Sticking up for your superstar

Thumbs up to Grapes, Ron and everyone on Coaches Corner for recognizing the sacrifice of real Canadian heroes, both military and civilian. Since I relocated to the States Coach's Corner really makes me appreciate what it means to be Canadian. Hope everyone in Canada feels the same.

IF THE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION WERE CONCERNED
ABOUT THEIR MEMBERS WELFARE, THEY WOULD SEEK
TO BAN OPEN-ICE HITS TO THE HEAD, AND OPT FOR
THE NO TOUCH ICEING. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF
TIME BEFORE A PLAYER'S CAREER IS ENDED DUE TO
ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS.
FRED RICHTER.

I am a Canadian-Born hockey player living in New Hampshire. I too believe that every team needs at least one enforcer. If left up to the refs, the games always get out of hand. Hockey players have a "Code". You can't hit a teams snipers without expecting repercussions. Take fighting out of the game, and you might as well move the NHL to Europe.

I rarely find myself agreeing with Don Cherry (e.g., I don't think you should necessarily have to carry your hatred towards your opponent off the ice), but in terms of protecting stars he is dead on.

While Chris Neil's hit on Chris Drury is technically legal in the NHL--where unlike the NFL you can aim for the head and hit a player two seconds after he has released the puck--that is not the point. If teams do not realize that if they touch your star they will pay a heavy price then they will intimidate you. It's not my ideal of an ideal world, but unfortunately the NHL is somewhat of a jungle. The strong will pick on the weak unless there is a heavy deterrent hanging over their heads.

I agree with grapes .Lets play some good old Canadian hockey.

Pittsburgh is on a roll. How about that 4th line? Shero brought in the right guys. Kinda of reminds me of the guillen line during our Cup run...the right mix of talent and grinding. Yes we are young but this will be a team to watch AND we are just 2 1/2 hours from Canada. We are often called a Football town but ANYONE who is from here and remembers the first Cup will remember that close to 200000 people went to the airport the night the team came home that night AND the reason for when we won the second CUP the league and city made it a secret on when they would come back to not have that many people crush the Airport. Grapes, this is a hockey town...ask all of the Canadien folks who come down a short ride just to watch this team. Toronto isn't the only city in Canada and Pittsburgh is the closest city in the states to a Canadien city....we love beer, hockey, winter sports, tough guys, humility, and of course real people. Hollywood types...this is not your town. Our only draw back is we put fries on everything. Grapes come on down and have a beer with us and I guarantee you will love this place. Regular people who love their sports teams. Oh yeah, just try to see if you can buy a ticket at the stands...they are always sold out. We could use an enforcer but only one that could play.

Don does not like Sid. Oh well. He only leads the league in scoring AND if you actually watch the games, he is extremely strong along the boards (is that not the region of the so called tough players). What makes Sid so great is that not only is he great on offense, he makes those around him better AND he constantly goes into the corners to do the dirty work AND he is sound defensively (Hey Grapes did you look at Sid's plus minus?). As for the "Burgh" not selling out games? HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. ARE YOU MAD GRAPES!!!! YOU CANNOT GET A TICKET TO A GAME HERE!!!!! Another point Grapes, Pittsburgh has not lost a game since December!!! How about our coach for coach of the year? This team is just that a TEAM.

Tno interview with Crosby was one of the most blantent lies i've ever seen. Crosby did have a pregame interview, with the stipulation that it would be before he put on he suited up for the game (it's a superstition). He does intermission interviews, post-game interviews and tons of other media related venues. Why would you make something like that up? I think Cherry should apoligize for the incident. Crosby has been the sorce of so much criticism, some of it deserved, but a lot of it not and this is another example about how the old guard that hates beining told that grabbing onto a guy isn't a talant anyone wants to pay to see.

Why Don Cherry continues to be critical of Sidney Crosby is beyond me. Whether it's because he's not a good guy from Kingston or Moose Jaw, or whatever, his criticisms highlight Cherry's own lack of depth.

Crosby is the best thing that has come to the NHL in many years. After the disastrous strike, the league needed a boost in a big way... enter Sidney Crosby.

As far as other players "picking on" Crosby, they had better think twice about trying to injure him. They must realize that Crosby is almost single handedly raising the profile of the league again, and injuring him will inevitably hurt all of the players pocket books.

It's the satisfied fans who pay them their exorbitant salaries, not the owners.

I'm 25 years old and just in the last few years have started to watch hockey all the time. I watched the season before the lockout and these last few seasons and am an avid Alberta hockey fan. This new NHL has problems. Mr. Cherry has it right. There should not be an instigater rule but there should be a no touch icing rule. The game has become a game of wimps and whiners . The enforcers need to be allowed as a deterent as well as better officaiting from the referees. AND if a game appears to be one sided by the ref's the league needs to step in. With all the cameras on games in todays world there should be better reffing. we also know that with enforcers back in the game there would be less cheap shots taken at star players or future stars of the game. Crosby does play up some of his hits but others could potentially be career ender hits.Teams and the league officails need to consider that . Mr. Cherry has and thats why he's Mr. Hockey. Thats why we the puplic and fans of the game love to hate but we will keep on watching the game that defines us as Canadian.

I think Don left the Doug Orr passing until the end of the segment very understandably. There may be many people who shake Don Cherry's hand through the years, but the Orr family have always had a special place in Don's heart and, because the two men were of similar age and had spent some quality time together, his death was really hard on him. Good to see that the "old crusty" one has a soft and tender inside, critics are too quick sometimes in judging him and last Saturday's broadcast brought a tear to my eye.

Already I have noted an increase in very violent actions of the NHL teams trying to totally injure young hockey players in the games.It is appalling. This is a friendly game supposedly and not a do or die game.Sidney Crosby is especially being targeted by the older players and advised by others to play rough with him,as well as other young ones.this is BAD and I hope The powers that be call all the penalties against the perpetrators in every game.The TV broadcasters are glorifying the dangerous actions as great hits etc.They even got a program where they show hit after hit where the player has difficulty getting back on his feet.This is a great message from the boob tube for young players.The referees who are hit and injured with a strong puck blow to the head or chest should be removed immediately from the ice.The persons life has been endangered. DON CHERRY get this message out. You know what happened a couple of years ago NO HOCKEY It can happen again.

