Donald Stewart Cherry OOnt (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. He played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins. After finishing his playing career in the American Hockey League, he coached the Bruins for five seasons. During this time, he led the team to four division titles and two appearances in the Stanley Cup Final.
From 1986 to 2019, Cherry worked with Ron MacLean on a segment called Coach's Corner, which aired during CBC’s Saturday-night NHL broadcast Hockey Night in Canada. He was nicknamed "Grapes" and was known for his strong opinions and colorful clothing. By the 2018–19 NHL season, Cherry and MacLean had hosted Coach's Corner for 33 seasons. From 1984 to 2019, Cherry also hosted a radio segment called Grapevine with sportscaster Brian Williams. He created and starred in a direct-to-video series titled Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em Hockey, which aired from 1989 to 2018.
In 2004, Cherry was voted the seventh-greatest Canadian of all time by viewers in the CBC miniseries The Greatest Canadian. In 2010, his life was dramatized in a two-part CBC movie titled Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story, based on a script written by his son, Timothy Cherry. In 2012, CBC aired a sequel titled The Wrath of Grapes: The Don Cherry Story II.
Cherry has shared political views that caused controversy. These included comments about Canada’s lack of support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and statements denying climate change. In November 2019, he was fired by Sportsnet from Hockey Night in Canada after making controversial statements described as anti-immigration, xenophobic, or racist about Canadian immigrants during his show.
Early life and family
Cherry was born in Kingston, Ontario, to Delmar (Del) and Maude Cherry. His paternal grandfather, Sub/Cst. John T. (Jack) Cherry, was a member of the North-West Mounted Police (now called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and also worked as a ship captain on the Great Lakes. His maternal grandfather, Richard Palamountain, was a British orphan with Cornish ancestors who moved to Canada as part of the Home Children program. The name Palamountain comes from a Cornish phrase meaning "pool by the mineral land." Palamountain also served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Cherry's father, Del, was an amateur athlete and worked as an electrician for the Canadian Steamship Lines. On March 15, 2008, during an episode of Coach's Corner, Cherry wore the colors of County Kerry, Ireland, and mentioned that he has ancestors from that region. Cherry's younger brother, Dick Cherry, played hockey at different levels, including two seasons in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers.
During his first season with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League, Cherry met his future wife, Rosemarie (Rose) Cherry, born Madelyn Martini in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in 1935. Rose had a major influence on Don's life. Because of Don's hockey career, the family moved 53 times and often lived in poor housing conditions. Don was frequently away during important events, such as the birth of their daughter and first child, Cindy Cherry. Six years after Cindy was born, Rose gave birth to their son, Tim Cherry. When Tim needed a kidney transplant at age 13, Cindy donated one of her kidneys. As of 2006, Cindy and Don lived near each other, close to their father, in Mississauga.
Rose passed away from liver cancer on June 1, 1997. To honor her strength, Don created Rose Cherry's Home for Kids. He always wears a rose on his lapel in her memory. Don helped establish the home, which was later renamed The Darling Home for Kids in Milton, Ontario. A street in Mississauga, Rose Cherry Place, is named after his late wife. The Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga is located on that street.
In 1999, Don married his second wife, Luba.
Playing career
Cherry played junior ice hockey for the Barrie Flyers and the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey Association. He won the Memorial Cup while playing defense for Barrie in 1953. He left high school and, in 1954, signed with the American Hockey League's (AHL) Hershey Bears.
Cherry had a long career playing professional minor hockey. In 1955, he played his only game in the National Hockey League (NHL) when the Boston Bruins called him up during the playoffs. He said a baseball injury he suffered during the off-season prevented him from continuing in the NHL, even though he had played in the minor leagues for nearly 20 years. He retired from playing in 1970 but returned to play 19 games with the Rochester Americans two years later.
Cherry won the Calder Cup (AHL) four times: in 1960 with the Springfield Indians, and in 1965, 1966, and 1968 with Rochester. He also won the Lester Patrick Cup, which is the Western Hockey League Championship, with the Vancouver Canucks in 1969.
Coaching career
After the 1968–69 season, his career as a player ended. For a time, Cherry faced difficulties while working as a car salesman and a construction worker. He later worked as a house painter, earning $2 per hour.
In the middle of the 1971–72 season, Cherry became the coach of the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans. The next year, he also took on the role of General Manager. During his third season coaching, he was voted the league’s Coach of the Year.
After three years in Rochester, Cherry was promoted to the NHL as the head coach of the Boston Bruins for the 1974–75 season. The Bruins had recently won two Stanley Cups and finished first in their division three times. However, after Cherry’s first season as coach, the team lost two of its top players, Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito.
