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Cherry apologizes to ex-enforcers
By
TERRY KOSHAN, QMI Agency
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  Hockey Night in Canada, Don Cherry and Ron McLean October 6, 2011. |
Don Cherry swallowed his pride during Coach’s Corner on Hockey Night in Canada and apologized to former NHL enforcers Chris Nilan, Stu Grimson and Jim Thomson.
Nine days earlier on Hockey Night, Cherry called the three “pukes,” among other things, after he thought they linked fighting in hockey to possible issues later in life such as addiction and emotional problems.
“I threw them under the bus and I’m sorry about it,” Cherry said. “I really am. I’m sorry I put them down. If you’re wrong, you’ve got to admit it.”
The three, after being called out by Cherry, said they were considering further recourse.
The overall issue of fighting in hockey became a sensitive one this past off-season with the deaths of Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien and Wade Belak.
Cherry figured that in 1,500 shows, he could count on one hand the number of times he apologized for saying something out of line.
terry.koshan@sunmedia.ca
