal, taken away from them and imposed by league management. Now those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end.
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Post by cj on Apr 1, 2011 15:28:37 GMT -5
His most memorable call was in the dying seconds of the 7th game of the semi final series between Rangers and Devils in 1994 when Zelepukin of the Devils scores the tying goal with 7 seconds to play forcing overtime. And McCreary showed great restraint in not ejecting the Ranger goalkeeper who clearly shoved him for allowing the goal (a correct call).
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Post by tj on Apr 2, 2011 12:09:18 GMT -5
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Post by cball1985 on Apr 2, 2011 13:39:34 GMT -5
Something the NHL does that I really like is they allow the retiring official to pick what city he works his final game in and what crew works with him.
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Post by sullim4 on Apr 4, 2011 0:11:35 GMT -5
I watched his last game - Sabres v. Caps (I'm a Sabres fan myself). He is reiting as arguably the best NHL official in the game this season... at the start of every game I always hope that it's Bill who's officiating.
He was fair, always willing to talk to players and coaches, and never gave you the impression that he was trying to be the center of attention. I really hope he stays involved in helping to train new NHL referees because it seems like the current crop is many steps behind the McCrearys, Frasiers, and Shicks of the world.
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