Father Don Cherry | a-game-and-faith

COACH'S CORNER

One of Cherry's many quotes, this one focused on, Canada's religion-like passion for hockey:

"I can't tell you how many people said, 'I'll never watch hockey again, I'm done with it,' once the lockout began, ... I just laughed. I knew it wasn't possible. It's a religion here, a way of life. We love the game too much. People were starving for it. When the season starts, they will all be back. They can't help themselves."

(Don Cherry)

Don Cherry, with his bright suits and often contriversial opinions, was hired by CBC in the early 1980's after a playing and coaching career. Ron MacLean joined Cherry in 1987 on Coach's Corner and has been there ever since, trying to keep him, and his opinions in check. The nation's love for hockey's figure-head duo shone out in 2002 when CBC was planning to not resign MacLean due to salary disagreements. This caused an up roar from hockey fans all over the country and MacLean also received over 10,000 emails from fans, each begging him to stay with HNIC. Hockey followers did not want to lose their humble and honest co-host, and as the people wished, over ten years later, MacLean is still there. After the public's reaction to the MacLean possibly leaving it is not a surprised that he is also viewed as a priest figure of hockey. MacLean's calm and honest demenor have most listening and respecting all he says. This drastically different dynamic duo form a balance during their Saturday night sermons which keeps hockey fans faithfully tuning in each week.

Every Saturday night as a child I remember sitting in the living at 8 o'clock and watching Hockey Night in Canada. Once the first period was over everyone stayed glued to their seats, waiting to hear what Don Cherry had to say this week on Coach's Corner. Over six million Canadians, ten million during playoffs, partake in a similar ritual. Cherry, with his co-host Ron MacLean, has been preaching his opinion during the first intermission of Saturday night games for almost three decades now. Cherry's out-spoken opinion have turned a few heads and caused several issues over the years, but even if we do not agree with all Cherry's comments most hockey fans still listen to Coaches' Corner to hear his weekly hockey sermon. Don Cherry, however he expresses it, is extremely passionate about hockey and Canada, which is why he is a well-known commentator in the hockey world, and is even seen by some as a priest or minster figure of hockey.