Don Cherry Biography | NHL Hockey Coach and Commentator

Donald Stewart Cherry

Born: February 5, 1934
Place of Birth: Kingston, Ontario

Major Notes:

Don Cherry is known as one of the most controversial hockey commentators as well as an excellent hockey coach.
He was a high school dropout in Kingston.
Cherry played his early hockey as a defenseman with the junior Windsor Spitfires and the Barrie Flyers.
He was picked up by the Hershey Bears in 1954 and began a long career in the minor hockey leagues for several teams.
Cherry had only played in one game of NHL hockey that being a playoff game for the Boston Bruins.
After leaving hockey at this point, he tried working in construction.
However, he found his missed hockey and, in 1971, joined the Rochester Americans as a defenseman.
Before the season was half over, he was made the team's Coach ending up as Rookie Coach of the Year.
In 1974, he accepted the position of Head Coach for the NHL Boston Bruins.
He was very successful leading the team to four straight division championships and two Stanley Cup playoffs.
In 1976, he won the coveted title of Coach of the Year in the NHL.
Cherry continued to coach in the NHL until 1979 when he retired from coaching.
He walked into another career when he began making appearances on Hockey Night in Canada as a commentator.
His remarks, tips, and controversial style led him into his own segment of the show called "Coach's Corner".
He branched out and became the owner of several restaurants known as the "Grapevine" and became a part-owner in a junior hockey club.
Because of some of his remarks on TV, a special 7-second delay was used for a short time on his segment of Hockey Night.
In a special poll, Don Cherry was honoured by his fans by being voted as one of the top ten "great" Canadians.

For detailed research and more information, check out any of the following:

TV.com Celebrity 1000 The Greatest Canadian Wikipedia CBC Sports Videos Legends of Hockey

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Major Notes:

Don Cherry is known as one of the most controversial hockey commentators as well as an excellent hockey coach.

He was a high school dropout in Kingston.

Cherry played his early hockey as a defenseman with the junior Windsor Spitfires and the Barrie Flyers.

He was picked up by the Hershey Bears in 1954 and began a long career in the minor hockey leagues for several teams.

Cherry had only played in one game of NHL hockey that being a playoff game for the Boston Bruins.

After leaving hockey at this point, he tried working in construction.

However, he found his missed hockey and, in 1971, joined the Rochester Americans as a defenseman.

Before the season was half over, he was made the team's Coach ending up as Rookie Coach of the Year.

In 1974, he accepted the position of Head Coach for the NHL Boston Bruins.

He was very successful leading the team to four straight division championships and two Stanley Cup playoffs.

In 1976, he won the coveted title of Coach of the Year in the NHL.

Cherry continued to coach in the NHL until 1979 when he retired from coaching.

He walked into another career when he began making appearances on Hockey Night in Canada as a commentator.

His remarks, tips, and controversial style led him into his own segment of the show called "Coach's Corner".

He branched out and became the owner of several restaurants known as the "Grapevine" and became a part-owner in a junior hockey club.

Because of some of his remarks on TV, a special 7-second delay was used for a short time on his segment of Hockey Night.

In a special poll, Don Cherry was honoured by his fans by being voted as one of the top ten "great" Canadians.