Don Cherry has special message for Team Canada ahead of Olympics

Canadian hockey icon Don Cherry celebrated a milestone on Thursday, turning 92 years old. Fans from across the country, and around the world, flooded social media with birthday wishes for the former Hockey Night in Canada host.

Cherry responded on Friday with gratitude, but made sure to slip in a special message for Team Canada ahead of the Olympics in Milan. Posing with a chocolate birthday cake and giving a signature thumbs-up, Cherry wished the national team good luck:

“Thanks for all the birthday wishes! Good luck to Team Canada!”

Cherry’s influence on the sport of hockey extends far beyond his birthday. Known as much for his loud, colorful suits as his outspoken opinions, Cherry became one of the most recognizable voices in the game. For decades, he hosted the iconic Coach’s Corner segment on Hockey Night in Canada, providing passionate, and often controversial, analysis on the sport he loves.

In 2019, Cherry’s tenure came to an abrupt end after a controversial segment regarding Remembrance Day poppies. Despite the firing, his legacy and popularity among fans remain undeniable, and his birthday shoutout is a reminder of just how deeply Cherry is intertwined with Canadian hockey culture.

As Team Canada heads to Milan, Cherry’s thumbs-up is more than a photo op: it’s a symbolic nod from one of the country’s most enduring hockey personalities, rooting for his team even at 92.