Don Cherry Faces Off Against Leaf’s GM

Two of the loudest and most stubborn men in hockey claim all is well in their recent Hockey war of words.

One day after the exchange, Brian Burke – president and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs – described his mood as ‘sour’ over comments Don Cherry made on his Coach’s Corner segment on Hockey Night in Canada.

But her added that the issue was now “no big deal, I promise.””, after speaking with Cherry over the phone Thursday night.

After Wednesday’s general managers meetings in downtown Philadelphia, Burke appeared perturbed about what Cherry has been saying about the Leafs and Burke on Hockey Night and indicated he would have something to say after the Stanley Cup final was over.

Burke said: “We have been getting a lot of shots on Hockey Night In Canada and I don’t think the Stanley Cup finals is the appropriate place to start throwing hand grenades back.”

Those comments came before Game 3 of the Philadephia-Chicago series.

Before the game, Cherry was informed about Burke’s reaction and offered up a rare statement of “no comment”.

But then he did choose to comment on Hockey Night Wednesday night when it came time for is Coach’s Corner segment.

“Brian Burke’s going to get me and he doesn’t want to do it until after the playoffs. I’m shaking in my boots …” said Cherry. “Oh boy, oooh, I’m afraid … ,” he mocked.

The comments Cherry made came just days after going on Coach’s Corner and making fun of the Leafs’ signing a European defenceman.

“I don’t mind them saying the guy is highly skilled,” Cherry said.

“They put out (in a press release) European skilled. Meaning he’s above us all. They’re not above us all and I’m going to prove it.”

In an interview Thursday, Cherry said he starting commenting on the Leafs because Burke promised he would be “pugnacious and tenacious and I don’t think he was getting pugnacious guys.”

Burke, who now says that all is fine with Cherry, has been in contact with Hockey Night executive producer, Sherali Najak, expressing his dismay with the way the Leafs have been treated by HNIC.

To that, Cherry observed “I don’t know who’s more stubborn, him or me.  But he’s going to keep doing what he’s doing and I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing.”

Don Cherry was born and raised in Kingston, Ontario.

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Photo by Dave O

Tags: Don Cherry, hockey

Category: Entertainment