National Hockey League linesperson Matt MacPherson was recognized for officiating his 1,000th regular season NHL game on Sunday as the Boston Bruins hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins.

MacPherson (#83) worked his milestone match alongside referees Jon McIsaac (#2) and Graham Skilliter (#24) with linesperson Jesse Marquis (#86).

MacPherson made his NHL debut on October 11, 2011, working a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers alongside referees Chris Rooney and Marcus Vinnerborg and fellow liney Steve Miller.   He made his playoff debut after his third season, officiating Blackhawks vs. Blues on April 17, 2014.

The Nova Scotia native has gone on to handle three Stanley Cup Finals (2018 – Capitals vs. Golden Knights, 2020 – Lightning vs. Stars, and 2024 – Panthers vs. Oilers) as well as the 2022 All-Star Game in Las Vegas.  

From the NHLOA:

MacPherson was born in Antigonish, NS, and began officiating in the minor hockey system at the age of 15 as a way to make a little extra spending cash while still playing. As he began to climb the ranks as an official and realizing his playing days were nearing an end, his focus shifted to pursue more lofty goals on the officiating side of the game.

He had quickly reached the top leagues locally, working Junior A and Canadian University Hockey in Antigonish. It was an appearance at Don Koharski’s officiating camp in 2004 that got him recognized by scouts in the QMJHL and he was offered a position as a linesman in the Q the next year.

MacPherson worked 4 seasons in the Q and during that time was also selected to work in tournaments including the 2006 World U17s; the 2007 Winter Universiade in Torino, Italy; the 2007 and the 2008 CIS Men’s National Championships; and the 2009 World U18 Championship.

In 2009, he made the move to professional hockey and moved to Pennsylvania to work in the ECHL and AHL where he stayed for 2 seasons, working the ECHL Kelly Cup Final both years as well as the AHL Calder Cup Final.

Finally, in 2011, The NHL came calling and offered MacPherson a Minor League contract where he split the 2011-2012 season between the AHL and NHL. After working 51 NHL games that first season, he was promoted as a full time NHL Linesman in 2012.

 

Note: Sunday’s game was actually #1,003 for MacPherson. He unexpectedly reached his milestone a few days earlier – January 3 at Carolina vs. Washington – due to scheduling changes.