Nova Scotia is being represented in the Stanley Cup Finals by NHL linesman number 83 Matt MacPherson.
The 36-year-old grew up officiating in the Antigonish Minor Hockey system and later in rinks around Nova Scotia, eventually making his way to the QMJHL where he worked many Halifax Mooseheads games with thousands of kilometers logged around the Maritimes working the other Q League cities.
Matt got the call up to the NHL in 2011 and has never looked back, working over 815 regular season games and over 96 playoff games, including being on the ice for last night’s 5-3 Edmonton Oilers victory over the Panthers in Sunrise, Florida. This is his third Stanley Cup Final assignment.
Matt has officiated several NHL preseason games here in Halifax, most recently the Nova Scotia Showdown last October 2nd between fellow Bluenosers Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins and Drake Batherson and the Ottawa Senators.
(Above: Matt MacPherson NHL Linesman # 83 in 2015 on Scotiabank Centre ice with # 45 Jon McIsaac from Truro, Nova Scotia.)
At The Wheel Pizza Restaurant in his hometown of Antigonish, Matt’s picture is on the wall from his QMJHL days traveling back and forth from Cape Breton Eagles games in Sydney.
Just like the players, it’s the official’s goal to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
On a personal note, Matt has been a mentor to my son Drake over his 14-year Referee career for various leagues including the MHL – Maritime Hockey League and AUS, Atlantic University Sport.
(Above Drake and Matt at the Don Koharski Officiating Camp in Moncton in 2012 when Drake was added to the QMJHL’s Young Prospects List.)
(Above: I’m 6’2 and 220 and Matt makes me look like a twig…)
Congrats Matt on a great NHL career so far, with many more years of breaking up fights and offside whistles to come!
We’re Nova Scotia proud of you, my friend.
Ian
(Credits: Ian Robinson photos)