Cherry became known for his unique coaching style, which focused on encouraging physical play. He said he modeled the team’s style after his dog, Blue, a lively bull terrier. While the team had previously relied on skilled scorers like Orr and Esposito, the 1975–76 season started poorly in part because Orr suffered a knee injury and played only ten games. Orr also left the team at the end of the season. Cherry changed the team’s approach by adding players who focused on physical play and tough defense. These players became known as the “lunch-pail gang” and “the Big Bad Bruins.” Esposito and another player were traded to the New York Rangers for Brad Park and Jean Ratelle, as Esposito disagreed with Cherry’s coaching methods. This new strategy helped the team succeed, with Park and Ratelle becoming key players. The Bruins won the Adams Division title four times in a row from 1975–76 through 1978–79. Cherry won the Jack Adams Award (NHL Coach of the Year) for the 1975 season. In the 1977–78 season, the Bruins had an NHL record of 11 players scoring 20 or more goals in a single season.
Under Cherry’s leadership, the Bruins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers twice in the playoffs. The team reached the Stanley Cup finals twice, losing both times to the Montreal Canadiens in 1977 and 1978. The Canadiens were one of the strongest teams in the NHL during the late 1970s, with three of their eight regular-season losses in the 1976–77 season coming against the Bruins. In the 1979 playoffs, the Bruins pushed the Canadiens to a seventh game but lost due to a late penalty. Cherry later said he was responsible for the mistake. The Canadiens won the game in overtime and went on to win the Stanley Cup again. Cherry had a difficult relationship with the team’s general manager, Harry Sinden, and was fired by the Bruins afterward.
In the 1979–80 season, Cherry coached the Colorado Rockies. The team adopted the motto “Come to the fights and watch a Rockies game break out!” The slogan was displayed on billboards in Denver during the season.
However, Cherry’s outspoken nature and conflicts with the Rockies’ general manager, Ray Miron, caused problems. While he motivated players, the team’s goaltending was weak because Miron refused to replace Hardy Åström, whom Cherry called “The Swedish Sieve.” Cherry recalled a game where his team took ten shots without scoring, but Åström allowed a goal on the opponent’s first shot and was removed from the game.
In a late-season game, the Chicago Blackhawks scored the winning goal while Mike McEwen, a favorite of the Rockies’ owners, was on the ice. When McEwen returned to the bench, Cherry grabbed him by the jersey and shook him. McEwen left the team for several days and only returned after meeting with Miron and the club owners. Cherry later said the owners had promised McEwen that he would be fired after the season.
The Rockies finished the season with the worst record in the league (19–48–13), which was also the worst of Cherry’s coaching career. He was fired six weeks after the season ended.
Internationally, Cherry was an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 1976 Canada Cup and the head coach for Canada’s team at the 1981 World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.
In 1983, Cherry agreed to coach the Saskatoon Blues, a proposed move of the St. Louis Blues to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. However, the NHL’s Board of Governors rejected the move, and the Blues stayed in St. Louis.
From 1998 to 2002, Cherry was part-owner and general manager of the Ontario Hockey League’s Mississauga IceDogs. He also coached the team from 2001 to 2002. As owner, he refused to participate in the CHL import draft and only used players born in North America. The team struggled in its first three seasons, winning only 16 games total. Cherry took over as head coach in the fourth season after firing the previous coach. During his one season as coach, the team improved slightly, winning 11 games, but still failed to make the playoffs. Cherry faced criticism for allowing European-born players onto the team during his coaching season.
Broadcasting career
After the Colorado Rockies did not qualify for the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs, Don Cherry was hired as a studio analyst for CBC's playoff coverage that spring. He worked with host Dave Hodge. In 1981, CBC hired him full-time as a color commentator, but he did not stay in this role for long because he often cheered for teams like the Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs. Instead, a new segment called Coach's Corner was created. It appeared during the first intermission on Hockey Night in Canada with Dave Hodge. In 1986, Hodge was replaced by Ron MacLean.
From 1984 to 2019, Cherry co-hosted Don Cherry's Grapeline with Brian Williams. The show first aired on CFRB radio in Toronto and its sister stations. In 1994, it moved to The FAN 590 and the Sportsnet Radio network. At its peak, the show was broadcast on over 100 stations in Canada and several in the United States.
For several years, Cherry also hosted his half-hour interview show, Don Cherry's Grapevine. It began on Hamilton's CHCH-TV in the 1980s and later moved to TSN. His shows are described as "game analysis, cultural commentary, and playful back-and-forth conversations with host Ron MacLean."
Cherry also hosted a syndicated weekly television show called Don Cherry's This Week in Hockey during the 1987–88 NHL season. The show featured highlights from the previous week's NHL games. A highlight of each episode was when Cherry gave a Black and Decker cordless drill to the player who delivered the "hit of the week," which was called the "Drill of the Week."
In addition to his work on Hockey Night in Canada, Cherry began releasing a series of videos called Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em Hockey in 1989.
In 1989, Cherry referred to Finnish-born Winnipeg Jets assistant coach Alpo Suhonen as "some kind of dog food," which led to a threat of a lawsuit from Jets owner Barry Shenkarow.
The 15th-anniversary video of Rock'em Sock'em Hockey was released in 2003, with a 'Best Of' version released in 2005.
