We haven't seen Don Cherry and Ron MacLean together on-air since November of 2019, and it doesn't appear as though we'll be seeing them off-air together any time soon, either.
Cherry recently sat down with Toronto Sun columnist Joe Warmington to discuss his relationship with his former co-worker and on-air partner, saying he doesn't believe the two can be friends again.
"No I don't think we'll ever be friends again ... you can't be friends," Cherry said. "It's too bad because we were together, we used to have fun. Coach's Corner was fun."
The two hosted "Coach's Corner" together, a segment on CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada", from 1986 up until Cherry was fired from the network for his controversial comments regarding Canadian immigrants that did not wear remembrance poppies.
On the broadcast, MacLean appeared to agree and nod his head in approval of Cherry's statement, even giving a thumbs-up at the conclusion of Cherry's rant.However, the next night, MacLean went on the broadcast alone and apologized on behalf of Sportsnet.
MORE: NHL playoffs schedule 2022: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels
In his interview with Warmington, Cherry defended MacLean, saying he didn't think he was paying attention to what Cherry was saying at the time.
"I really don't believe that Ron was listening. I still stick up for him."
While Cherry said he has forgiven MacLean for his actions following Cherry's firing, he said that he won't forget.
"I really do believe in the Lord, and the Lord says forgive. I don't think I could ever forget, though. But I don't have any animosity towards him."
Why was Don Cherry fired from Sportsnet?
On a Nov. 9 broadcast of "Coach's Corner" on "Hockey Night in Canada", Cherry went on a rant explaining his pleasure for those citizens that were not buying remembrance poppies for Remembrance Day, a day to "honor armed forces members who have died in the line of duty."
"You people that come here... you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that," Cherry said. "These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price."
The comments immediately received backlash on social media and CBC was flooded with complaints. As a result, Cherry was removed from on-air and on November 11, officially fired from Sportsnet.
MacLean appeared on "Rogers Hometown Hockey" the day after Cherry's rant, giving an apology on behalf of himself and the network.
"Don Cherry made remarks which were hurtful, discriminatory, which were flat out wrong. We at Sportsnet have apologized. It certainly doesn't stand for what Sportsnet or Rogers represents. We know diversity is the strength of the country. We see it in travels with our show (Hometown Hockey) and with Hockey Night in Canada. I owe you an apology, too. That's the big thing I want to emphasize. I sat there, did not catch it, did not respond."
Cherry was asked about the comments at the time from Warmington, but he did not back down.
MORE: What is the highest-scoring NHL playoff game of all time?
"I know what I said and I meant it," Cherry told Warmington. "Everybody in Canada should wear a poppy to honor our fallen soldiers."