Legendary National Hockey League analyst Don Cherry is known for his old-school mentality, which he has maintained throughout his decades in the sport. However, his recent take on the incident between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs has stirred controversy.
Don Cherry Breaks Silence Regarding The Morgan Rielly Incident
Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly is facing a lengthy suspension for a cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig. This came after Greig fired a slap shot into the Maple Leafs' empty net.
Cherry, echoing Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, supported Rielly's actions.
"I'm glad Rielly was on and I'm glad he did it," Cherry stated. Despite there being no specific rule against Rielly's action, Cherry emphasized, "You just don't do that."
While Rielly isn't known for dirty play, Cherry suggested that his history might have influenced his opinion. Cherry believes Rielly didn't intend to target Greig's head.
"It was a spur-of-the-moment thing," Cherry said. "I think he meant to get him on the shoulder but he got him on the back of the neck."