In January 2004, during Coach's Corner, Cherry claimed that players who wore visors were more likely to commit high-sticking infractions. He also said, "Most of the guys that wear them are Europeans and French Canadian guys." This statement led to an investigation by the federal Official Languages Commissioner and protests by French Canadians. CBC then added a seven-second delay to Hockey Night in Canada. A later analysis of 82 NHL games found that players not wearing visors committed high-sticking infractions nearly twice as often.
Cherry returned to Coach's Corner for the 2005–06 NHL season without the seven-second delay.
For the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, NBC featured Cherry in its intermission coverage, a rare appearance on American television. He worked with Bill Clement and Brett Hull and did not conflict with his usual role on CBC, as he appeared on NBC during the second intermission.
In May 2008, ESPN announced that Cherry would join Barry Melrose as a commentator for the remainder of the 2008 NHL Playoffs. He provided pre-game analysis for the conference finals, pre- and post-game analysis for the Stanley Cup finals, and appeared on ESPNews and ESPN Radio. ESPN also said he would donate his fees to the Humane Society.
Cherry's commentary often included memorable phrases like "All you kids out there…" and showed strong support for his favorite players, such as Steve Yzerman and Doug Gilmour, whom he called "Dougie." He was known for his colorful jackets, shirts, and ties worn during Coach's Corner.
On November 9, 2019, during Coach's Corner, Cherry criticized Canadian immigrants for not wearing remembrance poppies. He said, "You people that come here … you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that … These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price." These comments were widely criticized as racist. The Royal Canadian Legion, which distributes poppies, called the remarks "hurtful, divisive, and not condoned." Sportsnet apologized, calling the comments "discriminatory and offensive." Co-host Ron MacLean apologized on Twitter for allowing Cherry to speak. The NHL said the comments were "offensive and contrary to our values." Cherry later told the Toronto Sun that he would not apologize, saying, "I have had my say."
The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) said its system was overwhelmed by the large number of complaints. Two days later, Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley announced that Cherry had been fired, saying, "It is the right time for him to immediately step down." Cherry told the Toronto Sun, "I know what I said and I meant it. Everybody in Canada should wear a poppy to honor our fallen soldiers … I would have liked to continue doing Coach's Corner. The problem is if I have to watch everything I say, it isn't Coach's Corner." He later said that if he had to do it again, he would have said "everybody."
On November 16, 2019, MacLean addressed the incident during Hockey Night in Canada, the first episode without Cherry, and announced the end of Coach's Corner.
Former Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr defended Cherry, calling his firing "disgraceful." Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri said, "People maybe took it out of context a little bit. I know Grapes is a great person and am sad to see him go."
On November 19, 2019, Cherry released his first podcast installment of Grapevine. During his first podcast, he said he would not accept Sportsnet's conditions for his return.
Cherry retired from podcasting in June 2025.
Other ventures
Don Cherry has taken on acting roles in addition to his fame. He played the role of Jake Nelson in the television series Power Play. In the first season, Nelson was the coach of the Philadelphia team competing against the Hamilton Steelheads in the playoffs. Cherry and Ron MacLean also voiced themselves in the animated series Zeroman, which featured Leslie Nielsen. He appeared in an episode of Goosebumps titled "Don't Go to Sleep!" as a hockey coach. His voice was used in Disney's animated movie The Wild as a penguin curling broadcaster. He also appeared with the Trailer Park Boys in The Tragically Hip's music video "The Darkest One." Additionally, his voice was used in the Mickey Mouse episode "Bad Ear Day" as an ice hockey game announcer.
In 2008, Cherry appeared on an episode of Holmes on Homes, a popular home improvement show. Although he was not part of the scripted scenes, he lived in the neighborhood and was shown talking with Mike Holmes about construction work and a project at his brother-in-law's house.
In 1985, the first of a chain of franchised sports bars and restaurants named after Cherry opened in Hamilton. Cherry was a partner in the business at first, but later allowed his name to be used for the chain without owning a large share of the company. "Don Cherry's Sports Grill" now has locations in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Cherry created the Don Cherry Pet Rescue Foundation and gives all profits from his Simply Pets snacks line to animal charities. During the 42nd Canadian Parliament, Cherry, who usually supports the Conservative Party, made a video supporting Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith's private bill. The bill aimed to strengthen laws against animal cruelty, but it was not passed.
Opinions on hockey
Cherry often expressed frustration with players he felt were not playing hockey the "right" way. These players were typically from backgrounds such as Quebec, Sweden, Russia, or other groups outside of English-speaking Canada. He believed that fighting is an important part of the game because it helps maintain respect between teams and players, and it is something many fans enjoy. He is known as a pioneer in the identity politics of sports.
Cherry has praised Bobby Orr as the greatest player of all time. He also admires players like Doug Gilmour, Vincent Lecavalier, and Cam Neely. He has criticized many players for actions he considers unfair, but he was especially critical of Ulf Samuelsson, whom he described as a very rough player.
