Don Cherry's Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey

Last updated
Don Cherry's Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey
Produced byTim Cherry (Quality Video/TPC Productions)
Starring Don Cherry
Edited byBlomeley Communications Inc.
Distributed by Molstar/Molson Sports & Entertainment (1989-2005)
Kaboom! Entertainment (2006-2007)
Warner Home Video (2008-2011)
VSC/Unobstructed View (2012-2018)
Release date
1989-2018
Running time
30-90 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em Hockey (also simplified as Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em from 1992 to 1997 and Don Cherry from 1998 to 2007) are a series of hockey highlight videos starring noted Canadian hockey commentator Don Cherry. The series was created by Cherry and his son Tim, via the latter's company Tim Cherry Enterprises created and produce the series. [1]

Each video features a compilation of NHL plays, goals, saves, bloopers, and hits, typically focusing on the preceding NHL season, and generally set to backing rock and techno music. Highlights from Cherry's Coach's Corner segment of Hockey Night in Canada are also regularly featured, while many also include a recap of the year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. Some installments (including five from 2010 to 2017) feature Cherry hosting on location from a hockey arena or hall of fame.

Despite the series name's allusion to the Rock'Em Sock'Em Robots toy, hockey fights are not a primary source of content, with only one or two examples typically featured at the end of most videos, with Don commonly referring to the segment as "tea time" for viewers who don't like "the odd tussle." The title instead alludes to the physical style of hockey that Cherry prefers. The Rock'em Sock'em title was dropped from the series for the 10 installments from 1998 to 2007 due to a naming rights dispute. [2]

The first Rock'em Sock'em Hockey video was released on VHS in December 1989, and quickly became a huge success in the marketplace, subsequently becoming the best selling sports video franchise in Canadian history. The franchise has sold over two million units to date, and continues to be one of the highest selling sports videos, with installments traditionally being released in December for the holiday season. [3] Don Cherry's Rock 'Em Sock 'Em 30 was expected to be the series' final installment upon its release on December 11, 2018. “I will miss doing it. I loved working with Tim on it for all these years. The only time I was happier was when I used to go see him play hockey,” said Don. “I want to thank all of the fans supporting it and the players who are in the videos too. A lot of them are grandfathers now in their 50s themselves.” [4]

Since 2007, some videos in the series has been sold in the United States under the altered title Don Cherry's Hard Hitting Hockey, though sometimes using the chronology of the original Rock'em Sock'em series to number them despite largely not being released in that market. The 16th-19th releases in the series were re-released with new cover artwork and the Rock'em Sock'em branding as premium giveaways with the cold remedy Cold-fX, as part of their endorsement deal with Cherry. The 10th-14th installments were re-issued in the 2002 box set Don Cherry Penalty Box, while all installments to that point were re-issued in a collector's DVD box set in 2013 for the series' 25th anniversary.

The final edition was released in 2018, with Cherry announcing that the 30th edition would be the last. [5]

