National Hockey League - Don Cherrys Hockey Stories, Part 2

Copyright 2010 Don Cherry

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v3.1

Special thanks to Martha Leonard of Doubleday Canada for putting up with me. DC

Strathcona Tank Corps

A squadron at a forward operating base a few miles from Kandahar, Afghanistan. This picture was taken right before they began a major mission where there were heavy casualties and a trooper was killed.

To all the Canadian wounded and fallen in all of our wars, and especially to the men and women in active duty in Afghanistan: Youre the best.

On the Hockey Night in Canada set with Ron, my grandson Del, Bobby Orr, and my daughter, Cindy.

D URING THE 2006 S TANLEY C UP FINAL between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers, a member of the Oilers staff brought some guests into our television studio to meet Don. The men worked for Edmonton public utilities and EPCOR , a company hired by the city to look after draining and sanitary sewer services. One of the men said, Don, I have a confidential tidbit for your next contract negotiation with the CBC: our records reveal that toilet usage goes up 500 per cent right after Coachs Corner.

I thanked the man for leaking the information.

I remember a lot of moments from that one final. Prior to game one in Carolina, Doug Weight of the Hurricanes reported that his stomach was in knots, but then, as he skated out onto the ice, he noticed Don wearing one of his wild, flowered jackets, a blue wig and shades. Doug let out a laugh and instantly overcame his nerves.

I also recall having a heated interview, during game four, with NHL senior vice-president Colin Campbell about the rising numbers of penalties called and of players diving to draw penalties. I was pilloried in the media for having an old-school attitude.

During game five, we showed an infraction on Coachs Corner, and I said, Definitely a good callthats a penalty. Grapes immediately replied, Oh, I get it. Theyre after ya in the papers, so now youre trying to bail. Quit sucking around. You said it cause you mean it. Dont apologize. Be a man!

After the camera went off, I was seething at myself. It did sound like I was a little too eager to hand out a bouquet in the wake of the write-ups. Don, of course, sniffed out my weakness.

Geez, ya look upset, whats the problem? Are you mad at me?

No, I muttered.

Well, are you mad at the guys in the truck?

No, no, I replied.

He kept at it. Well, is it David Sealy [the studio director]? Is it Bob [Cole] and Harry [Neale, the announcers]? Someone must have set ya off. Whats wrong?

Finally, I exploded: Im mad at myself! Grapes killed himself laughing. Got me again!

Twenty-five years, and I always fall for it. But the truth is, I do get a kick out of it, and its because I know what a good heart Don has.

Two last examples. In game seven, with less than two minutes to play in a one-goal game, Don saw Aaron Ward of Carolina flip the puck behind his net, directly out of play. That would call for a delay-of-game penalty. It was a tricky angle, a bang-bang play. No one saw it. At games end, Grapes said, Im not showing it. Its not fair to anybody, and it will only incite Edmonton. Too tough to tell for sure, and too loaded to make an issue of.

Grapes always, always puts himself in the shoes of others.

Over the years, when wed sit down for a beer, Id trot out some philosophies and Don would often say, Ron, youre living in the land of Billiken.

Now, Billiken was a charm doll invented by Florence Pretz of St. Louis in 1908. The elf-like Billiken was the god of how things ought to be. At the turn of the twentieth century it was as popular as pet rocks, mood rings or Cabbage Patch dolls would be later on. It was thought to bring luck, especially if received as a gift.

A few years ago, Don gave me his. With this note: To Ron MacLeanFound at Belle Island, Kingston, Ontario, in 1952 by Don Cherry while working for P.U.C. [the Public Utilities Commission] Travelled to Rochester, Boston, Denver, Sudbury, Three Rivers, Spokane, Kitchener, Springfield and Hershey.

With that, Ill take the odd bit of torture.

All those places all these stories. He really is flush. If this were Coachs Corner, Id say, Its the pee, you see! (Thats P.U.C., Grapes.) Enjoy.

Ron MacLean
July 20, 2010

Me, a twenty-year-old rookie with the Hershey Bears of the AHL.

I TS J UNE 2010THE S TANLEY C UP FINALS between the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers. Ron MacLean and I have been goin since April 8, every other night for two months.

Its not bad. The first two series we do out of the CBC studio in Toronto. For the semifinals and finals, we are on the road.

Our first night on the road, were in Philadelphia. Ron and I have a few too many pops, kind of deliberately. The playoffs remind me of when I played: you come to camp in good shape, but you all get together the first night and have a session. Youd be good all summer, and then just before camp, you ruin it.

So about ten the next morning, Ron and I are in this cab and were bakin, its so hot. Were in our shirts and ties because we always travel that way in the States. (People at airports think were detectives, as theres usually an older cop and a young cop.) I always think my shirts look good, but theyre murder in the summer. The cab, as usual, is so small my legs are jammed up against the front seat. Why is every American cab dirty and small, with no air-conditioning and windows that dont roll down? And, of course, Im on the side where the sun shines through.

And the extra pops dont help. When will we ever learn?

Folks, this is not the glamorous life everybody thinks it is. There are ticket lines at the airport. And security lines. The customs guys always seem to be ticked off about something. You get to the hotel and the rooms arent ready. Eventually, you unpack (Ive got tons to unpack and Ron seems to have nothing).

So here I am, sittin in this hot cab, thinkin all these things and feelin sorry for myself. I look at Ron and he says, Never mind. Just think of the twelve cold ones well have on ice for after the game tonight.