Why Ron MacLean Might Never Win Back Fans
He was once a Canadian TV icon, the steady hand next to the fireworks. But in the years since his public split with Don Cherry, Ron MacLean’s image has been shattered. The question is, can it ever be put back together again?
The Golden Age of Coach’s Corner
For over thirty years, it was a Saturday night ritual as Canadian as hockey itself. When the first period of Hockey Night in Canada wrapped, the entire country leaned in for Coach’s Corner. It wasn’t just a TV segment; it was a cultural institution. It was a seven-minute glimpse into the soul of the game, led by two of the most recognizable people in the country.
On one side, you had Don Cherry. Loud, unapologetically old-school, and draped in a wild suit that was as much a part of his brand as his opinions. He was the unfiltered voice for a certain kind of hockey fan—the traditionalist who valued grit, loyalty, and a good, clean scrap.
And on the other side, you had his perfect foil: Ron MacLean.
MacLean was the ultimate pro—quick-witted, deeply knowledgeable, and able to steer the conversation, challenge Cherry when he had to, and then wrap it all up with a perfect pun. He was the calm in the middle of the storm, the guy who could navigate Cherry’s often-turbulent waters. For decades, their chemistry was electric. MacLean wasn’t just a sidekick; he was the trusted partner, the man who understood the method to Grapes’ madness. Fans saw him as Don’s friend, the loyal second-in-command. This dynamic made him one of the most beloved figures on Canadian television. That perceived friendship was the foundation of his public image. And it’s exactly what made his fall from grace so spectacular.
‘Poppygate’ – The Moment Everything Changed
The beginning of the end came on November 9th, 2019. During a Coach’s Corner segment just before Remembrance Day, Don Cherry launched into one of his classic rants. But this one hit differently. He turned his focus to new immigrants, calling them out for what he saw as a failure to wear the poppy.
“You people,” he said, jabbing a finger at the camera, “you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey. At least you can pay a couple of bucks for a poppy or something like that.”
As the words hung in the air, every eye in the country turned to Ron MacLean. His reaction would become as famous as Cherry’s words. He nodded, smiled, and as Cherry finished, MacLean gave a thumbs-up and said, “Love you for it.” On air, it looked like business as usual: Don being Don, and Ron being his loyal partner.
But the public reaction was a firestorm. The phrase “you people” was slammed as divisive and xenophobic. The backlash was so intense that the broadcaster, Sportsnet, couldn’t ignore it. Within 48 hours, Don Cherry was fired from Hockey Night in Canada after nearly four decades.
This is where Ron MacLean’s public image started to crack. The following weekend, MacLean appeared on camera alone and delivered a prepared apology. He called Cherry’s comments “hurtful and prejudiced” and expressed deep regret for his own role. “I wish I had handled myself differently,” he said. “It was a divisive moment, and I am distraught with myself for allowing it… I know we failed you.”
For many, this was a necessary and moral stand against bigotry. MacLean was doing the right thing, standing with an inclusive, modern Canada, even if it meant condemning his longtime partner. But for a vast, loyal part of the audience, it was a shocking act of betrayal.
The Fallout and the ‘Company Man’
The backlash against MacLean was almost as fierce as the one against Cherry. To millions of fans, the timeline was damning. On Saturday, he gave a thumbs-up; by the following weekend, he was throwing his 38-year partner under the bus to save his own job. The word “Judas” started trending. He was no longer seen as the loyal friend, but as a “company man” who caved to corporate pressure.
This perception—that MacLean chose his career over his friend—was devastating. The hockey culture that Cherry celebrated is built on loyalty. You stick up for your teammates, no matter what. In the court of public opinion, MacLean had broken that sacred rule. He had nodded along, and when the pressure mounted, he didn’t just step aside—he helped show Cherry the door.
In the years after, MacLean’s on-air presence felt different. The easy confidence was often replaced by an awkwardness, a habit of rambling into strange anecdotes or poetry that left viewers confused. Every stumble was now seen through the lens of that 2019 betrayal. Public opinion, once so positive, was now split right down the middle. He had become a polarizing figure, a living reminder of the messy divorce that ended a Canadian TV dynasty. The damage was done, but MacLean seemed to think that, with enough time, the wound might heal.
Then, in the summer of 2025, he decided to pick at the scab.
