Four Decades As A Hockey Official, Bob MacPherson Still Enjoys The Calls

By Ross Forman
A former youth hockey coach asked Bob MacPherson to get involved with on-ice officiating after he graduated from high school – and he was paid $5 for mite games, $7.50 for squirts and $10 for peewees.

“I worked most games (my first season as an official) with someone who is still one of my best friends and I (still) talk to him about once a week,” MacPherson said.

Flash-forward decades. The 64-year-old MacPherson has been officiating for 40 years: 25 years in Chicago and 15 in Massachusetts.

He worked about 200 games this past season, mostly Tier 1, high school and CSHDL midgets, primarily in Willowbrook, Woodridge, Orland Park, Darien and Mt Prospect.

“I’m very lucky to have almost too many (career highlights) to list,” said MacPherson, who has officiating everything from mites to games in the USPHL, the largest junior hockey league, with more than 75 teams in the U.S. and Canada.

“I’ve skated countless tournament and league playoffs at all levels. I have met many former NHL players, mostly as youth coaches after their playing careers are over. I’ve (received) a few (state championship assignments), including the first time the girls high school state championship game was played at the United Center. “That was a great experience,” he said.

MacPherson was a linesman this past season for the boys’ combined division high school final at the All-State Arena.

MacPherson, 64, who lives in Hinsdale, is a level 4 official.

He also has been an area assigner for 23 years.

Calling Offsides With … Referee Bob MacPherson

Off-Ice: “I am the director of sales for a privately-owned fastener company. One of our biggest customers is Fastenal and you can see their name on the ice and boards in every NHL arena.”
Giving Thanks: “The biggest thing that stands out to me over the years was the personal seminars I attend in the first few years here in Chicago. There were many good officials who worked those events and I learned a lot from them.”
Family Affair: “Watching and coaching my son, with a little help from other officials, become the referee he is today. Bobby is a level 4 ref and can work all levels of youth hockey as well as ACHA. I love working games with him as well as watching him succeed out there with other officials.”
Giving Thanks: “Joe Prescot, Larry Swakon and others were great communicators on the ice and there were many more.”
The Quote: “Friends and family have asked me why I do a job that, at times, many do not.  I love the game of hockey, the best sport in the world.”