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.
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.
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: 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".
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".
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.
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.
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.
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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