Bill Chadwick dies

Bill "The Big Whistle" Chadwick, 94, the first U.S.-born official in NHL history who was later a popular broadcaster for the New York Rangers, died yesterday while in hospice care in Cutchogue, N.Y.

For 16 seasons, from 1939 to 1955, and despite being blind in one eye from a hockey injury in 1935, he was one of the best officials in the NHL. He invented and perfected the system of hand signals to signify penalties, and the system is now used throughout the world.

"Bill Chadwick had the confidence and the creativity to introduce hand signals to officiating," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "He had the courage to make the tough calls. His honesty and integrity brought him to the very top of his profession."

Mr. Chadwick became an amateur hockey player of note while attending Jamaica High School in New York. He also excelled at baseball.

Slapshots

The NHL suspended Carolina forward Tuomo Ruutu for three games for boarding Darcy Tucker - a hit that knocked the Colorado winger unconscious Friday night. Ruutu will lose $56,067.36 in salary. Tucker reportedly needed 40 stitches to close the cuts on his face. . . . Atlanta captain Ilya Kovalchuk did not return after taking a puck off his foot midway through the first period against San Jose last night. . . . St. Louis forward T.J. Oshie was expected to miss about two weeks after having an appendectomy hours after playing in a 3-1 win over Minnesota on Friday night.

- Inquirer wire services