Photo credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-Imagn Images
Former Hockey Night in Canada mainstay and Canadian icon Don Cherry has decided it’s time to move on, and has decided to retire and enjoy time away from the mic.
There was a time when you couldn’t turn on a television set on a Saturday night in Canada without hearing the iconic booming voice of Don Cherry as he led his Coach’s Corner segment that was filled with it’s fair share of laughs and criticism.
Unabashedly a Maple Leafs fan, Cherry would often chastise the team if they were faltering, and it wouldn’t be too far off to say that the former NHL head coach turned pundit was a national treasure.
And leave it behind for good.
Don Cherry Confirms He’s Retiring for Good
In an exclusive interview with Joe Warmington, a close friend and reporter of The Whig, Cherry announced he was going to immediately pull his podcast, and step into retirement to focus on enjoying life:I think that is why a lot of people were looking forward to this year’s season of the Grapevine podcast he and his son Tim did every Sunday since he was fired on Remembrance Day six years ago.
But, Don says, despite having many listeners, he has decided to not do it anymore.
«I just decided it was time to pack it in,» he told the Sun.
This means the coach is officially retired from public life after decades of top service. But he’s not blue about it.
«It was fun, but everything has it’s time,» said Cherry.
It’s a shocking turn of events as Cherry was expected to continue his podcast with his son Tim, however with him being 92 years old, it’s also not too surprising.
A Legacy That Defined Canadian Hockey Culture
Cherry ended up receiving the Coronation’s Medal from King Charles recently for his passion and dedication to hockey, and his indelible mark on Canadian culture; a well-deserved honor for the long-time voice of the fans.
From his flashy suits that made fans both ogle and turn away at times, to his brash opinion on how the game should be played, to the undying love and support for the military; he was one of a kind.
Not to mention his legendary status as a Canadian figure, and was often featured in commercials for Molson, Pro-Line, and had his own line of VHS highlight tapes called Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Hockey which would show various hits, fights and goals from the past seasons.
The iconic former head coach is also not letting his love for Toronto teams be strictly reserved for the Maple Leafs, as he is rooting hard for the Blue Jays as they head into the World Series:
The Jays will beat the Dodgers, I predict. Los Angeles has more talent but I love this Blue Jays team. They are scrappers and that kind of team is hard to play against.
Regardless of your opinion on Cherry and where he stands in his beliefs, there is no denying that the hockey world has lost a very loud and exemplary member of its ranks.
But surely, it’s not ‘Sour Grapes’ for Don as he steps out of the spotlight and into the sunset as he looks forward to a life without hockey.
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