Cherry strongly disagrees with recent changes in the National Hockey League, which have reduced the number of fights in favor of faster and more skilled play. He specifically criticizes rules such as touch-up icing and the instigator rule.
He often criticized players for showing off after scoring goals. In 2003, he criticized Sidney Crosby, a young player who was widely known at the time, for celebrating in a way he called "hot dogging," such as sliding on his knees after scoring. He also disapproved of a goal Crosby scored when his team was already far behind. Later, he commented on Alexander Ovechkin's celebration after scoring his 50th goal in 2009.
In 2019, he criticized the Carolina Hurricanes for their victory celebrations, calling them a "bunch of jerks." The team later used this phrase as a slogan, displaying it on the ice before and after games.
Cherry strongly supports women's hockey and sledge hockey. In 1997, the Canadian women's national ice hockey team honored Rose Cherry, who had passed away. Bob MacKinnon, chairman of Canadian Hockey, said, "The growing popularity of women's hockey in our country owes a great deal to Don and Rose Cherry. Don has supported the female game since the 1980s and continues to speak out in favor of women's hockey. It is a pleasure for me, as chairman of Canadian Hockey, to be part of this tribute to Rose Cherry, who also supported women's hockey."
Political views
Over his career on television, Don Cherry caused a lot of controversy about hockey and politics.
In 2003, Cherry made comments on his CBC show that supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq. On March 22, 2003, he criticized Montreal fans for booing the American national anthem before a game earlier that week. The conversation turned to the war when Ron MacLean asked, "Everybody wants to know what you think." Cherry scolded MacLean for staying neutral on the war and strongly criticized the Canadian government for not supporting the U.S. in the war. The next week, Cherry appeared on the American radio show The Jim Rome Show and said, "You have to realize the CBC is government owned […] You have to say the government was against [the invasion of Iraq] and I'm for it and I'm on a government program. I really thought this could be the end."
In November 2006, Cherry appeared in the House of Commons of Canada and officially said he supported Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He called Harper "a grinder and a mucker" and said, "I give a thumbs up to Stephen Harper for sure. He supports the troops and I support the troops."
On December 7, 2010, Cherry attended an inaugural meeting of Toronto City Council, where he placed the chain of office around incoming Mayor Rob Ford’s neck. He was asked to speak and began by saying, "I'm wearing pink for all the pinkos out there that ride bicycles and everything, I thought I'd get it in." He then said he had "been ripped to shreds by the left-wing pinko newspapers out there" and ended by saying, "And that's why I say he's gonna be the greatest mayor this city has ever, ever seen, as far as I'm concerned! And put that in your pipe, you left-wing kooks." Left-leaning councillors criticized Cherry’s speech. The next day, some of them wore pink clothing in protest, including Joe Mihevc and Ana Bailão, who wore pink scarves, and Janet Davis, who wore a pink suit jacket. Mihevc said, "We all love Don Cherry and his comments and forcefulness in hockey games, but this is council. It's a political arena where we make it a habit to reach out, talk to others, and achieve consensus. To have that kind of, frankly, belligerence and pushing people aside, to start out this way I think is really unfortunate." Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong defended Cherry but said, "A little over the top" and that "You take it for what it is and you shrug it off and move forward." Cherry defended his comments by saying, "Well, what can I tell you? Don't invite me. You don't invite a pit bull. If you want a pit bull, you get a pit bull." Later that month, Cherry joined Rob Ford on a trip to visit Canadian troops in Afghanistan, where he attended and spoke at a Christmas dinner event.
Cherry is a strong supporter of the Canadian Forces, police officers, and veterans.
In 2018, Cherry faced backlash after denying the existence of climate change and calling people who acknowledge climate change "cuckaloos." Environment Minister Catherine McKenna responded by saying, "For hockey you can turn to Coach's Corner if you want, for climate change, Canadians turn to scientists." Cherry has expressed similar views in the past, such as during a 2008 Hockey Night in Canada broadcast when he called environmental activist David Suzuki a "left-wing kook."
In 2020, Cherry supported Donald Trump in the 2020 United States presidential election.
Accolades
In 1976, Cherry won the Jack Adams Award, which honors the best coach in the NHL. He was inducted into the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2019, he was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame.
On November 14, 2005, Cherry was given an honorary membership in the Police Association of Ontario. He once wanted to be a police officer and has always supported police services. In June 2007, Cherry was made a Dominion Command honorary life member of the Royal Canadian Legion for his long-term support of Canadians in uniform. In February 2008, he received the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service for his support of Canadian military members and for honoring fallen soldiers on Coach's Corner.
In 2004, Cherry was ranked number seven on the Greatest Canadian list. He said he believed he was "a good Canadian," but not the greatest, and he supported John A. Macdonald, a fellow resident of Kingston.
In 2005, Cherry was inducted into the Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2016, Cherry and Coach's Corner co-host Ron MacLean were given a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.
In 2018, Cherry received the Hockey Legacy Award from the Sports Museum at TD Garden.
In 2025, Cherry was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contributions to Canada and was appointed to the Order of Ontario.