I love Coach's Corner but I don't care for the abuse that Sidney has taken lately for getting knocked around. That was a clever camera angle there that makes at a glance makes it appear like he didn't get the butt end of the stick. But even in that angle you can see the butt end going up towards Sid's face. He may or may not have embellished it but how can you say he was? It's obvious that some players are going to want to get under his skin and are going to be trying to take more cheap shots and undermine his credibility. That's what happens when you've got a star like that; no matter how good you are some people are going to dislike you, and even bad mouth you after the game. But I would have hoped that Don would also pick up on this and not be too quick to jump on him too quick just because he has a peeve for fakers.

After watching the fight on Saturday night involving Newbury from the Leafs... I'm highly disappointed in the quality of sportsmanship and professionalism of NHL players...

I've played over 36 years of sports, I understand there is physical tolerance, frustrations, incidents to defend yourself... I don't question the fighting in the NHL, but, I question when a fighter keeps hitting a player that has his eyes closed, knocked out cold, falls to the ice, not moving, hands not defending himself, yet, the puncher still hits him... is this fighting or a beating?...I think its cowardly, an embarrassment to the game, a bad lesson to teach the youth watching... for this instigator incident of punishing an old cold player, there should be a huge fine handed down w/ suspension...
Incidents like this, give hockey the wrong publicity, give it a bad name... It gives hockey fans embarrassment...

I would like to know how Emery rec'd a suspension for slashing Lapierre but Lapierre rec'd zilch on his attack on Sidney not even a penalty. Just what is going on with the intent to injure and what kind of horrible referring is going on. Somebody needs do do some more work in the legue and less of spending time doing nothing.

Enough of Don Cherry and Ron McLean and Hockey Night in TORONTO. Enough also of HNIC's 'homer' play-by-play announcers. When I tune in to watch a game on the CBC, I normally mute the sound and listen to the visiting team's radio broadcast.

CBC, are you listening? Not all hockey fans (and not all tax payers) are from Toronto.

I watched HNIC with great enthusiasm on Saturday night, for two reasons; 1)The Leafs were playing and 2)Sidney Crosby was playing. During the pregame show, I wondered to myself how Don Cherry was once again going to ignore the positive exploits of Sidney. Yes, I must admit there are some questionable incidents that Don Cherry makes preverbial hay with, but more importantly, here is a young man who is playing in the best league in the World and is leading the scoring race at 19 years old. How is Don Cherry going to crap on him this week?

When Coaches Corner appeared, I waited but I was glad he did not make any attempt to slam Sidney direclty. What he did do however was even more gutless in my oppinion. He proceeded to indicate that he wanted to attempt to interview Sidney. (Hey, has Don Cherry finally decided to get over himself and deal with facts? Terrific and good on you Don!) No, Don blamed the Penguin organization for not allowing any interviews due to questionable media tactics. mmmmmm I wonder where they got this? Look in the mirror Don, you have no one but to blame but yourself for this one. Iam sure you are not alone, but I really don't care to find out how many more are behind this because the game is about the players not the guys who are supposed to be covering the event and promoting it. Yes the game still has warts, but lets move on before you find yourself without a job. That would be unfortunate Don because you are also part of the HNIC fabric that works, but unfortunately not when it comes to your one way views on Sidney Crosby and other budding talents.

Agree with Carl and Rob.
I've been changing channels during the Coaches Corner for years.
Second intermission is very informative though.
Look forward to it every week.
No egos, clown suits etc., just informative, interesting facts and opinions.
Time to retire?

Don said the Penguins do not sell out Mellon Arena - Check the stats Donny - they have sold out nearly every game! Don't downgrade the Penguin fans. Thanks.

Why don't we just change the name of the program to Hockey Night in Toronto. You guys treat Vancouver like an American expansion team. You can't even pronounce our goalie's name properly. He actually is Canadian.

Grapes, by'e, ya hit the nail on the head all the time. I fully disagree with this instigating rule, if someone back stabs a star, or another player for that matter, or even tries to ruffle him or get him off his game in any way he needs to be dealt with. He needs to know, you mess with our star and you're gonna pay, that's the unwritten, self policing rule.
I agree fully with what you are saying, for that matter I agree with every point you say, you're Mr. Hockey in my books. Keep up the good work.
God bless and all the best, condolences to you and the Orr family. Good tribute tonight ya brought a tear to my eye.
Paul.

My heart goes out to Bobby Orr and his family.We feel his loss and our prayers are with him at this very sad time.
Chris Richardson
Calgary

Hi Don,

You are great but I am a little upset with your recent clip about Joe Thorton. I think Canadian Hockey players are by far the best but Joe's play to the net you showed is nothing compared to the one Alex Steen did the other night against the St. Louis Blues. It was a "Beauty". He did exactly what Joe was trying to do only his shot went into the net. By the way Joe is one of my favourite players and he would be great on a line with Alex Steen and Darcy Tucker. GO LEAFS GO!!!!!

You are still the best Don but try to give a little play time to some of the LEAFS. Also, you should try to get out to some of the girls hockey around the GTA. My daughter plays in the Peewee division for Clarington (Bowmanville). She's only 4 foot nothing but skates like the wind. Loves playing on the rink in the backyard and always tries to get inside to watch you and the Leafs.

BRADY

Don said the Penguins do not sell out Mellon Arena - Check the stats Donny - they have sold out nearly every game! Don't downgrade the Penguin fans. Thanks.