TitleYear of ReleaseLengthNotes
Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em Hockey198930 MinutesFirst release in the Rock 'Em Sock 'Em series
Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em Hockey Volume 2199035 MinutesFirst video featuring Coach's Corner highlights.
Features the novelty rap song "Grapejam".
Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em Hockey 3199145 MinutesAlso released with changed box artwork as Don Cherry's All New Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Hockey
Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em 4199246 MinutesFirst video without "Hockey" in the title.
Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em 5199360 MinutesFeatures the music video for "Rock' em Sock' em Techno" by BKS featuring Don Cherry
Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em 6199490 MinutesFeatures bonus segment with Don Cherry's safety tips for young hockey players.
Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em 7199560 MinutesHost segments filmed at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Features bonus segment with Don Cherry's tips for buying proper hockey equipment.
Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em 8199660 MinutesFeatures bonus segment with Don Cherry's tips for running hockey practices.
Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em 9199760 MinutesFeatures bonus segment with Don Cherry answering questions from hockey parents.
Don Cherry 10th Anniversary199860 MinutesFirst video released on DVD.
First installment simply called "Don Cherry".
Host segments filmed at Maple Leaf Gardens
Features highlights from the past 10 seasons
Don Cherry 11, The New Millennium199960 MinutesHost segments feature Don Cherry running a practice session for the OHL's Mississauga IceDogs, who he co-owned and later coached.
Features bonus segment with Don Cherry giving advice to parents to help their children progress in minor hockey.
Don Cherry 12200060 MinutesFirst video without Coach's Corner highlights since the first installment
Features bonus highlights from the talk show Don Cherry's Grapevine.
Don Cherry Lucky 13200160 MinutesFeatures bonus segment where Don Cherry gives advice for parents & coaches of young hockey players.
Don Cherry 14200260 MinutesFirst video with multiple licensed songs from outside artists
Don Cherry Penalty Box2002240 Minutes4 DVD set of the last 4 releases in the series
Don Cherry 15200370 MinutesFirst video featuring extensive usage of soundbites from NHL play by play announcers
Don Cherry 16200470 MinutesHost segments filmed at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Features bonus Play it Cool segment where Keith Primeau gives advice on how to give and take hits.
Retitled Don Cherry's Rock 'Em Sock 'Em 16 for Cold-fx premium reissue in 2013.
Don Cherry 17200570 MinutesDue to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, this video featured top players, highlights, and moments chosen from the past 50 years of NHL history.
Features highlights from the 2004-05 London Knights' Memorial Cup-winning season.
Subtitled "The Best of The Best" on the back cover and title screen.
Retitled Don Cherry's Rock 'Em Sock 'Em 17 for Cold-fx premium reissue in 2013.
Last video released on VHS.
Last video released by Molson Sports & Entertainment
Don Cherry 18200690 MinutesFirst video with Coach's Corner highlights since 1999
Host segments filmed at a Carolina Hurricanes practice at Rexall Place during the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals
First video with official Hockey Night in Canada branding
Features unadvertised bonus DVD Don Cherry's Grapevine: A Collection of Great Interviews
Retitled Don Cherry's Rock 'Em Sock 'Em 18 for Cold-fx premium reissue in 2013.
Don Cherry 19200770 minutesReleased as Don Cherry's Hard Hitting Hockey 2007 in the United States
Retitled Don Cherry's Rock 'Em Sock 'Em 19 for Cold-fx premium reissue in 2013.
Don Cherry's Rock 'em Sock 'em Hockey 20200870 minutesFirst video with the full "Rock'em Sock'em Hockey" title since 1991
Released as Don Cherry's Hard Hitting Hockey 20 in the United States
Special edition includes steelbook packaging and a bonus disc
Don Cherry's Rock' em Sock' em Hockey 21200972 minutesReleased as Don Cherry's Hard Hitting Hockey 3 in the United States
Don Cherry's Rock' em Sock' em Hockey 22201082 minutesHost segments filmed at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Released as Don Cherry's Hard Hitting Hockey 4 in the United States
Don Cherry's Rock' em Sock' em Hockey 23201178 minutes
Don Cherry's Rock' em Sock' em Hockey 242012First video released on Blu-ray
Host segments filmed at a Los Angeles Kings practice at the Prudential Center during the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals
Features the music video for "Rock' em Sock' em Techno" by BKS featuring Don Cherry.
First video released by VSC (now Unobstructed View)
Features the Los Angeles Kings' Stanley Cup celebration as a Blu-Ray-exclusive extra.
Don Cherry's Rock' em Sock' em 252013Host segments filmed at Canlan Ice Sports in Toronto, Ontario.
Features archival Coach's Corner clips
Released as Don Cherry's Hard Hitting Hockey 25 in the United States
Last video with official Hockey Night in Canada branding.
Don Cherry's Rock' em Sock' em Hockey: Silver Anniversary Collection20131,550 minutes8 DVD set of all 25 videos to that point
The only official release of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em 1-9 on DVD
Don Cherry's Rock 'em Sock 'em Hockey 26201465 minutes
Don Cherry's Rock 'em Sock 'em Hockey 27201575 minutesHost segments filmed at the Mattamy Athletic Center at Maple Leaf Gardens
Don Cherry's Rock 'em Sock 'em Hockey 28201660 minutesLast video released on Blu-Ray
Don Cherry's Rock 'em Sock 'em Hockey 29201760 minutesHost segments filmed at the International Hockey Hall of Fame in Kingston, Ontario
Features a bonus interview with Don Cherry on Tim & Sid from December 20, 2016
Last video featuring licensed songs from outside artists
Don Cherry's Rock 'em Sock 'em Hockey 30201860 minutesLast release in the Rock 'Em Sock 'Em series
Features a collectors card inside each DVD case
Features the music video for "Rock' em Sock' em Techno" by BKS featuring Don Cherry as a bonus feature

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References

  1. ↑ "CBC Sports Online: Indepth: Don Cherry". Archived from the original on 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
  2. ↑ "What I Learned From Watching the Entire First Decade of 'Rock'em Sock'em Hockey' Videos - VICE - Canada". 27 May 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2008-12-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "VideoETA: Don Cherry's Rock 'Em Sock 'Em 30". 24 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  5. ↑ . Toronto Sun. 23 November 2018 Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em Hockey 30 will be the last https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-don-cherrys-rockem-sockem-hockey-30-will-be-the-last: Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em Hockey 30 will be the last.{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)[ permanent dead link ]

Don Cherry's Rock'Em Sock'em Hockey at IMDb

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