Don Cherry: The Loud Suit, The Loud Truth, Canada's Coach.

From behind the Boston Bruins bench to 38 seasons of Coach's Corner, Don Cherry became the loudest voice in Canadian hockey. Here is his story, his family, his dog Blue and where he is now.

Related family pages: Luba Cherry · Rosemarie Cherry · Cindy Cherry · Tim Cherry

Born

5 Feb 1934

Age

92

Born in

Kingston, ON

Lives in

Mississauga, ON

Who is Don Cherry?

Quick answer: Don Cherry is a 92 year old Canadian hockey coach and broadcaster from Kingston, Ontario, best known for Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada from 1980 to 2019.

Donald Stewart Cherry, known to fans as Grapes, spent nearly four decades telling Canada how the game should be played. He grew up in Kingston, played 16 seasons in the minors and dressed for one NHL playoff game with the Boston Bruins.

As head coach of the Bruins from 1974 to 1979 he won the Jack Adams Award. In 1980 he joined Hockey Night in Canada, and Coach's Corner became a Saturday night ritual for hockey families from Halifax to Victoria.

Don Cherry the hockey coach

Cherry coached the Bruins to four straight Adams Division titles and one Stanley Cup final. His teams were tough, loyal and hard to play against, the same qualities he later demanded on television. He also coached the Colorado Rockies for the 1979 to 1980 season.

Why did Don Cherry get fired?

Quick answer: Sportsnet let Don Cherry go on 11 November 2019, two days after his Coach's Corner remarks about newcomers not wearing poppies for Remembrance Day.

On 9 November 2019 Cherry spoke on Coach's Corner about newcomers not wearing poppies. The wording drew a strong reaction across the country and Sportsnet ended his role two nights later. Cherry has since said he stands by his message of honouring Canadian veterans while admitting his wording could have been better.

Ron MacLean and Don Cherry

For more than 30 years Ron MacLean played the calm straight man to Cherry's loud, opinionated coach. Their timing, the elbow nudges and the eye rolls became as familiar as the second period itself. The two have remained friends.

Don Cherry's dog Blue

Blue was Cherry's beloved white bull terrier and a regular star on Coach's Corner in the 1980s and 1990s. Cherry has owned several bull terriers since, and each has carried the Blue name.

Don Cherry's famous suits

Plaid, floral, tartan, pinstripe, sometimes all at once. Cherry's jackets and tall starched collars were designed to be seen from the cheap seats. Many were made in Canada by tailors he trusted for years. The louder the suit, the louder the message.

Don Cherry net worth

Quick answer: Don Cherry's net worth is reported at about 20 million US dollars in 2026.

Estimates come from his long CBC and Sportsnet broadcasting contracts, his Rock'em Sock'em Hockey video series, his books, endorsements and his current podcast The Grapevine.

Where is Don Cherry now? (Mississauga, Ontario)

Quick answer: Don Cherry lives in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and records his podcast The Grapevine with his son Tim Cherry.

Cherry has called Mississauga home for years. He is a familiar face across the Greater Toronto Area, from Etobicoke to Oakville to downtown Toronto, and remains one of Ontario's best known sports personalities.

The Cherry family tree

Tap a name to open their page.

Frequently asked questions