Yes, the loud guy with the funky suits that shows up on Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday night is not the NHL hockey player in his family. Don Cherry appeared in exactly one NHL game, a playoff appearance with the Boston Bruins during the 1954-55 season. Brother Dick Cherry is a veteran of 145 regular season and four playoff games in the National Hockey League. Dick’s minor career may not have been as eventful as Don’s but it was still pretty memorable.
Dick Cherry – Junior
Cherry played two years in the OHA Junior ‘A’ with the Barrie Flyers. In 1955-56, he was second on the team with 50 points while playing the full 48 game regular season schedule. Behind the bench were Hap Emms and his assistant Bill Long with the Flyers placing sixth in the seven team league with 43 points.
However, Barrie upset the second place Kitchener Canucks in the quarter-finals then Toronto St. Michael’s in the semi-finals to earn a berth in the Robertson Cup finals. The Flyers met their match with the Toronto Marlboros ousting them in five games.
In 1956-57, Dick was again second on the team, this time with 45 points over the full 52 game schedule. He was teammates with Barry Ashbee. He would play with Barry again in the minors and the two would miss each other by a year in the NHL with Cherry playing his last year with Philadelphia in 1969-70 and Ashbee starting with the Flyers in 1970-71.
The 1956-57 Barrie Flyers placed sixth in the eight team league with just 28 points. They were easily swept in three games by the St. Catherines Teepees in the opening round. Cherry would also make his first appearance in the National Hockey League that season with the Boston Bruins.
The Barrie Flyers are the present day Sudbury Wolves, by way of the Niagara Falls Flyers.
Dick Cherry – Minor Pro
Cherry played in the minors between 1957-58 and 1970-71 and carried on for a few years after that in the amateur OHA Senior ‘A’. Over that time, he played in the QHL, AHL, EPHL, CPHL and CHL.
In 1961-62, Dick played for the Kingston Frontenacs in the EPHL. He was the second highest scoring defenseman on the team behind Harry Sinden. Orval Tessier led the team offensively and Cherry was once again teammates with Barry Ashbee. In net were Ernie Wakely and Ed Chadwick, although it was Chadwick that played all but three games for the Frontenacs. Kingston placed second in the six team league and lost in the finals to the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens.
The Oklahoma City Blazers of the CPHL truly had something special in 1966-67. Cherry was the top scoring defenseman on the team with 33 points over 69 games. The team was stacked with future NHLers like Terry Crisp, Wayne Cashman, Jean Pronovost, Glen Sather, J.P. Parise and Ross Lonsberry. In net was an amazing trio that included Bernie Parent, Gerry Cheevers and Doug Favell.
The Blazers finished first overall. They met up with the Omaha Knights in the CPHL finals, winning the best of seven series in five.
After his stint with the NHL Flyers was over, Dick returned to Oklahoma City for one more season. He served as team captain while scoring 14 goals and assisting on 50 for 64 points over 64 games. His assist total was good enough to tie him for third in the CHL with teammate Gregg Sheppard, eight behind the leader.
Once again, the Blazers were stacked with future NHL players. Along with Gregg Sheppard, there was Ivan Boldirev, Reggie Leach, Rick MacLeish and Ron Plumb. Despite the talent, Oklahoma City placed fourth in the seven team league with 72 points over 72 games and lost in the opening round of the playoffs.
Dick Cherry – NHL
After playing six games with the Boston Bruins in 1956-57 while still a junior, it would take over a decade before Cherry would return to the National Hockey League. He played two full seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, 1968-69 and 1969-70.
Overall, Dick played in 145 NHL regular season games, scoring 12 goals and assisting on ten for 22 points. In the Stanley Cup playoffs, he played just four games, scoring one goal.
Dick Cherry – Staff
After a stint as assistant coach with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League in 1991-92, Cherry’s next break came in 1996 when he became an amateur scout for the St. Louis Blues. He held that title from 1996-97 to 1999-00.
During that four year span, Dick also took on the role of Director of Hockey Operations with the OHL’s Mississauga IceDogs for the 1998-99 season. It was the franchise’s first year of existence and the team was owned by brother Don.
Cherry returned to the OHL for 2005-06 and served as Director of Player Development for the Kingston Frontenacs until 2010-11. Since 2010-11, he has served as a scout for the Frontenacs.
Dick Cherry – Rookie Card
The Dick Cherry rookie card appears as number 173 in the 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee set. This is the only major hockey card featuring Dick Cherry and he is shown with the Philadelphia Flyers. The card is valued as a common card. Don Cherry did not get a spot on a hockey card as a player. He did get his rookie card as head coach of the Boston Bruins in the 1974-75 O-Pee-Chee set.
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1955-56 | Barrie Flyers | OHA | 48 | 18 | 32 | 50 | 69 |
| 1956-57 | Barrie Flyers | OHA | 52 | 15 | 30 | 45 | 42 |
| 1956-57 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1957-58 | Quebec Aces | QHL | 47 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 27 |
| 1957-58 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1958-59 | Providence Reds | AHL | 65 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 66 |
| 1959-60 | Providence Reds | AHL | 71 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 52 |
| 1960-61 | Providence Reds | AHL | 68 | 2 | 20 | 22 | 66 |
| 1961-62 | Kingston Frontenacs | EPHL | 43 | 11 | 24 | 35 | 29 |
| 1962-63 | Kingston Frontenacs | EPHL | 53 | 28 | 32 | 60 | 10 |
| 1966-67 | Oklahoma City Blazers | CPHL | 69 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 86 |
| 1968-69 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 71 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 18 |
| 1969-70 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 68 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
| 1970-71 | Oklahoma City Blazers | CHL | 64 | 14 | 50 | 64 | 44 |
| NHL Totals | 145 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 45 |