Quotes

[on Don Cherry] Everybody wanted to play for Don. He was fair but he was also tough. He understood your level. He understood what he wanted from you and what you could do. He was a great motivator and he knew a lot more about the game than you might think. He was 'no bull'. You knew where you stood with him and, hey, we were men, and that's the way it should be. He loved his players - he was a players' coach. He protected his players. If you did your job and you did it right, there was no problem with Don. People have no idea now generous he is. They think he's just this rough, gruff guy. But I know how generous he is and the kind of work he does.

Minor sports in the community is supposed to be fun for everyone, not just for the elite or 'the next one'. The chances of your son or daughter being 'the next one' are slim to none, so let's have them have fun.

We don't need fighting in the game to survive. But we do need that fear of getting beat up if you don't behave yourself, or if you're trying to take liberties with a player who doesn't play like that.

Parents have to understand: 0.0057 per cent of all kids playing hockey, that's the number of players who play one game in the NHL. So why is your kid playing? Why are you coaching? Why are you refereeing? To help make better people. And in helping make better people, you're going to make better players. If your kids has got it, I guarantee your kid is going to get a chance.

[on his proudest achievements] I don't look at goals and those types of individual things. The things I'm most proud of are obviously the two Stanley Cup wins, the 1976 Canada Cup - which was the only time I ever played for Canada in an international series - and being in Vancouver for the Olympics in 2010, as part of the opening ceremonies and carrying the flag out.