Sportsnet cut ties with former HNIC broadcaster in 2019 over remarks about new immigrants

The Canadian Press · 

Canadian male hockey broadcaster.
For nearly 40 years, Don Cherry, pictured in 2014, made a big name for himself on Coach’s Corner during CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press

Famed Canadian sportscaster Don Cherry signed off from his podcast for the final time — or so it seemed.

The 91-year-old Cherry had hosted “Don Cherry’s Grapevine Podcast” since August 2023, producing 313 episodes in total. His son and co-host, Tim Cherry, said on the finale that it had racked up 6.5 million downloads.

“Well, Tim, this is our last show. … Thanks everybody for listening and toodaloo,” Cherry said on the episode posted Monday.

Cherry’s official X account shared a link to the episode with the caption, “Don Cherry Says Goodbye in Final Podcast,” reinforcing the impression that the series had come to an end. But in a Tuesday interview with the Toronto Sun, Cherry said the goodbye was meant as a seasonal sign-off, not a permanent farewell.

Even so, Tim Cherry told The Canadian Press he doesn’t foresee any new episodes in the future.

“That being said,” he added, “if something wild happens like McDavid being traded to the Leafs, I’m sure Don will want to do a quick podcast about it. As for the start of next year, we’ll see.”

WATCH | Don Cherry tells CBC he regrets his choice of words:

‘I should have said everybody’: Don Cherry tells CBC he regrets his choice of words

Don Cherry speaks to CBC News after being fired for comments he made
The podcast has been Cherry’s most regular platform since his departure from television — a continuation of a storied and often controversial career in broadcasting.

His bold suits were matched only by his even bolder opinions.

For nearly 40 years, Cherry — a pugnacious former minor league defenceman who later coached the NHL’s Boston Bruins and Colorado Rockies — made his name on Coach’s Corner during Hockey Night in Canada.

Cherry had long been known as a polarizing voice in hockey circles, but no moment left a lasting mark quite like Nov. 9, 2019, when he delivered a televised rant about people not wearing poppies, seemingly aimed at immigrants.

Cherry, who denied targeting new Canadians, was fired two days later.

Rogers Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley announced the decision, saying Cherry “made divisive remarks that do not represent our values or what we stand for.”