Don Cherry to be inducted into AHL Hall of Fame

NHL insider Nick Kypreos discusses the notion that the Maple Leafs will have to diminish minutes for both Ron Hainsey and Jake Gardiner, and cements the fact they need a defence upgrade.

Canadian hockey icon Don Cherry will be inducted into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame, the league announced Thursday.

Cherry will be joined in the 2019 induction class by John Anderson, Murray Eaves and Brad Smyth.

Long before the 84-year-old Cherry became a Hockey Night in Canada broadcast staple, he was a standout defenceman in the AHL, playing in 767 games between the Hershey Bears, Springfield Indians and Rochester Americans. He collected 259 points along with more than 1,000 penalty minutes.

Following his playing career, Cherry became head coach of the AHL’s Rochester Americans for three seasons before joining the NHL’s Boston Bruins as bench boss from 1974-1979.

Anderson played 12 seasons as a winger in the NHL, before becoming a successful AHL coach. His 424 victories over his 10-year head coaching career rank fifth all time.

Eaves was one of the most prolific scorers the AHL has ever seen and is one of only two players in league history to record at least 115 points in a season twice. Meanwhile, Smyth ranks 12th in AHL history with 326 career goals.

The induction ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 28, 2019.

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