Date
Donald Stewart Cherry OOnt (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. He played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins. After finishing his playing career in the American Hockey League, he coached the Bruins for five seasons. During this time, he led the team to four division titles and two appearances in the Stanley Cup Final.
From 1986 to 2019, Cherry worked with Ron MacLean on a segment called Coach's Corner, which aired during CBC’s Saturday-night NHL broadcast Hockey Night in Canada. He was nicknamed "Grapes" and was known for his strong opinions and colorful clothing. By the 2018–19 NHL season, Cherry and MacLean had hosted Coach's Corner for 33 seasons. From 1984 to 2019, Cherry also hosted a radio segment called Grapevine with sportscaster Brian Williams. He created and starred in a direct-to-video series titled Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em Hockey, which aired from 1989 to 2018.
In 2004, Cherry was voted the seventh-greatest Canadian of all time by viewers in the CBC miniseries The Greatest Canadian. In 2010, his life was dramatized in a two-part CBC movie titled Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story, based on a script written by his son, Timothy Cherry. In 2012, CBC aired a sequel titled The Wrath of Grapes: The Don Cherry Story II.
Cherry has shared political views that caused controversy. These included comments about Canada’s lack of support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and statements denying climate change. In November 2019, he was fired by Sportsnet from Hockey Night in Canada after making controversial statements described as anti-immigration, xenophobic, or racist about Canadian immigrants during his show.
Early life and family
Cherry was born in Kingston, Ontario, to Delmar (Del) and Maude Cherry. His paternal grandfather, Sub/Cst. John T. (Jack) Cherry, was a member of the North-West Mounted Police (now called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and also worked as a ship captain on the Great Lakes. His maternal grandfather, Richard Palamountain, was a British orphan with Cornish ancestors who moved to Canada as part of the Home Children program. The name Palamountain comes from a Cornish phrase meaning "pool by the mineral land." Palamountain also served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Cherry's father, Del, was an amateur athlete and worked as an electrician for the Canadian Steamship Lines. On March 15, 2008, during an episode of Coach's Corner, Cherry wore the colors of County Kerry, Ireland, and mentioned that he has ancestors from that region. Cherry's younger brother, Dick Cherry, played hockey at different levels, including two seasons in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers.
During his first season with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League, Cherry met his future wife, Rosemarie (Rose) Cherry, born Madelyn Martini in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in 1935. Rose had a major influence on Don's life. Because of Don's hockey career, the family moved 53 times and often lived in poor housing conditions. Don was frequently away during important events, such as the birth of their daughter and first child, Cindy Cherry. Six years after Cindy was born, Rose gave birth to their son, Tim Cherry. When Tim needed a kidney transplant at age 13, Cindy donated one of her kidneys. As of 2006, Cindy and Don lived near each other, close to their father, in Mississauga.
Rose passed away from liver cancer on June 1, 1997. To honor her strength, Don created Rose Cherry's Home for Kids. He always wears a rose on his lapel in her memory. Don helped establish the home, which was later renamed The Darling Home for Kids in Milton, Ontario. A street in Mississauga, Rose Cherry Place, is named after his late wife. The Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga is located on that street.
In 1999, Don married his second wife, Luba.
Playing career
Cherry played junior ice hockey for the Barrie Flyers and the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey Association. He won the Memorial Cup while playing defense for Barrie in 1953. He left high school and, in 1954, signed with the American Hockey League's (AHL) Hershey Bears.
Cherry had a long career playing professional minor hockey. In 1955, he played his only game in the National Hockey League (NHL) when the Boston Bruins called him up during the playoffs. He said a baseball injury he suffered during the off-season prevented him from continuing in the NHL, even though he had played in the minor leagues for nearly 20 years. He retired from playing in 1970 but returned to play 19 games with the Rochester Americans two years later.
Cherry won the Calder Cup (AHL) four times: in 1960 with the Springfield Indians, and in 1965, 1966, and 1968 with Rochester. He also won the Lester Patrick Cup, which is the Western Hockey League Championship, with the Vancouver Canucks in 1969.
Coaching career
After the 1968–69 season, his career as a player ended. For a time, Cherry faced difficulties while working as a car salesman and a construction worker. He later worked as a house painter, earning $2 per hour.
In the middle of the 1971–72 season, Cherry became the coach of the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans. The next year, he also took on the role of General Manager. During his third season coaching, he was voted the league’s Coach of the Year.
After three years in Rochester, Cherry was promoted to the NHL as the head coach of the Boston Bruins for the 1974–75 season. The Bruins had recently won two Stanley Cups and finished first in their division three times. However, after Cherry’s first season as coach, the team lost two of its top players, Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito.