I love you Don Cherry, but come on. You say the Penguins can't sell out games and that is why they are in trouble. Have you seen any of the news? Do you know why they are in trouble? They are stuck with a horrible arena deal that was created by a bad owner/movie producer. The Penguins can't sell out? They have sold out many of their home games. I think about 17 or so were sold out. Yes, Pittsburgh isn't in Canada...we noticed. Stop knocking them just because of a little geographic problem. The Penguins are a good franchise and are doing the best they can in a bad situation. Stop with the sour grapes..you didn't get an interview with any of the Penguins...oh well. Don't be ignorant. No one in Pittsburgh is delusional and thinks hockey is as big there as it is in Canada...but they do very well in a city that is primarily a football town. Don't go to a cheap shot because the Pens didn't grant you an interview.

How can you say Pittsburgh is not selling out games? They have sold out almost every game this season. In regards to Sidney Crosby and the Penguins not letting you talk to him, they have every right. The comment you just made about Pittsburgh just proves their point. I have read the papers in Canada and everyone is criticizing Crosby. Saying he is a baby. This is exactly what happened to Mario. I wouldn’t want to talk to you either.

Tonght I am sittinv with my grandson to watch hockey, and I said Don Cherry will be on tonight. He said to me, he is 9, I don't want to watch it because he does not like me because I am french. It broke my heart. How can anyone not like my 9 year old grandson, who lives in Kanata, loves hockey and is so innocent. Why would he even think this. He is french first, but I have been watching hockey night in Canada for ever. Please explain this to me. My son is english, he married a french woman and we live in Kanata. Why would this child think this.

Please send this to Don Cherry so I can give my grandchild who wears the Toronto Maple Leaf colours and has Sparta Cat sit on him because he wore the blue and white.

Thanks.

A few weeks ago you had the Canuck training staff on After Hours, some one should have asked Pat O'Neill about playoff bonuses they received when they went to the finals in 1994. Before the playoffs started the players voted for an equal share of bonus money amongst all players and training staff, and supposedly, after the finals were over, Trevor "Mr. Union" Linden grieved this with the NHLPA, and the training staff received less than the players, if this is true, that would have to be one of the most gutless things I have ever heard of in sports!!

Ya Grapes!
We need da tuff gyes! Let's empty da cave an get wit it!
Tough guys are: Roberts, Crosby, Sundin, and many, many more. Not the Domis etc.
They can all hit when necessary and take it also, - that's tough hockey!
If a player needs a goon to protect him, maybe he should stay in house league.
It's a tough game - not a goon-game - not a pussy-game.
Why can't the refs see the crap and do their job? Because too many cavemen in the stands insist on stoning, or whatever the goons decide to get away with.
Let's try reffing according to the rules, allow heavy, hard checking for all (no guns), and seal the cave exits.
Goodbye Grapes.

I think that Cherry right that hockey player should keep there head up and never get hurt.

I have sat here and read all the comments about Sidney Crosby and his so-called diving when ever his touched. I thought hockey fans in the Great White North had more class (MOST DO ) I guess not with a RING MASTER like Don Cherry.
Crosby is the greatest talent in the NHL and most Canadian fans are jealous that Sid didn't end up in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa...etc...etc....etc.... If he had, none of these remarks would be mentioned. Everything he did would be fine and dandy and applauded. So you Crosby haters get over yourself and continue to watch as he amazes every game. And DON....take a look at your career and let me know what you did in your little stint in the NHL...and you host a show called the "Coaches Corner" with McLean.....what did either of you do in your coaching careers ? Can you say ZERO CUPS !!!!

Thank you Mr Cherry for the personalized items for our grandson Mark Sutherland.
He is being treated for a brain tumor since Sept 05. Our daughter Bobbi McCarthy wrote you and you responded.
I do think enforcers are needed with the instigator rule only used when the initiator
is clearly tracking down his opponent.
The incident recently where young Crosby was high sticked is the result of poor policy in the league. Players are taking libertys with there sticks on a regular basis,sticks accidentaly? come up virtually all the time in contact situations.

Billy Bob,
You are a goon. There is still a place for fights in the game no doubt but to go about it the way you say is spoiling the game. Yes, protect the superstar and fight if you have to but don't go looking for it!

Don Cherry is correct about fighting and enforcers.

We need to get the wimps out of the game and the wimps out of the stands. I can't stand listening to punks saying fighting is bad. These morons have never played the game. I play hockey and I fight. I love fighting, it's a rush and fun. There is no better part of my game than getting a goal and then looking for a fight. If some guy tries to hit our little guys the gloves are dropped and I fight every time. So far, I've had 32 fights this year, in only 26 games.

It feels cool to land the right time and time again.

The enforcer should be one of the highest paid on the team.

I watched Bobby Orr sift through teams because his protection was on the ice to ensure he didn't get hit. He was the first superstar I ever saw with a body guar, the team wasn't called the Big Bad Bruins for nothing. Pat Quinn nailed Orr with a brutal body check and Quinn was run out of town and didn't return. We can thank Orr for the body guard, and I'm glad.

I agree with Grapes the NHL needs to have enforcers like Darren McCarty, Tie Domi, Bob Probert, Stu Grimson, etc. Without tough guys in the league the "superstars" have no protection.

The NHL can not do away with the tough guys.

Wow...I can't believe the things some people say on here. It's no secret that Don is completely close minded. Take what he has to say about Ovechkin and Malkin talking B4 the game-too soft? Give me a break! Do you think that if Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan were playing in Russia trying to speak RUSSIAN they wouldn't meet before the game and have a conversation in ENGLISH? That's ridiculous to even suggest. Crosby is the future of the league-no question! He has to be protected. If anyone calls him a winer or baby you have to grow up and think what you were doing when you were 19. Probably still on mommy's nip. He takes more abuse every night than any other player in the NHL and still goes back for more. I agree he has to stop dropping to the ice like he's dead when he takes a CHEAP SHOT or high stick..but he is still only a kid and that will come with time and an enforcer riding shotgun willing to feed the face of anyone who tries to take liberties against him. Crosby hasn't wined all year to the refs like he did last year so how can you say he's still a winer? Hab fans were crying about 6 penalties called which were all legitimate penalties. At least Crosby has to take a stick in the face, butt end in the gut, spear in the stomach, cross check to the head before anyone can complain about the tiniest of flaws of his amazing game! If the NHL gets rid of the enforcer rule and no touch icing...Hockey will once again reign supreme.

