Longtime hockey commentator and former NHL player and coach Don Cherry has been named to the Order of Ontario for 2025. The bestowal of his home province’s highest honour was announced on Feb. 17 by Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont.
Dumont said all those appointed have made “profound contributions” to Ontario and the world.
“Through their exceptional dedication and achievements, they have made profound contributions that have touched lives across Ontario and beyond. May their remarkable examples continue to inspire us all to work together for the greater good.”
Cherry, 92, was born in Kingston, Ont., and later became a professional hockey player, including in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), the American Hockey League, and one playoff game with the Boston Bruins in 1955. He went on to coach the Bruins from 1974–1979, earning a reputation as a coach who encouraged a physical style of play and pushed players to give their all on the ice.
Cherry also gained a reputation for his unique personal sense of style and willingness to stand out with bright and distinctive suits and outfits.
“Even then [in the early days], I had the best suits and best shirts,” he commented on his interest in being stylish from a young age. “I always looked sharp. The kids didn’t have shoes, but I always looked good.”
He went on to coach the Colorado Rockies in the 1979–1980 NHL season. The Rockies later moved to New Jersey and became the New Jersey Devils.
Cherry also served as Team Canada’s assistant coach at the 1976 Canada Cup and head coach at the World Championships in Sweden in 1981, as well as a number of other positions in Canadian hockey, including as co-owner, general manager, and coach of the OHL Mississauga IceDogs.
In addition to his hockey and coaching career, Cherry became one of Canada’s most well-known hockey commentators with his co-hosting of “Coach’s Corner” on Hockey Night in Canada with Ron MacLean from 1986 to 2019. Cherry was known for being outspoken and opinionated as well as comedic during his segment, often verbally sparring with McLean on everything from politics to the future of hockey.
Cherry was fired from the show by Sportsnet in 2019 after criticizing how some people in Canada don’t wear poppies for Remembrance Day. “You people—they come here, whatever it is—you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that,” he said.
The comments were characterized by critics as being aimed at immigrants, something Cherry denied.
In addition to his support for a more aggressive style of hockey, Cherry was outspoken about his conservative political views and also took the Canadian media to task numerous times, accusing them of being overly left wing and “socialist.”
“Our media up here is totally left wing,” Cherry said in November 2019 about the criticism of his poppy comments.
“It’s socialist, left wing, pinko, commies. I got ripped to shreds in the left-wing media. That’s the chance you take. I don’t regret it and If I had to, I'd do it over again.”
Created in 1986, the Order of Ontario is the highest civilian honour in the province, drawing on a field of leaders in sports, business, science, arts, and public service. Past notable recipients of the honour include hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, author Margaret Atwood, and “Star Trek” actor William Shatner.
Asked about Cherry being given the Order of Ontario during an unrelated press conference on Feb. 17, Ontario Premier Doug Ford offered his congratulations, saying Cherry is a definite fan favourite.
“Bring Don out to Scotiabank Arena when the Leafs play and the place will go ballistic, right? They will go wild. He has massive support out there and I support him,” Ford said. “I want to congratulate him along with all the other recipients that receive the Order of Ontario.”
