Piano Prodigy Jude Kofie to Headline Project Harmony’s 30th Anniversary Gala
5 days ago
Canada Don Cherry has transitioned from professional ice hockey player and NHL coach to a prominent Canadian ice hockey commentator and sports writer.
Cherry's status as an icon of Canadian TV hockey was discussed in relation to the 12-year, $5.2-billion agreement that gave Rogers national rights to all NHL games and would see the broadcast shift. Marketers suggested re-branding Hockey Night in Canada with him would be difficult.
RE/MAX Presents: WHL Suits Up with Don Cherry to promote organ donation. The third season celebrated Cherry's longstanding history with Hockey Night in Canada.
InsureLine signed Cherry to an endorsement deal, allowing InsureLine franchises to use his celebrity as a marketing tool.
Don Cherry and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Hockey Night in Canada teamed up to present the greatest hockey.
Cherry created the 'Don Cherry Pet Rescue Foundation' and donates all profits from his Simply Pets snacks line to animal charities.
Cherry hosted a syndicated weekly television show called 'Don Cherry's This Week in Hockey' where he awarded a Black and Decker cordless drill to the player who levied the 'hit of the week'.
Donald Stewart “Don” Cherry was born on February 5, 1934, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. His early life involved playing junior hockey with the Barrie Flyers and Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey Association, where he won the Memorial Cup with Barrie in 1953. He then embarked on a long professional minor league career in the American Hockey League (AHL), notably with the Hershey Bears and Rochester Americans, winning the Calder Cup four times (1960, 1965, 1966, 1968). His NHL playing career consisted of one game with the Boston Bruins in 1955. After retiring as a player in 1970, he momentarily transitioned to various jobs, including a Cadillac salesman and house painter, before returning to hockey as a coach.
Cherry’s coaching career began with the Rochester Americans in the AHL in 1971, earning Coach of the Year honors in his third season. This led to his promotion as head coach of the NHL’s Boston Bruins in 1974. During his five seasons (1974-1979) with the Bruins, he became known for his “lunch-pail gang” approach, leading the team to four division titles and two Stanley Cup Finals appearances (1977, 1978). He received the Jack Adams Award (NHL Coach of the Year) in 1975. After being fired by the Bruins in 1979, he coached the Colorado Rockies for one season (1979-1980) and later had a brief coaching stint with the Mississauga IceDogs in the OHL (2001-2002).
In 1980, Cherry began his broadcasting career, becoming a full-time commentator for CBC Television in 1981. He co-hosted the iconic “Coach’s Corner” segment on “Hockey Night in Canada” from 1986 to 2019 alongside Ron MacLean. His outspoken commentary, flamboyant attire, and Canadian nationalism made him a recognizable figure. He also had a long-running radio show, “Grapevine,” and released a popular direct-to-video series, “Don Cherry’s Rock’em Sock’em Hockey.” His career saw him become a Canadian icon, as evidenced by his ranking as the seventh-greatest Canadian in a 2004 CBC poll, and his continuous involvement in hockey media until his departure from “Hockey Night in Canada” in 2019.
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