Don, I am from Boston and have been a bruins fan for over 40 yrs and I really enjoy watching and listening to you on "coaches corner' during hockey night in canada, I do have 1 request please come back to the bruins and show them how to play like a ral team, Dave Lewis has to be the worst coach since Steve Kasper, you guys up n orth do a great job please keep up the good work...like I said i am from Boston but god bless all of you in the great white north.

Grapes has it part right, an enforcer or tough guy is needed....however that should not be his only skill...with all these kids in hockey....and everyone of them chomping at the bit to make it to the show Can't any body find that player who can skate, pop in a goal or get an assist and avg about 20pts a year and not be scared to mix it up...these players are the ones I want to watch the ones who show up every night and work their tales off and arn't afraid to get a little bloody doing it...you want intensity put some players on the ice who want to play the game.

I love how Grapes gets everyone riled up! I love the segment he showed with Malkin and Ovechkin chatting before the game. I know people probably think it's not that big of a deal, but I'm with Don on this one. I think it's become clear that the game has become more about the cash, which has really killed the intensity. They should be made to work for their supper!

And as far as bashing Grapes goes, he speaks the truth and that hurts sometimes. Crosby took a dive and Don called him on it, won't be the last time.

CBC SHOULD START PROTECTING OUR SUPERSTARS

BY GETTING RID OF THAT SO CALLED GOD OF HOCKEY

DON CHERRY AT LEAST THAT WHAT HE THINKS OF

HIMSELF WHO DO HE THINK HE IS HE THINK HE IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE

HE JUST MAKES ME SICK TO HEAR HIM

IF HE WERE ONLY HALF AS GOOD AS HE THINKS HE
IS HE WOULD STILL BE BE HOCKEY SOMEWHERE

I WOULD LIKE TO BUY DON FOR WHAT HE IS WORTH

AND SELL HIM FOR WHAT HE THINKS HE IS WORTH

I WOULD NEVER HAVE TO WORK AGAIN

CBC DO US ALL A FAVOR AND GET RID OF HIM

SO WE ALL DONT HAVE TO TURN OF OUR TV BETWEEN

THE FIRST AND SECOND PERIOD

I have been living here for two years and have not seen Don and Ron in that time. Thanks for posting Coaches corner, what a buzz of nostalgia.

First off, I was at the Pens/Habs game in Pittsburgh last week. It was one of the best games of the year. The hit on Koivu was clean and all Souray did was stick up for his man. Who can blame him?

As for Don Cherry, keep bashing Sid. It only adds fuel to his fire. Ask those punks in Philly. They took cheap shots at him last year and he now owns them. Sid is 19 years old and as of today, he is 14 points ahead of Martin St. Louis in the scoring race. I would like to take the butt-end of the hockey stick into Cherry's stomach and see how he likes it. Better get use to it Cherry, Sid is the best player in the NHL and he is going to be around for atleast 20 more years, which would put him at 39 years old when he retires, if you couldn't do the math Grapes. Hahahahaha Cherry!!! Long Live the Kid

Don, boo hoo to you, big bad Coby Armstrong all 160 lbs of him delivers what is clearly a clean check on a player with his head down, (no penalty on hit) 1st rule from pee wee up,, heads up at all times, and you feel its OK for another player to extract your type of justice??. Suggest before your type of hockey should happen a good look at the so called offending player just might be in order.

hey sean,

I would rather have a bart simpson mentality than a homer simpson mentality like you...

to judge all don cherry supporters as alike simply illustrates that that is exactly what you are.

get off your high-horse...you're no different than don and no better than any of his supporters. though you would love to believe that.

Grapes is great... Keep telling it like you see it.

Don, the only butt end that you would recognize would be one that is jammed up your 5 hole!

What is all this garbage about "stars" having to be protected?

Who protected Steve Moore after a "bounty" was placed on him?

Typical mentality of the NHL and Don Cherry!

Don Cherry you're a bloody joke.

When are they going to pull this fool off the air? I quit watching coach's corner because he's so off the wall now.
For every statement he gets right, he gets 2 wrong. This old fool is too proud to admit that he's wrong about Crosby and because of that I have lost all respect for him.
I'd rather watch Ron do CC by himself.
Rant on airbag, I'm not watchin!

After watching many episodes of Coach's Corner, it's pretty clear to see Don Cherry has no desire for Sidney Crosby. What seems to be the problem Don, the NHL's top player is not from Ontario? Come on Ron MacLean, break down and show us all a few of Sidney Crosby's nice goals/plays. I know your co-host is a little to proud and has you on a string but have a little backbone, you won't have a hard time finding good stuff from Sidney Crosby. And can Anyone check to see if Cherry is an agent for Jordan Staal. I love the guy but I'm kind of getting tired of hearing Cherry praise him.
Regarding the hit on Koivu. What seems to be the problem with a good clean hit? Is there a new rule that states you can't hit a captain or did Koivu think he was playing in the All-Star game. Keep your head up big fella!!!

Hey wstaddon, what color is the sky in your world??

Sheldon Sourray should be suspended for 5 to 10 games?? haha what a joke!! Did you happen to watch that game?? Did you happen to see Armstrong dropping his gloves to fight?? Did you happen to see him lunging (and leaving his feet) to hit Koivu? It's ok for people to freak when Crosby got (pushed and acted like he was shot), but it's not ok for Sheldon to defend Koivu. I can just imagine what kinda reaction there would have been if Crosby would have gotten the same kinda hit that Koivu got.