Cherry became known for his unique coaching style, which focused on encouraging physical play. He said he modeled the team’s style after his dog, Blue, a lively bull terrier. While the team had previously relied on skilled scorers like Orr and Esposito, the 1975–76 season started poorly in part because Orr suffered a knee injury and played only ten games. Orr also left the team at the end of the season. Cherry changed the team’s approach by adding players who focused on physical play and tough defense. These players became known as the “lunch-pail gang” and “the Big Bad Bruins.” Esposito and another player were traded to the New York Rangers for Brad Park and Jean Ratelle, as Esposito disagreed with Cherry’s coaching methods. This new strategy helped the team succeed, with Park and Ratelle becoming key players. The Bruins won the Adams Division title four times in a row from 1975–76 through 1978–79. Cherry won the Jack Adams Award (NHL Coach of the Year) for the 1975 season. In the 1977–78 season, the Bruins had an NHL record of 11 players scoring 20 or more goals in a single season.
Under Cherry’s leadership, the Bruins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers twice in the playoffs. The team reached the Stanley Cup finals twice, losing both times to the Montreal Canadiens in 1977 and 1978. The Canadiens were one of the strongest teams in the NHL during the late 1970s, with three of their eight regular-season losses in the 1976–77 season coming against the Bruins. In the 1979 playoffs, the Bruins pushed the Canadiens to a seventh game but lost due to a late penalty. Cherry later said he was responsible for the mistake. The Canadiens won the game in overtime and went on to win the Stanley Cup again. Cherry had a difficult relationship with the team’s general manager, Harry Sinden, and was fired by the Bruins afterward.
In the 1979–80 season, Cherry coached the Colorado Rockies. The team adopted the motto “Come to the fights and watch a Rockies game break out!” The slogan was displayed on billboards in Denver during the season.
However, Cherry’s outspoken nature and conflicts with the Rockies’ general manager, Ray Miron, caused problems. While he motivated players, the team’s goaltending was weak because Miron refused to replace Hardy Åström, whom Cherry called “The Swedish Sieve.” Cherry recalled a game where his team took ten shots without scoring, but Åström allowed a goal on the opponent’s first shot and was removed from the game.
In a late-season game, the Chicago Blackhawks scored the winning goal while Mike McEwen, a favorite of the Rockies’ owners, was on the ice. When McEwen returned to the bench, Cherry grabbed him by the jersey and shook him. McEwen left the team for several days and only returned after meeting with Miron and the club owners. Cherry later said the owners had promised McEwen that he would be fired after the season.
The Rockies finished the season with the worst record in the league (19–48–13), which was also the worst of Cherry’s coaching career. He was fired six weeks after the season ended.
Internationally, Cherry was an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 1976 Canada Cup and the head coach for Canada’s team at the 1981 World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.
In 1983, Cherry agreed to coach the Saskatoon Blues, a proposed move of the St. Louis Blues to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. However, the NHL’s Board of Governors rejected the move, and the Blues stayed in St. Louis.
From 1998 to 2002, Cherry was part-owner and general manager of the Ontario Hockey League’s Mississauga IceDogs. He also coached the team from 2001 to 2002. As owner, he refused to participate in the CHL import draft and only used players born in North America. The team struggled in its first three seasons, winning only 16 games total. Cherry took over as head coach in the fourth season after firing the previous coach. During his one season as coach, the team improved slightly, winning 11 games, but still failed to make the playoffs. Cherry faced criticism for allowing European-born players onto the team during his coaching season.
Broadcasting career
After the Colorado Rockies did not qualify for the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs, Don Cherry was hired as a studio analyst for CBC's playoff coverage that spring. He worked with host Dave Hodge. In 1981, CBC hired him full-time as a color commentator, but he did not stay in this role for long because he often cheered for teams like the Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs. Instead, a new segment called Coach's Corner was created. It appeared during the first intermission on Hockey Night in Canada with Dave Hodge. In 1986, Hodge was replaced by Ron MacLean.
From 1984 to 2019, Cherry co-hosted Don Cherry's Grapeline with Brian Williams. The show first aired on CFRB radio in Toronto and its sister stations. In 1994, it moved to The FAN 590 and the Sportsnet Radio network. At its peak, the show was broadcast on over 100 stations in Canada and several in the United States.
For several years, Cherry also hosted his half-hour interview show, Don Cherry's Grapevine. It began on Hamilton's CHCH-TV in the 1980s and later moved to TSN. His shows are described as "game analysis, cultural commentary, and playful back-and-forth conversations with host Ron MacLean."
Cherry also hosted a syndicated weekly television show called Don Cherry's This Week in Hockey during the 1987–88 NHL season. The show featured highlights from the previous week's NHL games. A highlight of each episode was when Cherry gave a Black and Decker cordless drill to the player who delivered the "hit of the week," which was called the "Drill of the Week."
In addition to his work on Hockey Night in Canada, Cherry began releasing a series of videos called Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em Hockey in 1989.
In 1989, Cherry referred to Finnish-born Winnipeg Jets assistant coach Alpo Suhonen as "some kind of dog food," which led to a threat of a lawsuit from Jets owner Barry Shenkarow.
The 15th-anniversary video of Rock'em Sock'em Hockey was released in 2003, with a 'Best Of' version released in 2005.
