Don Cherry officially announces his retirement at 91 years old

Grapes takes to the mic for the final time.

After 72 years in the sport of hockey, Don Cherry is calling it a day.

The legendary Canadian broadcaster officially ended his long-running ‘Don Cherry’s Grapevine Podcast’ yesterday, thereby ending an outstanding career. And he signed off in classic Grapes fashion, issuing a final “Toodle-oo” to his listeners.

“Thanks everybody for listening and toodaloo.”

Cherry, of course, was a fixture of Canadian hockey broadcasts for decades, working along-side Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean from 1986 – 2019. It was in 2019 that Cherry was removed from the air by CBC/Rogers after making comments about recent Canadian immigrants. Now is not the time to rehash whether Grapes was in the wrong or whether CBC/Rogers was in the wrong. No, now is the time to celebrate an outstanding broadcasting career that helped shaped the sport’s popularity, particularly in Canada.

Grapes has always been an unabashed supporter of Canadian hockey and playing the game the “right way”. Grapes championed tough, hardworking hockey that emphasized leadership and accountability. He made his name as a tough-nose coach in the NHL and he carried that same attitude over to the broadcasting booth when he joined CBC in 1986. Flash forward nearly 40 years and Grapes’ approach hasn’t changed much.

While he’s now officially retired, he was seeking questions from fans for his podcast just days ago. This isn’t a man who limped into retirement, he always put his full energy into his craft. You may not have always agreed with Grapes’ takes, but you know that he was giving you his raw, true, honest self at all times. That’s something that’s rare to find in media these days.

As genuine and forthcoming as they come. They simple don’t make ’em like Grapes anymore. All the best in retirement, Don. You’ve earned it!