I have never seen officiating so lopsided and inconsistent, Sheldon 2-5-10 & game...never in my life since i've been watching hockey, i'm 24 and i've been watching since 5, have i ever seen a 7 minute powerplay. Bob Gainey sent the NHL a letter requesting answers for the officating and the penalties called on Sourray, I think it's time the league has a policy to review the officiating work of ref's and to make them more accountable if they have a poor performance review. Ref's more and more are dictating the outcome of games, and that is sad for hockey.

Now were pickin on Don because he didnt say the Canadian Army? The Canadian Armed Forces, whats the difference? Maybe you should quit your nit pickin and stop and think that no matter what ya call em, they are serving our country and dying for us. That message is for Andy from Saskatchewan. Now, as far as an enforcer goes, i am for it! Our junior team the Pats, were getting banged around alot this year, until the GM made a trade for Myles Stoesz,a tough guy for those that dont know, and let me tell ya, things have changed, no more cheap shots to the little guys that can score, and for the Pats, 15 out of a possible 16 points since that trade. So dont tell me that an enforcer cant change the game, it opened it right up for the team, to know a tough guy is waiting in the shadows if any BS starts. Case closed! I want to thank the Armed Forces for their effort over seas, your thought of , all the time, and for those that died, god bless them, and their families. Mr Cherry is right again, keep up the great work Don.

Enforcers are not needed in the NHL. The NHL has to enforce the rules, and properly penalize spearing, charging, fighting, slashing, high sticking, etc. etc. Fighting should have no place in NHL hockey.

Don Cherry is a dinosaur, and it's an embarrassment that the CBC is still paying his salary long after the style of hockey he espouses has lost any credibility.

Hey Ron and Don. I would like to thank you personally for your support of the Canadian Forces and the mission that is taking place in Afghanistan. It is great to hear such influential voices such as yours supporting us. I am a member of the Canadian Forces and I leave for Afghanistan soon for a 6 month tour. While there I look forward to watching your segment's and seeing your continued support of the troops and of course getting your opinions on the hockey world.
Just to talk about hockey for a second, someone in Pittsburgh should contact Darren Langdon in Deer Lake, NL, sign him for peanuts and let him pick up for Sid. I am sure that Langdon can still chuck a knucle or two.

I agree Don is not a Crosby lover and he should ease up on the kid, he is an amazing player but will get alot more respect when he stops diving & wining. That was no buttend it was simply a shove and if any penalty should of been called on Lapierre it should of been interference as he touched him with his stick like every other stupid hooking or interference call they make when someone touches you with their stick. You can't even backcheck and lift a guys stick anymore without getting a penalty. The obvious missed called was Crosby's dive like he was shot, but boy did he jump back up quick when he realized no penalty was being called. As far as I'm concerned the ref's stole a point from the Habs that game with their poision reffing. Souray 2, 5, 10 & game & Armstrong nothing that was an absolute JOKE.

If that had been a real butt-end Crosby would not have gotten up so quickly. A close look at the play will show that his elbow did most of the pushing. Crosby is one of the best in the game, but it remains that teams won't go after him as long as the refs are looking out for him...or he is willing to flop. It's embarrassing to watch these displays. While Crosby is great Ovechkin is just as good but lacks the help Crosby has. As for getting chummy...does the same rule apply for CBC announcerss who go on and on about guys from Kingston? Chummy before the game means nothing as most pros know to play when the puck is dropped.

Don, you love Crosby, just admit it. Stop being a hater.

Problems with the Game:

All the problems with todays new game stem from one major bad decision fueled by greed. The leagues attempt to sell the game to a big money market. That huge market doesn't want to watch the real game of "Canadian Hockey". That's fine. Sell the game to the people who actually understand and enjoy the game. When that market is tapped, stop! Protect the players and teams involed, and sit back and enjoy. It's that simple.

Albert Borgford

R&D - love your segment, always have, always will.

Don I think that the butt-end debate on Crosby is really hard to call, I see your point but also see others' point of the stick being rammed into Crosbys gut, so I think it would be fair to call it. Although I know what you mean about what a butt-end actually is.

No-touch icing is a NO-BRAINER!!! please,, before someone either gets killed or spends their life in a wheelchair.

Get rid of the instigator rule now, its idiotic not to be able to defend your star players and goalies. It wont open the proverbial floodgates to fighting, but will probably make idiots think twice of cheap-shoting a star or running a goalie.

Crosbys a great hockey player, maybe looking to be one of the greats of all time,,,,,but he also probably could be one of the greatest ACTORS of all time if he chooses to go to Hollywood. Come on Sid,,,stop being the squid!

I think Don is overreacting to the friendliness between Crosby and Ovechkin.

Hey Don, Great work. Dont worry about the guys on here bad mouthing you. For every one Liberal non athlete that writes in there are 20 ex player types watching at home that support ya. keep up the good work. People like to put down what they dont understand.

Hey Sean in Vancouver,
Did you ever play in the NHL?....How about win the coach of the year IN the NHL?...Maybe you should get your facts straight before you go bad mouthing Don. The guy is a great hockey mind who has forgotten more about hockey than most of us will ever know. Drop your Big city Liberal bias towards the guy and listen to what he's saying. The game is faster and more entertaining when the stars are allowed to perform. If you dont like what he has to say don't watch, he's talking to the ex-players out there who know the game and your obviously not one of them.

Protect the superstars. Goons are taking liberties against players like Ales Hemsky. It's sad when Superstars like Iginla have to drop the gloves. NHL without superstars is like watching beer leagues with half-drunk players. When an artist like Ales Hemsky or Gretzky has the puck on a string and makes plays that is when you get your money's worth. The NHL Brass have to get their heads straight, no touch icing and drop instigator. When a superstar gets run-over there should be punishment. Either that or get rid of hitting alltogether. 1976-1992 was the best hockey but it can get better than that if they fix the rules up. And for goodness sake, put limits on goaltender equipment. They look like marshmellow michelin men. Why don't they just hire a 600 pound gorrilla and put massive pads on him and call him Patrick Roy II and he'll get a .999 save percentage with like 60 shutouts per season.