In January 2004, during Coach's Corner, Cherry claimed that players who wore visors were more likely to commit high-sticking infractions. He also said, "Most of the guys that wear them are Europeans and French Canadian guys." This statement led to an investigation by the federal Official Languages Commissioner and protests by French Canadians. CBC then added a seven-second delay to Hockey Night in Canada. A later analysis of 82 NHL games found that players not wearing visors committed high-sticking infractions nearly twice as often.
Cherry returned to Coach's Corner for the 2005–06 NHL season without the seven-second delay.
For the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, NBC featured Cherry in its intermission coverage, a rare appearance on American television. He worked with Bill Clement and Brett Hull and did not conflict with his usual role on CBC, as he appeared on NBC during the second intermission.
In May 2008, ESPN announced that Cherry would join Barry Melrose as a commentator for the remainder of the 2008 NHL Playoffs. He provided pre-game analysis for the conference finals, pre- and post-game analysis for the Stanley Cup finals, and appeared on ESPNews and ESPN Radio. ESPN also said he would donate his fees to the Humane Society.
Cherry's commentary often included memorable phrases like "All you kids out there…" and showed strong support for his favorite players, such as Steve Yzerman and Doug Gilmour, whom he called "Dougie." He was known for his colorful jackets, shirts, and ties worn during Coach's Corner.
On November 9, 2019, during Coach's Corner, Cherry criticized Canadian immigrants for not wearing remembrance poppies. He said, "You people that come here … you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that … These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price." These comments were widely criticized as racist. The Royal Canadian Legion, which distributes poppies, called the remarks "hurtful, divisive, and not condoned." Sportsnet apologized, calling the comments "discriminatory and offensive." Co-host Ron MacLean apologized on Twitter for allowing Cherry to speak. The NHL said the comments were "offensive and contrary to our values." Cherry later told the Toronto Sun that he would not apologize, saying, "I have had my say."
The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) said its system was overwhelmed by the large number of complaints. Two days later, Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley announced that Cherry had been fired, saying, "It is the right time for him to immediately step down." Cherry told the Toronto Sun, "I know what I said and I meant it. Everybody in Canada should wear a poppy to honor our fallen soldiers … I would have liked to continue doing Coach's Corner. The problem is if I have to watch everything I say, it isn't Coach's Corner." He later said that if he had to do it again, he would have said "everybody."
On November 16, 2019, MacLean addressed the incident during Hockey Night in Canada, the first episode without Cherry, and announced the end of Coach's Corner.
Former Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr defended Cherry, calling his firing "disgraceful." Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri said, "People maybe took it out of context a little bit. I know Grapes is a great person and am sad to see him go."
On November 19, 2019, Cherry released his first podcast installment of Grapevine. During his first podcast, he said he would not accept Sportsnet's conditions for his return.
Cherry retired from podcasting in June 2025.
Other ventures
Don Cherry has taken on acting roles in addition to his fame. He played the role of Jake Nelson in the television series Power Play. In the first season, Nelson was the coach of the Philadelphia team competing against the Hamilton Steelheads in the playoffs. Cherry and Ron MacLean also voiced themselves in the animated series Zeroman, which featured Leslie Nielsen. He appeared in an episode of Goosebumps titled "Don't Go to Sleep!" as a hockey coach. His voice was used in Disney's animated movie The Wild as a penguin curling broadcaster. He also appeared with the Trailer Park Boys in The Tragically Hip's music video "The Darkest One." Additionally, his voice was used in the Mickey Mouse episode "Bad Ear Day" as an ice hockey game announcer.
In 2008, Cherry appeared on an episode of Holmes on Homes, a popular home improvement show. Although he was not part of the scripted scenes, he lived in the neighborhood and was shown talking with Mike Holmes about construction work and a project at his brother-in-law's house.
In 1985, the first of a chain of franchised sports bars and restaurants named after Cherry opened in Hamilton. Cherry was a partner in the business at first, but later allowed his name to be used for the chain without owning a large share of the company. "Don Cherry's Sports Grill" now has locations in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Cherry created the Don Cherry Pet Rescue Foundation and gives all profits from his Simply Pets snacks line to animal charities. During the 42nd Canadian Parliament, Cherry, who usually supports the Conservative Party, made a video supporting Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith's private bill. The bill aimed to strengthen laws against animal cruelty, but it was not passed.
Opinions on hockey
Cherry often expressed frustration with players he felt were not playing hockey the "right" way. These players were typically from backgrounds such as Quebec, Sweden, Russia, or other groups outside of English-speaking Canada. He believed that fighting is an important part of the game because it helps maintain respect between teams and players, and it is something many fans enjoy. He is known as a pioneer in the identity politics of sports.
Cherry has praised Bobby Orr as the greatest player of all time. He also admires players like Doug Gilmour, Vincent Lecavalier, and Cam Neely. He has criticized many players for actions he considers unfair, but he was especially critical of Ulf Samuelsson, whom he described as a very rough player.
