HIGHLIGHTS
- Don Cherry ended his Grapevine podcast on June 23 after 313 episodes
- The 91-year-old hockey icon gave a low-key farewell to 6.5 million downloads
- Read below for Cherry’s final words and what fans are saying about the end of an era
And just like that, Grapes is done.
Don Cherry quietly pulled the plug on his podcast Monday, ending what might be the final chapter of one of hockey’s most colorful careers. The 91-year-old legend dropped the news in typical Cherry fashion – no fanfare, no long goodbye, just a simple “this is our last show.”
The announcement came via a post on X that read “Don Cherry Says Goodbye in Final Podcast.” But if you were expecting waterworks or a dramatic send-off, you don’t know Don Cherry.
“Well, Tim, this is our last show,” Cherry told his son and co-host in the episode’s final minute. That was it. No explanation, no reason given.
Tim Cherry acknowledged the podcast’s impressive reach, noting they’d hit 6.5 million downloads with listeners tuning in from around the world. Pretty good indeed for a show that started in November 2019 after Cherry’s controversial exit from Hockey Night in Canada.
“Thanks everybody for listening, and toodaloo!” Cherry added before signing off for good. Listen to the full final episode of the “Grapevine Podcast” below:
The timing feels significant. Cherry sounded frail in that final episode, and we are concerned for his health. One listener noted, “He’s sounding rough. It appears father time is catching up to Grapes.”
It’s been quite the ride for the former Boston Bruins coach, who became Canada’s most recognizable hockey voice. From his days behind the bench to nearly four decades on Coach’s Corner alongside Ron MacLean, Cherry changed how we consume hockey on TV.
The Grapevine podcast gave Cherry a platform after Sportsnet cut ties with him in 2019 following his comments about immigrants and poppies. Love him or hate him, you couldn’t ignore him. He kept that same unfiltered style on the podcast, sharing stories about everyone from Maurice Richard to George Plimpton.
Fans took to X with mixed reactions. Some called him “unforgettable” and credited him for revolutionizing hockey intermissions. Others couldn’t forget his controversial takes over the years.
But here’s what you can’t argue: Cherry left his mark on the game. Whether it was his loud suits, his passionate support for Canadian players, or his backing of police and military, the man stood for something. Right or wrong, he never wavered.
His influence stretched beyond the microphone, too. Cherry founded Rose Cherry’s Home for Kids in memory of his late wife and earned the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service.
Now at 91, it seems Father Time finally caught up to hockey’s most polarizing personality. No dramatic exit, no final controversy. Just a quiet toodaloo to cap off one of the wildest careers in sports media.
The game won’t be quite the same without Grapes.