Don Cherry it is quite plain for all to see that you still have a chip on your shoulder concerning Sidney Crosby. I was wondering if you may have been having a couple of pops as you put it, not to think that wasn't a butt end on Crosby. Then you try and show examples of face offs where the players do the same thing. Well it was not the same thing the centermans stick did not go into the other players stomach in any of the feeble attempts you made to make Sidney look bad. Then you try to show you are not picking on him by saying he needs protection. Well Mr. Cherry you can not fool all of the people all of the time. Many of your fans are losing respect for you very quickly. Time to get that Chip off you shoulder!!!

How long must we be subjected to Don Cherry's prejudiced rants against Sydney Crosby? Cherry is quickly becoming irrelevant because of his disdain for the best player in the NHL/world.
Lapierre definitely butt-ended Crosby and Cherry's protestations to the contrary while he's watching the videotape are ridiculous. The other faceoff footage that Cherry chooses doesn't show anyone butt-ending an opponent. That footage simply shows players with the butt-end of their sticks jutting out during a faceoff, not players using that butt-end to stick an opposing player. Also, why does Ron sit back and watch Don direct his outdated venom at Crosby and others without taking Cherry to task?
Unbelievable.
Sincerely,
Francis Campbell

SOUR GRAPES

When is Don Cherry finally going to admit that he made a mistake about
Sidney Crosby. When he made the comment about Sidney scoring the
Showdog goal from behind the net and comments like he wouldn't do that
in the NHL. Cherry will not give the kid one bit of credit. Watched
the Montreal=Pittsburgh game a couple of weeks ago on CBC and Cherry
was glad that western Canada was going to see the best hockey player
in the NHL Jorden Stall and they would also get to see Malkin and no
mention of Crosby. That is just SOUR GRAPES. Who is leading the
scroing race, fan voting for the allstar game and who fills the rinks,
even when He does the pump when he or his team mate scores. You can
bet it's not Don Cherry.
Don Cherry's one and only NHL game( Played ) came in the 54-55 season in the
playoffs and that was the extent of his NHL experience. He did coach the Boston Bruins
Now I think it's time for Don Cherry to Bury the hatchit.......

John Murray.....Nova Scotia

To John in Sudbury.

Do you not see the irony in your comments. "The hit delivered to Koivu by Colby Armstrong was, in fact, a good, clean hit" and then "That message being if you hit our Captain, there will be a price to pay"

Therein lies the problem with today's players. They simply cannot take it, even when it is a good clean hit that falls within the rules of the game. The reason they cannot take it is because they aren't mentally tough enough.

Feel free to subscribe to Don Cherry's world view. He is a hockey person who couldn't cut it as a player, nor could he cut it as a coach. However, he certainly makes the grade as a foul, loud mouthed redneck.

Don Cherry would say that.

What is even more bizarre is that people take the fool seriously.

The man has got the world view of Bart Simpson, as do his followers.

Surely the CBC can do better than Don Cherry.

Cherry is so out of date that you have to wonder why the CBC keeps him around. Don't you think some team would pick him up if they thought he had any hockey knowledge at all. Put him out to pasture for once and for all. He can sell tickets to the Dougie Gilmour/Kirk Muller Wax Museum. Enough of the Flintstones on Skates.

I wish the NHL front office would listen to Grapes. Show me one person who leaves a hockey game during a fight, and I will show you an avid lawn bowling fan. To me it doesnt make sense. A team spends XX million dollars on a player to help thier team, and the obviously have a reason to pay the player XX million. So what do they do, let the guy fend for himself? Let him get slammed around like a loose board on the back of a truck?? What is to stop them from throwing a cheap shot at the team star? 2 minutes in the box? I dont think so! Teams need an Eric Godard or a Brian McGratton to step on the ice to let em know that if you try going after the top dog, I am coming after you. Guys would think twice about the potential of getting their face mashed. Enforcers are an integral part of CANADIAN hockey.

The fact of the matter is this, the game of hockey is defined by tradition and within the game are many traditions, one of them being the defense of a star player or Captain when they are on the receiving end of a big hit. The hit delivered to Koivu by Colby Armstrong was, in fact, a good, clean hit. But what Souray did out of retaliation was no dirtier than the initial hit against his Captain. The actions of Sheldon Souray symbolize honour, courage, and commitment. Three characteristics which define our great game to this day. Souray's intentions were to send a message. That message being if you hit our Captain, there will be a price to pay. This is a message that has been involved on the ice since players first started lacing the skates. It is also a message which Colby Armstrong should have expected after running the Canadiens Captain.

I totally agree with Cherry - it was not a butt-end, there was no jabbing motion. It was a shove like you see on most face-offs. As for the hit on Koivu, it may have been a clean hit but he was already being covered so why did Armstrong need to come into it? Way to go Souray for standing up for your Captain!

Time for Don to get over his garbage dislike of Sidney Crosby......the kid is amazing, he is the best player in the NHL at 19 years old and Don's Bias against Crosby is getting old and tired.

Are you kidding me that wasnt a butt end? Get real, sure he took the faceoff and the end sticks out, but then he stuck the end into Crosby's stomach and pushed it in......you show 3 other examples of faceoffs being taken, on which of these 3 other examples did you see the centermen stick the butt end into the opposing centerman's stomach? NONE of them.

As much as I love Don Cherry if you dont get over your BS against Crosby it will be the end of you old timer.

I grew up watching the Oil win and if anyone says that Semeko and McSorley weren't apart of the reason those Oiler teams such an amazing product to watch does not know hockey. While I don't want to see the WWF with multible fights, that hit on Gretz that you showed, I remember it clearly, Sutter should have left on a gurney for that hit. I think with the instigator rule, it not only encourges diving by the smaller stars of the game, it is their only defense against the goon. If the NHL wants to continue with this policy of no second man in, they have to get very tough on hits and start throwing guys out of the game and possibly suspend them with a fine. That may work to the league's favor, unfortunatley, we wouldn't be watching hockey anymore, we'd be watching basketball. BRING BACK THE ENFORCER NOW!!!