Cherry strongly disagrees with recent changes in the National Hockey League, which have reduced the number of fights in favor of faster and more skilled play. He specifically criticizes rules such as touch-up icing and the instigator rule.
He often criticized players for showing off after scoring goals. In 2003, he criticized Sidney Crosby, a young player who was widely known at the time, for celebrating in a way he called "hot dogging," such as sliding on his knees after scoring. He also disapproved of a goal Crosby scored when his team was already far behind. Later, he commented on Alexander Ovechkin's celebration after scoring his 50th goal in 2009.
In 2019, he criticized the Carolina Hurricanes for their victory celebrations, calling them a "bunch of jerks." The team later used this phrase as a slogan, displaying it on the ice before and after games.
Cherry strongly supports women's hockey and sledge hockey. In 1997, the Canadian women's national ice hockey team honored Rose Cherry, who had passed away. Bob MacKinnon, chairman of Canadian Hockey, said, "The growing popularity of women's hockey in our country owes a great deal to Don and Rose Cherry. Don has supported the female game since the 1980s and continues to speak out in favor of women's hockey. It is a pleasure for me, as chairman of Canadian Hockey, to be part of this tribute to Rose Cherry, who also supported women's hockey."
Political views
Over his career on television, Don Cherry caused a lot of controversy about hockey and politics.
In 2003, Cherry made comments on his CBC show that supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq. On March 22, 2003, he criticized Montreal fans for booing the American national anthem before a game earlier that week. The conversation turned to the war when Ron MacLean asked, "Everybody wants to know what you think." Cherry scolded MacLean for staying neutral on the war and strongly criticized the Canadian government for not supporting the U.S. in the war. The next week, Cherry appeared on the American radio show The Jim Rome Show and said, "You have to realize the CBC is government owned […] You have to say the government was against [the invasion of Iraq] and I'm for it and I'm on a government program. I really thought this could be the end."
In November 2006, Cherry appeared in the House of Commons of Canada and officially said he supported Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He called Harper "a grinder and a mucker" and said, "I give a thumbs up to Stephen Harper for sure. He supports the troops and I support the troops."
On December 7, 2010, Cherry attended an inaugural meeting of Toronto City Council, where he placed the chain of office around incoming Mayor Rob Ford’s neck. He was asked to speak and began by saying, "I'm wearing pink for all the pinkos out there that ride bicycles and everything, I thought I'd get it in." He then said he had "been ripped to shreds by the left-wing pinko newspapers out there" and ended by saying, "And that's why I say he's gonna be the greatest mayor this city has ever, ever seen, as far as I'm concerned! And put that in your pipe, you left-wing kooks." Left-leaning councillors criticized Cherry’s speech. The next day, some of them wore pink clothing in protest, including Joe Mihevc and Ana Bailão, who wore pink scarves, and Janet Davis, who wore a pink suit jacket. Mihevc said, "We all love Don Cherry and his comments and forcefulness in hockey games, but this is council. It's a political arena where we make it a habit to reach out, talk to others, and achieve consensus. To have that kind of, frankly, belligerence and pushing people aside, to start out this way I think is really unfortunate." Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong defended Cherry but said, "A little over the top" and that "You take it for what it is and you shrug it off and move forward." Cherry defended his comments by saying, "Well, what can I tell you? Don't invite me. You don't invite a pit bull. If you want a pit bull, you get a pit bull." Later that month, Cherry joined Rob Ford on a trip to visit Canadian troops in Afghanistan, where he attended and spoke at a Christmas dinner event.
Cherry is a strong supporter of the Canadian Forces, police officers, and veterans.
In 2018, Cherry faced backlash after denying the existence of climate change and calling people who acknowledge climate change "cuckaloos." Environment Minister Catherine McKenna responded by saying, "For hockey you can turn to Coach's Corner if you want, for climate change, Canadians turn to scientists." Cherry has expressed similar views in the past, such as during a 2008 Hockey Night in Canada broadcast when he called environmental activist David Suzuki a "left-wing kook."
In 2020, Cherry supported Donald Trump in the 2020 United States presidential election.
Accolades
In 1976, Cherry won the Jack Adams Award, which honors the best coach in the NHL. He was inducted into the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2019, he was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame.
On November 14, 2005, Cherry was given an honorary membership in the Police Association of Ontario. He once wanted to be a police officer and has always supported police services. In June 2007, Cherry was made a Dominion Command honorary life member of the Royal Canadian Legion for his long-term support of Canadians in uniform. In February 2008, he received the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service for his support of Canadian military members and for honoring fallen soldiers on Coach's Corner.
In 2004, Cherry was ranked number seven on the Greatest Canadian list. He said he believed he was "a good Canadian," but not the greatest, and he supported John A. Macdonald, a fellow resident of Kingston.
In 2005, Cherry was inducted into the Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2016, Cherry and Coach's Corner co-host Ron MacLean were given a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.
In 2018, Cherry received the Hockey Legacy Award from the Sports Museum at TD Garden.
In 2025, Cherry was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contributions to Canada and was appointed to the Order of Ontario.
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