Career Timeline of Don Cherry: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Don Cherry, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Don Cherry is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. He played briefly in the NHL for the Boston Bruins, later coaching the same team for five seasons. As a coach, he led the Bruins to four division titles and two Stanley Cup Finals appearances. Cherry's career transitioned from playing and coaching to becoming a well-known, and sometimes controversial, figure in hockey broadcasting.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

1953: Won Memorial Cup with Barrie

In 1953, Don Cherry won the Memorial Cup while playing defence in Barrie.

1954: Signed with Hershey Bears

In 1954, Don Cherry signed with the American Hockey League's (AHL) Hershey Bears.

1955: Played one game in the NHL

In 1955, Don Cherry played his only NHL game when the Boston Bruins called him up during the playoffs.

1960: Won Calder Cup with Springfield Indians

In 1960, Don Cherry won the Calder Cup championship with the Springfield Indians.

1965: Won Calder Cup with Rochester Americans

In 1965, Don Cherry won the Calder Cup championship with the Rochester Americans.

1966: Won Calder Cup with Rochester Americans

In 1966, Don Cherry won the Calder Cup championship with the Rochester Americans.

1968: End of playing career

After the end of the 1968–69 season, Don Cherry's playing career was essentially over, and he struggled for a time as a Cadillac salesman and a construction worker.

1968: Won Calder Cup with Rochester Americans

In 1968, Don Cherry won the Calder Cup championship with the Rochester Americans.

1969: Won Lester Patrick Cup with Vancouver Canucks

In 1969, Don Cherry won the Lester Patrick Cup, the Western Hockey League Championship, with the Vancouver Canucks.

1970: Retired as a player

Don Cherry retired as a player in 1970 after a long career in professional minor hockey.

1971: Became coach of Rochester Americans

In the middle of the 1971–72 season, Don Cherry became the coach of the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans.

1974: Promoted to head coach of Boston Bruins

In 1974, Don Cherry was promoted to the NHL as head coach of the Boston Bruins for the 1974–75 season.

1975: Cherry wins Jack Adams Award

In the 1975 season, Don Cherry won the Jack Adams Award (NHL coach of the year).

1976: Assistant coach for Team Canada

In 1976, Don Cherry was an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 1976 Canada Cup.

1976: Bruins capture the Adams division title

In the 1976-77 season, Don Cherry coached the Boston Bruins team that captured the Adams division title.

1977: Coached Bruins to Adams division title

During the 1977-78 season, Don Cherry coached the Boston Bruins team to their second Adams division title.

1977: Bruins lose Stanley Cup Finals to Canadiens

In 1977, Don Cherry's Bruins lost the Stanley Cup Finals to the Montreal Canadiens.

1978: Bruins lose Stanley Cup Finals to Canadiens

In 1978, Don Cherry's Bruins lost the Stanley Cup Finals to the Montreal Canadiens for the second year in a row.

1978: Coached Bruins to NHL record of 11 players with 20 goals

In the 1977–78 season, Don Cherry coached the Bruins team to an NHL record of 11 players with 20 goals or more on a single team.

1979: Coached the Colorado Rockies

In 1979, Don Cherry went on to coach the Colorado Rockies in the 1979-80 season.

1979: Fired by the Bruins

In 1979, after a semi-final playoff series loss against the Montreal Canadiens, Don Cherry was fired by the Bruins.

1980: Hired as studio analyst for CBC

In the spring of 1980, after the Colorado Rockies failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, Don Cherry was hired as a studio analyst for CBC's playoff coverage, working alongside host Dave Hodge.

1981: Hired full-time by CBC

In 1981, Don Cherry was hired full-time by CBC as a colour commentator. Due to his tendency to openly cheer for one of the teams playing, Coach's Corner was created, a segment that appeared in the first intermission on Hockey Night in Canada.

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1981: Head coach for Team Canada

In 1981, Don Cherry was the head coach for Canada's team at the 1981 World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.

May 18, 1983: NHL rejects move of St. Louis Blues to Saskatoon

On May 18, 1983 the NHL's Board of Governors rejected Bill Hunter's relocation of the St. Louis Blues to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Cherry had agreed to be the new head coach of the Saskatoon Blues.

1984: Co-hosted Don Cherry's Grapeline

In 1984, Don Cherry began co-hosting "Don Cherry's Grapeline" with Brian Williams.

