Canadian TV personalities Don Cherry and Ron MacLean unveiled their star on Canada’s Walk of Fame on Monday in downtown Toronto. The star is located on King Street West in the city’s entertainment district and includes both their names and signatures, and Coach’s Corner.
@CWOFame inductees @RonMacLeanHTH and @CoachsCornerCBC unveiled their stars on King St today pic.twitter.com/tN7BSrmjDC
— Holmes PR (@Holmes_PR) July 25, 2016
Cherry, 82, has been the host of Coach’s Corner since 1980 and was joined by MacLean in 1987. The pair has become synonymous with their segment on Hockey Night in Canada. Cherry was previously an NHL coach with the Boston Bruins and later, the Colorado Rockies, before beginning his broadcast career.
On June 6, Cherry, or “Grapes” as he is known in hockey circles, agreed to a multi-year contract extension with Rogers Communications, the owner of Sportsnet, ensuring fans of that the outspoken personality, and his colorful suits and ties, will remain on the network into the future. Cherry’s contract was set to expire at the end of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.
MacLean, 56, spoke about the pair’s induction to Canada’s Walk of Fame shortly after the announcement was made in November 2015. “I just feel like we were on a good team, and that’s nice to have been a part of,” he said.
On Nov. 26, 2013, Rogers Communications reached a landmark television deal for the rights to NHL broadcasts in Canada, signing a five-year, $5.2 billion deal, and replacing CBC. In 2014, Sportsnet replaced MacLean with George Stroumboulopolous as the host of Hockey Night in Canada in a controversial decision.
On June 27, Sportsnet announced that MacLean would be replacing Stroumboulpolous and returning to his position as host of the early game on Hockey Night in Canada.