The play reminded me of the Bertuzzi attack, minus Moore's helpless fall to the ice (admittedly, this attack was nowhere near as cheap as was Bertuzzi's).

In this case, the hit that prompted the attack wasn't a crosscheck, nor boarding, nor a hit from behind. It was a borderline check(maybe charging) on a player who was skating with his head down.

If you want to call a guy out and fight for hitting your star, that seems fine to me. If you want to send your checking line out to wratchet up the intensity and physicality in response, that is fine too (and can make for great hockey). If, on the other hand, you attack a guy from behind for checking a star who was skating with his head down, I think you should expect a misconduct (if not more). Would anyone have thought it acceptable had a player similarly attacked Scott Stevens in response to his hit on Lindros?

On Crosby and other stars being speared, etc: for a league that is trying to rebuild its popularity on the backs of a new generation of stars, the NHL is doing a lousy job of protecting its more valuable assets. No need to grant special treatment; when a guy delivers a cheap shot that has the potential to injure, suspend him for long enough that those sorts of plays can no longer serve any purpose, and can be seriously detrimental to the offending player's career. In addition, automatically fine the offending club, so as to remove any concern/debate over whether a player was 'ordered' to deliver the cheap shot. In other words, the NHL should protect its players in a manner akin to how the NFL protects its quarterbacks (although I admit I've gone a little further than that in my suggestion).

Part Two - Instead, they did nothing. IF THE OFFICIALS ARE GOING TO DO NOTHING TO DETER GOON-LIKE BEHAVIOUR SUCH AS THAT OF ARMSTRONG, THEN TEAMS NEED ENFORCER-LIKE CAPABILITY AND ACTION OF THEIR OWN. To prove the point that a team is better off with self-reliance versus counting on the officiating as a dterrent, the officials proceeded to make matters worse. In an astonishing display of erratic judgment and overkill, Souray was excessively (2,5,10,game) penalized. Nothing for headhunting Armstrong, followed by the harshest possible for Souray. The inconsistency and incompetence of the officials should not decide the outcome of games. A 7 minute powerplay ensued, including a 5-on-3 when Recchi blatantly crosschecked the Montreal defender and Montreal somehow got penalized, and 2 goals were scored. The erratic officiating decided the game. Again, the lesson for the team is clear. The deterrent SUPPOSED to be provided by officiating cannot be counted on with any consistency or regularity to ensure fairness - and therefore teams need to be self-reliant and to possess an enforcer-type deterrent of their own.

Sheldon Souray made me proud to be a Habs fan.the guy was lucky the refs were there to save his butt!

Once again the venom spouting Cherry proves he knows nothing about the forces. The sweater emblem is the Canadian Army, not the armed forces. If only he could read then somebody could hold cue cards for him, he has absolutely no idea about the forces save for a snippet that somebody feeds him now and again. Shame on Cherry and his limelight hounding antics. Thank god classy Ron makes the segment worth watching.

Part one - Don Cherry is bang on. Teams need to stick up for their stars, because often the officiating is so erratic that a team cannot count on the consistent enforcement of the rules as a deterrent to goons. (A "goon" is not Souray, standing up for his captain. A "goon" is Armstrong, whose clear intent was to injure.) Guys will always take cheap shots at the best players regardless of the rules, but "enforcer"-type consequences have always been an effective deterrent to the more extreme behaviour. The officials are SUPPOSED to serve as another deterrent to the worst "goon" behaviour, but this secondary deterrent is ineffective IF the officials are going to let guys get away with cheap shots. The Habs-Penguins game is a good example of how the officials, whether deliberately or by bad calls, may make this situation worse by inconsistent officiating. To set the scene: the opening "butt end" was NOT a butt end (watch the replay again - Lapierre's butt end was exposed, as ALL centremen do for the faceoff) but Lapierre DID push Crosby, and Crosby dove. Okay, chippy game coming, so now is the time for the refs to set the tone - what they DO call or DO NOT call will set the deterrent, or the lack of an effective deterrent, as the case may be. The refs get their next chance to set the tone after we see Armstrong go headhunting: Armstrong's skates were two feet off the ice when he hit Koivu after his big run, and Armstrong then dropped his gloves instantly. That was charging, with premeditated intent to injure and fight. So now the refs should enforce the rules and impose control. Instead, they did nothing. *continued*

Do we really need enforcers in the NHL today? In the late 70's and early 80's, when hockey expansion was at it's peak and the talent pool was not that strong, teams had to take on players who had limited fundamental skills. These players were given limited roles which was usually regulated to protecting talented hockey players. We now have more kids playing hockey then ever before and there is far more talent at all levels of professional hockey. Superstars like Crosby compete at a stepped up level, not only because they have amazing talent, but because they have the ability to step up their passion for the game every time they are hit or someone takes a run at them. They do not need protection because like the players from two generations before them, they can take care of themselves and produce points for their respective teams. The only enforcing we need in today's professional hockey is for the ref's to "enforce the rules of the game". We definitely do not need to take a step back to the "goon days" of the 70s and 80s!

Get rid of the instigator rule before someone gets hurt. I'm talking about the guy that takes the cheap shot, if I'm the opposing coach I tell my guys to even it up on the next shift. Good, fast, clean' hard hitting hockey is what it's all about but I'm a firm believer in you reap what you sow.

As much as it pains me, I do agree with Don Cherry about the so-called spearing on Crosby. Crosby is nothing but a suck and until he learns to be a man on the ice and not a whimp, he may brake records but he will not get the respect of may players or fans. As far as Pierre McGuire is concerned, he should be fired from TSN for calling out Montreal Residents and fans for complaining about the so-called butt end on Crosby.

You got it Grapes! You need to stick together as a team and don't let your star players get run over. This improves team chemistry and shows the opposition that you are a solid cohesive unit. It was great seeing Warrener and Godard coming to Iggy's defense in Calgary against the Canucks. Jarome can handle his own but you don't want to lose one of your top forwards to an injury from a fight..remember the Flordia game? Iggy was out for a month. By the way, Calgary is also undefeated in regulation with Godard (enforcer) in the lineup. Coincidence? I'll let you decide.

