from the CP at TSN,

... On Monday he'll be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2014 with Peter Forsberg, Dominik Hasek, Mike Modano, Rob Blake and the late Pat Burns.

McCreary, who was elected in his first year of eligibility, will be the 16th official in the Hall of Fame.

"I think it has a lot to do with his performance on the ice as an official in the game over a real long period of time," NHL director of officiating Stephen Walkom said in a phone interview. "I think in the modern era, Bill McCreary is synonymous with excellence in officiating. He's just one of the greatest officials that the NHL's ever had."

The Guelph, Ont., native said he refereed with two words in mind: fair and safe. They got him to seven straight Stanley Cup final series and eight overall under four different NHL management teams.

"The consistency part, that's what an official strives to be is consistent within himself," said McCreary, who's now a spokesman for Crown Royal's "Make the Right Call" campaign to promote responsible drinking and an off-ice officiating manager. "So I think that shows that that accomplishment was achieved."

Referees are often the first people on the ice to get booed before a game and receive the brunt of criticism from players, coaches and wrath from fans. Somehow, McCreary earned respect all around.

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