Hockey analyst Don Cherry will immediately step down from his role with Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet announced on Monday.
The news comes one day after Sportsnet issued an apology for comments Cherry made during Saturday night’s Hockey Night broadcast. During Coach’s Corner, Cherry singled out new immigrants for not wearing poppies to honour Canadian veterans and soldiers ahead of Remembrance Day.
The 85-year-old Cherry has been on Coach’s Corner since 1982 when the program was first started on CBC.
He was a voice every Saturday night for hockey fans across the country, appearing alongside Coach’s Corner host Ron MacLean since 1986. His coverage extended into the Stanley Cup Playoffs as well.
MacLean reacted to Cherry’s comments on Sunday by apologizing to both viewers and Canadians.
https://twitter.com/RonMacLeanHTH/status/1193673238355873792
Coach’s Corner joined Sportsnet’s NHL coverage after Rogers acquired the NHL television rights in 2014.
