A candid and wildly entertaining account that offers hockey fans and sports history enthusiasts a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the game’s most pivotal moments from the perspective of one of its most respected referees. No one has seen more, heard more, or called more than Bill McCreary. From the raucous benches to the heart-stopping moments of hockey’s biggest games, Stories from Ice Level offers an unfiltered look at the sport through the eyes of one of the most respected officials in NHL history. A 2014 inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame, McCreary officiated more Stanley Cup Final games than anyone else in league history and was front and centre at the most iconic international showdowns of the modern era. Whether it’s wild locker room moments, on-ice brawls, calling Sidney Crosby’s Golden Goal, or handling death threats against Mario Lemieux, McCreary brings fans deep into the game’s gritty, gutsy and often deeply personal moments, sharing the stories that only someone wearing the stripes can tell. “Fifteen Stanley Cup Finals, three Olympic Gold Medal games—from small-town Ontario to the world’s biggest hockey stages, Bill had a front-row seat to all of the greatest hockey moments.”  —Pete DeBoer, long-time NHL head coach “In more than 1,700 NHL games and almost 300 playoff games, including 15 Stanley Cup Finals, Bill was a professional referee in every aspect of how he did his job... He was respectful and opinionated, and as both a player and as a manager I have enjoyed getting to know and work with him.”  —Don Sweeney, Former 16-year NHL defenseman, Boston Bruins GM  “Billy is the consummate professional who always valued the game, and the game’s history, integrity and reputation, above all else. He is a one of a kind.”  — Bill Daly ,  NHL Deputy Commissioner  “I have so much respect for Bill. An unbelievable ref, but what I liked the most is that you could talk to him. It’s an emotional game, you’re not always going to like calls, you didn’t have to agree with him, but he was fair and you'd talk it out and the next period you moved on. Always approachable and he had control of every game he reffed.”  —Joe Sakic, Hall of Fame honored centre and Colorado Avalanche President  "Billy was one of the most likeable referees in the NHL because he was transparent, honest and respectful. He earned his stripes and respect from all of the players around the league.”  — Zdeno Chára, Hall of Fame honoured NHL defenceman Rob Simpson  first covered the NHL as a teenager in November 1981. Since those early days of getting paid under the table to ask questions and record postgame sound at Detroit Red Wings games, “Simmer” has gone on to host national NHL radio and TV programs, serve as a play-by-play commentator and ice-level reporter for regional and national networks in two countries, and produce and host hockey-related documentaries. He is the author of four hockey books, including  Between the Lines  (HarperCollins Canada, 2006), the biography of Hall of Fame linesman Ray “Scampy” Scapinello. Simpson continues to cover the NHL in Vancouver, BC, where he resides, and in Seattle, WA. Bill McCreary  is the only referee to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame this millennium. That honour marked the culmination of a thirty-year on-ice career that included more than 1,700 regular season games and 297 playoff matches. He officiated a record 44 Stanley Cup Final games, appearing in 15 Final series. “Mac” also earned the distinction of refereeing three Olympic gold medal games—Nagano 1998 (the NHL’s first Olympic participation), Salt Lake City 2002, and Vancouver 2010. He continued his work with the league as an off-ice supervisor of officials through the 2023–24 season. He lives in Thornbury, ON.