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A Pattern of Missteps – The 2025 Interview
In a July 2025 interview with Gare Joyce, a writer for Sportsnet, MacLean didn’t just revisit Poppygate—he tried to rewrite it altogether. He claimed Cherry’s infamous rant wasn’t a mistake, but a calculated “exit strategy.” MacLean suggested that Cherry, who was 85 at the time and had been battling pneumonia, was looking for a way out of the demanding travel schedule.
“The pneumonia said to Don, ‘It’s time,’” MacLean stated. “(Remembrance Day) was his last swing… It was liberating. Don needed out.” He tried to frame the whole thing as a win-win. Cherry got to leave on his own terms, and MacLean got to take a moral high ground. “The attack on immigrants was improper… it goes against my ethics,” he explained, before adding that the situation “allowed Don to get out gracefully.”
If MacLean thought this new story would clear his name, he was catastrophically wrong. The comments were seen as a self-serving attempt to reframe his betrayal as an act of mercy. He wasn’t just abandoning his friend; he was now painting him as a frail old man, too weak to keep going, who had to manipulate his own firing. This didn’t just poke an old wound; it poured salt in it.
The Pushback from a King
The response was swift and brutal, and it came from hockey royalty. Bobby Orr, the legendary defenseman whom Cherry had coached in Boston, released a blistering public statement aimed directly at MacLean. “Suggesting Don Cherry used encouraging people to wear poppies on Remembrance Day as an exit strategy… and revealing he had pneumonia… I have only one thing to say to you, Ron MacLean: Shame on you.”
The condemnation from an icon like Orr was a massive blow. And then came the response from the man himself.
Speaking to Joe Warmington of the Toronto Sun, a now 91-year-old Don Cherry voiced his shock and disappointment. “No, I wasn’t looking for a way out,” Cherry said. “I was surprised. I never even thought of that.” He said he was “very disappointed” that MacLean would bring it all up six years later. When asked about their relationship, Cherry’s words were ice-cold and final. “I have no feelings toward Ron,” he stated, adding that while he could personally move on, MacLean was no longer welcome in his house. Why? “The wife doesn’t like it.”
The picture was now complete. MacLean, his image already tarnished, now looked like a man desperately trying to spin a story, even at the expense of his former friend’s dignity. Cherry, in contrast, came off as hurt but dignified. He didn’t need to sling mud; his friends, like Orr, were doing it for him, and their words carried the weight of decades of loyalty—the very thing MacLean was now accused of lacking.
Why It’s More Than Just a Feud
On the surface, this is a story about two guys and a friendship destroyed by controversy. But the reason it cuts so deep, and the reason MacLean’s image might be permanently damaged, is because it taps into something much bigger. The Cherry and MacLean feud has become a proxy war for Canada’s ongoing culture clashes.
To his supporters, Don Cherry represents a traditional, patriotic Canada—a world of old-school values they feel is being erased by “woke” corporations and progressive groupthink. They see his firing as cancel culture run wild. In their eyes, MacLean isn’t just a disloyal friend; he’s an agent of that change, a man who sided with the corporate progressives against a Canadian icon.
On the other hand, those who backed MacLean’s apology see Cherry’s comments as truly bigoted and believe MacLean’s actions were a brave and necessary ethical stand. For them, MacLean represents a more modern, inclusive Canada, and what he did was a rejection of an outdated, harmful worldview.
There’s really no middle ground here. The feud perfectly mirrors the country’s cultural divide, hardening opinions on both sides. MacLean is trapped in the crossfire, and every time he talks about it, he reinforces the battle lines.
Conclusion: A Legacy Defined by One Moment
So, why might Ron MacLean never win back his fans?
Because for a massive chunk of the Canadian public, his legacy is no longer about thirty years of polished broadcasting. It’s defined by a thumbs-up, followed by an apology. It’s defined by the perception of betrayal—of choosing a paycheck over a partnership. His attempt in 2025 to rewrite history only made things worse, cementing his image not as a steady hand but as a spin doctor.
His credibility was built on trust and familiarity, but for many, that trust is broken. For those who stand with Cherry, MacLean will always be the man who turned his back on a friend. For those who don’t, his initial on-air nod will forever cast a shadow on his later moral stance. He’s caught between two irreconcilable stories, and in a way, he’s the villain in both. Without a full-throated apology to Cherry, it’s almost impossible to see how he can reclaim the affection of the fans he lost. That ship has likely sailed, leaving a once-beloved icon adrift.
But what do you think? Is there any way back for Ron MacLean, or is this a legacy he can’t escape? Let me know in the comments.
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