Don Cherry

Don Cherry is a Canadian former hockey player, coach, and television commentator. He spent most of his playing career in minor-league hockey, moving among teams in Canada and the United States. He later coached in the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League, including periods with the Boston Bruins and Colorado Rockies.

After coaching, Cherry became a regular presence on Hockey Night in Canada’s Coach’s Corner alongside Ron MacLean. His broadcasting work combined game analysis with opinions about players, coaching, and issues outside hockey. He also hosted Grapevine, an interview program produced by his son Tim that featured athletes and other sports figures.

Cherry’s books draw on those different parts of his working life. Some collect stories from playing and coaching, while others use his broadcast interviews or discuss his views on wider subjects. Veteran sportswriter Al Strachan collaborated on Don Cherry’s Hockey Stories and Stuff. Away from broadcasting and publishing, Cherry supported charitable projects, including the children’s hospice named for his late wife, Rose Cherry.

His work outside television also included a syndicated radio program, hockey videos, and a restaurant business. Those ventures extended his public presence beyond his weekly appearances discussing NHL games.

Hockey Books

Don Cherry's Hockey Stories and Stuff: Written with Al Strachan, this collection gathers Cherry’s recollections from his years as a hockey player, coach, and broadcaster. He recounts experiences in the minor leagues and the NHL, describing players, teams, and incidents encountered during his career. The stories also reflect his views about how hockey is played and coached, drawing on the same professional background that informed his television commentary.

Don Cherry's Hockey Stories, Part 2: Cherry continues his hockey recollections with stories about the 2010 Stanley Cup, his minor-league playing days, and his coaching experiences. The collection includes discussions of hockey’s informal players’ code and lessons learned on and off the ice. His children contribute their perspectives on family life, adding a personal account to the sporting memories and opinions that structure the book.

Straight Up and Personal: The World According to Grapes: This collection expands beyond hockey into Cherry’s personal experiences and opinions about public issues. He discusses matters that also appeared in his broadcasting, including politics and Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, alongside events from his sporting life. The book combines autobiographical recollections with his conclusions about work, family, and other subjects, presenting the views of the former coach and commentator rather than a continuous history of hockey.

Don Cherry's Sports Heroes: Drawing on interviews conducted for his television program Grapevine, Cherry revisits conversations with prominent sports figures. Hockey players such as Maurice Richard, Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, and Gordie Howe appear alongside athletes and officials from other sports. The book combines recollections of those encounters with material about the people interviewed and the circumstances surrounding a program produced by Cherry’s son Tim.

Don Cherry's Hockey Greats and More: Cherry collects further stories about athletes, coaches, and public figures encountered during his years in sport and broadcasting. Subjects include the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, hockey personalities such as Bobby Hull and Phil Esposito, and his friendship with musician Gord Downie. The book also discusses fighting, hockey parents, and Hall of Fame selections, combining accounts of particular events with Cherry’s opinions about the game.