Odie Cleghorn

James Albert Ogilvie “Odie” Cleghorn (September 19, 1891 – July 13, 1956) was a Canadian professional hockey player, coach, and later a referee and linesman in the National Hockey League.

Following a successful playing and coaching career — including a Stanley Cup win with the Montreal Canadiens in 1924 and pioneering the use of set forward lines as coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates — Cleghorn transitioned into officiating. He served as an NHL referee during the league’s early years, overseeing numerous high-profile games.

One of the most notable — and controversial — moments of his officiating career occurred on December 12, 1933, at Boston Garden, when he refereed the game in which Boston’s Eddie Shore delivered a violent hit that left Toronto’s Ace Bailey with a fractured skull. Cleghorn faced heavy criticism from hockey writers for his perceived leniency in managing the game’s escalating tensions.

Despite this controversy, Cleghorn remains a significant figure in early hockey history, having contributed to the sport as a player, coach, and one of the NHL’s earliest referees.