Firestone sympathizes with Melnyk
Bruce Firestone isn’t a fan of Don Cherry or billboards.
For the most part, Firestone has tuned out Cherry.
The Ottawa Senators’ founder turns off the television when Coach’s Corner comes on during the first intermission of Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday because Firestone isn’t a fan.
Cherry said Saturday night the Senators would be better off if the team was moved to Quebec City.
There’s no question the Senators need to sell more seats, but this isn’t the first time Cherry has made these remarks.
Not long after owner Eugene Melnyk suggested he would have to consider moving the team “if it became a total disaster,” before the outdoor game in December, Cherry made similar comments about the franchise going to Quebec because of the ongoing struggle to sell seats in Ottawa.
Firestone, who led the campaign to bring the franchise to Ottawa, hasn’t watched Cherry since, but came to Ottawa’s defence as an NHL city when told about his most recent words.
“It wasn’t that long ago that the Senators were No. 6 overall in attendance in the NHL and also wasn’t that long ago that the Senators were (in the top 10) in almost all revenue categories,” said Firestone Sunday.
“My answer to The Don would be this is a very good hockey market, has proven to be a very good hockey market, and anytime you live in a smaller centre like Ottawa and you’re competing against major centres like Toronto, New York or Montreal and you can rank (in the top 10) in attendance and revenue categories, I think it has proven itself.”
Cherry, speaking less than a week after four billboards paid for by 400 fans in a GoFundMe campaign went up across the city suggesting Melnyk sell, started off his segment by throwing his support behind the club’s owner.
“I know everybody in the world is against Eugene Melnyk,” Cherry said. “For the life of me, I cannot understand it.”
Cherry added the fans behind the campaign should realize Melnyk has spent plenty of money to keep the team in the city. He purchased the Senators out of bankruptcy in 2003 and is committed to building a new downtown arena at LeBreton Flats.
“They had a winning club last year, they were one shot away from getting to the (Stanley Cup final) and they still didn’t sell out,” Cherry said. “He’s nuts to even stay there.”
Firestone came to Melnyk’s defence about the signs as well because he believes the message on the billboards is hurtful.
“You always have to think about it from somebody else’s point of view,” Firestone said. “What do they say, ‘Walk a mile in my shoes.’ If anybody were to walk a mile in Eugene’s shoes, I think Don Cherry, on that point, is correct.
“Any hockey owner that tells you that it doesn’t bother him or her what the newspapers say is really probably not being frank. When an article that you write, or anyone else writes, is critical of a hockey owner, I’ve known a lot of these people for a long time, and I know it hurts them.”
Then, Firestone referenced a Yoga saying told to him by his wife Dawn.
“If you say something you have to (decide), ‘Is it worth saying, has it been said before and will it hurt anyone? I think on the last test it probably fails,” Firestone said.
Firestone believes Cherry was trying to strike a nerve with his words about Ottawa, and he succeeded, because there was no shortage of reaction.
“I have to turn it off,” said Firestone. “I poured a good portion of my life and career into creating the Senators. When somebody talks about the team moving or not being viable, it definitely hurts. I understand why he said it and that’s because Don Cherry is an entertainer.”