PHOTO BY SCOTT VANKOUGHNETT
His voice can silence a rowdy small town bar after the first 20. A high school dropout from Kingston, Ontario, he’s a true grit Canadian. A hero in hockey’s icy eyes. This man needs no introduction, at least not in Canada. As a man who only played a single game in the NHL he has certainly been at the forefront of hockey for the majority of his career.
Don Cherry has been like a hockey coach to myself and many other kids over the years, many of who are now grown up and have children of their own. He speaks in a language all hardworking Canadians can understand, whether we like what he says or not. His passion for sports, the Canadian military and honest hardworking people in general is inspiring. Don simply tells things how they are, sometimes it’s the hard reality of truth, but it’s exactly what we need to hear. He can make a player feel terrible, but I don’t think that’s what his goal is. He wants to see the best from every player, and his advice is masked with the criticism. Most importantly he brings spirit to our culture and keeps people sharp with his controversial statements.
Don simply tells things how they are, sometimes it’s the hard reality of truth, but it’s exactly what we need to hear.
Everyone has their own opinion about the direction that hockey is going. The Canadian hockey programs are unmatched and our love of the game is strengthening every year with new technology and teaching practices. The most intriguing thing about Don is that he never over thinks or over analyzes anything.
Personally, I believe that hockey will unravel itself because it’s a game driven by desire rather than control. He understands this. The politics are ignored and things are simple for Grapes, as he is known, except when Ron Maclean interrupts him on Coach’s Corner. In my opinion, if some parents and hockey fans took a lesson from him we’d have a better atmosphere in any rink.
There will always be more room for men like Don Cherry to keep us level and there is no doubt in my mind that he will continue to be a public figure for years to come. I still can’t help but ask myself who will step in for Cherry, or who the young faces of hockey will look up to when he’s gone. We appreciate the stern and assertive attitude of the Cherry, something that the kids need in this day and age.
Don Cherry, not only a beauty, but also a true old time Canadian.
For OpenIceHockey.com, I’m Scott MacRae
Topics: Cherry Suits, Coach's Corner, Don Cherry, Kingston, Ron Maclean
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