NHL: Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers - Source: Imagn — Don Cherry comments on John Tortorella's altercation with Cam York - Source: Imagn

Don Cherry comments on John Tortorella's altercation with Cam York playing a role in his firing as Flyers HC

Modified Apr 02, 2025 05:41 GMT

Hockey legend Don Cherry weighed in on John Tortorella's dismissal as Philadelphia Flyers coach, suggesting an altercation with defenseman Cam York may have contributed to his firing.

Tortorella was let go on Thursday after a heated exchange with York following a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, where York was benched for the final 50 minutes.

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The incident reportedly escalated, with both parties crossing boundaries. York was subsequently scratched against the Montreal Canadiens on the same day of Torts' firing but eventually dressed due to the team's lack of healthy players.

On his Grapevine podcast with his son Tim, Cherry commented on what led to Tortorella's firing.

"He had an argument with Cam York. I guess that was the final straw. Losing takes a toll. I remember sitting outside a branch, and I said to the branch, 'These guys are trying just as hard.' It had nothing to do with effort. I mean, they were just getting beaten down."

The altercation with York, combined with John Tortorella's post-game admission that he wasn't interested in adapting his coaching style to the team's struggles sealed his fate and led to the Flyers organization's decision to part ways with him.

Subsequently, the Philadelphia Flyers named associate coach Brad Shaw as the interim coach until the management finds a suitable long-term replacement.

Cam York addresses his relationship with John Tortorella

Cam York spoke highly about his relationship with now-former coach John Tortorella following his firing. The defenseman said that he has no ill will towards him.

"I have nothing bad to say," York told reporters. "He taught me a lot of really good things and was a really good coach for me. I’m going to use a lot of the things that he taught me down the road in my career. He’s a really good coach, and I wish him the best of luck down the road.”

Tortorella served as the coach of the Philadelphia Flyers for two seasons, posting a 97-107-33 record, but never made it to the postseason. The club is ninth in the wild-card standings, with 69 points after 75 games.

Also Read: Flyers GM Danny Briere gets 100% real about his decision to fire head coach John Tortorella

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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