You got it Grapes! You need to stick together as a team and don't let your star players get run over. This improves team chemistry and shows the opposition that you are a solid cohesive unit. It was great seeing Warrener and Godard coming to Iggy's defense in Calgary against the Canucks. Jarome can handle his own but you don't want to lose one of your top forwards to an injury from a fight..remember the Flordia game? Iggy was out for a month. By the way, Calgary is also undefeated in regulation with Godard (enforcer) in the lineup. Coincidence? I'll let you decide.

I'd like details about the benefit hockey game in Kingston next week-end that Don was referring to.....

I agree with Grapes..It was embarrassing as a hockey fan and an Atlantic Canadian to watch players take liberties at stars like Crosby and have no one even bat an eye. Put yer skates on Grapes and show them how it was done back in the day.

These cheap-shots, head-checks, blind-side hits, and stick infractions are all features of European-style hockey, where there is (almost)no fighting. The game is becoming a sport that is distinctly non-Canadian. I love the fast-play with less interference, but there is an element of street-justice and there always should be: blatant foul-play will challenged physically. Fighting for intimidation (Flyers in the 70's) should be HEAVILY penalized.

I must say how disappointed I am in Don Cherry for his constant derogatory comments towards Sidney Crosby. If he were an Upper Canadian kid, Grapes would be his biggest fan - but for some reason if you're not from Ontario - you can't possibly be as good as Crosby is.
I wish people would stop comparing Crosby to Gretzy as well. Gretzy was a fantastic player in his time ...the league was far different than it is today - now we have the likes of Chara - who is 6'7" tall taking on players that are 5'9" - hardly a level playing field.. and there was a rule at the time to protect Gretzky at all costs. Of course he was the highest scorer in the league and a superstar for many years .... he could do what he was hired to do - score goals ! Sidney Crosby has to do it all - he can fight his own battles, and doesn't need an enforcer ... he is still able to be the leading scorer in the entire NHL and he's 19 years old !!! 19 ! What were the rest of us doing at 19 ? I seriously doubt that any of us felt the pressure that kid feels at the age of 19 !
Mr Cherry, knock it off, quit taking every opportunity to slam Sid. Stick up for our Canadian kids, not just the ones from Ontario - give him the respect he deserves. He shows more maturity and poise at 19 then most adults !
And yes Mr. Cherry - review those video comparisons of Lapierre - he absolutely butt ended Crosby - "he did not give him a shove " - it was blatant and he should be suspended. You want someone to stick up for our superstars - start with the cheap shots that kid takes in EVERY game. In all of the games I've watched that kid play - some loser who can't make a name for himself based on his skill, is trying to make a name for himself for taking a cheap shot at a 19 year old boy !!

i agree with you.nobody in the past would touch the superstars when they had protection from the tough guys.also i am an american but then again i probably know the canadian national anthem better then american grew up watching montreal on french t.v. i hope you keep showing the troops fighting for us. former u.s. army soldier.thanks

give mcgrattin to pittsburg for a draft or try for stall. he will make sure crosby is protected. the instagater rule sucks and on another note i thought that the refs were to start calling the game the same everytime what happened to them in the habs penguins game. 2 non calls off the start and then call 1 in overtime with a min and a half left. with everything that went on i that game what was going through the refs head to make a call like that, that far into overtime. yous are reffing the NHL not minor hockey lets try to keeps the calls the same so the players know where they stand

Get rid of that instigator rule so our superstars can be protected and play like superstars!!! Since that instigator rule was put into effect, our hockey has gone downhill.
The game has been run by "pansies" for too long and for what:declining attendance, declining viewership here in the states.
and declining interest in the sport!!

I agree with Grapes. It's funny. The league instituted the instigator rule to remove fighting and other shenanigans from the game to try to get a lucrative television contract and a wider money-spending audience down here in the States, and in my estimation, weakening the attraction to the game. And in the end, the NHL still has neither the television contract nor the large fan base in the States, particularly down in the so-called "hockey-crazed" sun-belt. Personally, I enjoy watching the college game, where they have play a fast-paced, European-style puck moving game, but they also implement the body-check, an art which seems to be lost in the NHL today, especially on the Blues' defense. I miss the classic North American style game, played by Canadian- and American-born players on true hockey market teams(i.e. Hartford, Winnipeg, Québec), that the NHL seems to have given up on.

You know what? Watching those videos just illustrated to me that Sidney Crosby needs to stop flopping around on the ice every time somebody touches him. Gretzky gets absolutely crushed from behind and he sucked it up and skated off. Crosby gets shoved and he acts like he got shot. I'm embarassed for Sidney. Also: with the enforcer roll diminishing, accountability is fastly becoming obsolete in the NHL. Idiots crash the goalie and run stars every game and they are never held accountable any more. I guess that's one of the bad things of the "new NHL".

I agree with the segment. The Blues had Tony Twist or a Kelly Chase protecting Brett Hull and other stars. I wish they get rid of the inisagtor rule.

Pittsburg needs Jody Shelley to look after Crosby. What do you think of this statement.

Great jerseys...where can I buy one?

I totally agree with Don C, the stars ahve to be protected. I cringe with Jerome I has to drop his gloves...our season could be over in a heart beat.
I think Sidney/Malkin/Staal/Jagr all the guys we pay $100.00 bucks a seat to watch have to be protected. I went to school in Edmonton in the 80's and man if anyone took the liberties that they do now on these stars on gretz there would be hell to pay.
PS: Yes go to no touch icing also.

S.S incident too similar to Tood B. Sheldon S should be suspended for 5 to 10 games
Lapierre should also be suspended intent to injure . If you wnat to fight Then Fight .That was an attack from behind .Lapierres was just dirty . I' disappointed the leque and not spoken .