1984: Hosted Grapevine with Brian Williams

In 1984, Don Cherry began hosting "Grapevine", a short-form radio segment with Brian Williams.

1985: First Don Cherry's Sports Grill Opens

In 1985, the first Don Cherry's Sports Grill, a franchised sports bar/restaurant bearing Cherry's name, was opened in Hamilton. Don Cherry started as a partner and later licensed his name.

1986: Co-hosted Coach's Corner with Ron MacLean

In 1986, Don Cherry began co-hosting "Coach's Corner" with Ron MacLean, a segment on CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada".

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1986: Ron MacLean replaced Dave Hodge on Coach's Corner

In 1986, Ron MacLean replaced Dave Hodge as co-host on "Coach's Corner" with Don Cherry.

1987: Hosted This Week in Hockey

During the 1987-88 NHL season, Don Cherry hosted a syndicated weekly television show called "Don Cherry's This Week in Hockey".

1989: Began releasing Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey videos

In 1989, Don Cherry began to release a series of videos called "Don Cherry's Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey".

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1989: Release of Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey video series

In 1989, Don Cherry created and starred in the direct-to-video series "Don Cherry's Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey".

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1994: Grapevine moved to FAN 590

In 1994, the show "Grapevine", co-hosted by Don Cherry and Brian Williams, moved to The FAN 590 and the Sportsnet Radio network.

1997: Tribute to Rose Cherry by Canadian Women's Hockey Team

In 1997, the Canadian women's national ice hockey team paid tribute to the late Rose Cherry, acknowledging her and Don's support for women's hockey.

1998: Part-owner of Mississauga IceDogs

In 1998, Don Cherry became part-owner of the Ontario Hockey League's Mississauga IceDogs.

2001: Coach of Mississauga IceDogs

From 2001–2002, Don Cherry was the coach of the Mississauga IceDogs in the Ontario Hockey League.

2002: Left Mississauga IceDogs

In 2002, Don Cherry ended his involvement with the Ontario Hockey League's Mississauga IceDogs as part-owner and coach.

2003: 15th-anniversary video of Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey released

In 2003, the 15th-anniversary video of "Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey" was released.

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2005: Coach's Corner Returns Without Delay

In 2005, Don Cherry returned to Coach's Corner for the 2005–06 NHL season without the seven-second delay, which had been implemented after controversial statements made the previous year.

2005: 'Best Of' Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey released

In 2005, a 'Best Of' "Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey" video was released.

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2007: Cherry Featured on NBC's Intermission Coverage

During the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, NBC featured Don Cherry in its intermission coverage alongside Bill Clement and Brett Hull. This appearance did not conflict with his role on CBC.

May 2008: Cherry Joins ESPN as Commentator

In May 2008, ESPN announced that Don Cherry was joining Barry Melrose as a commentator for the remainder of the 2008 NHL Playoffs, providing pre-game analysis for the conference finals, pre- and post-game analysis for the Stanley Cup finals, and appearing on ESPNews and ESPN Radio. He also donated his fees to the Humane Society.

2018: Last season of Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey

In 2018, Don Cherry created and starred in his direct-to-video series "Don Cherry's Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey" for the last time, marking the end of the series.

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November 2019: Fired by Sportsnet from Hockey Night in Canada

In November 2019, Don Cherry was fired by Sportsnet from "Hockey Night in Canada" for making racist comments about Canadian immigrants during his show.

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November 16, 2019: MacLean Addresses Incident, Coach's Corner Ends

On November 16, 2019, Ron MacLean addressed the incident during Hockey Night in Canada, the first show without Don Cherry, and announced the end of Coach's Corner.

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November 19, 2019: Cherry Launches 'Grapevine' Podcast

On November 19, 2019, Don Cherry released the first installment of his podcast, 'Grapevine', stating he was unwilling to accept Sportsnet's conditions for his return.

2019: End of Don Cherry's Grapeline

In 2019, Don Cherry ended his run co-hosting "Don Cherry's Grapeline" with Brian Williams.

2019: Last season co-hosting Coach's Corner

In 2019, after 33 seasons, Don Cherry ended his run co-hosting Coach's Corner on "Hockey Night in Canada". Also in 2019, Cherry co-hosted Don Cherry's Grapeline with Brian Williams, for the last time.

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