Don Cherry has long been one of Dave Semenko’s biggest fans.

The longtime Hockey Night in Canada personality often preaches the kind of play Semenko was known for in the 1980s with the Edmonton Oilers, serving as an on-ice bodyguard for the club’s biggest star, Wayne Gretzky.

Cherry’s got plenty of stories from his tenure around the hockey world, and he shared a special one in honour of Semenko, who died Thursday morning at age 59 after a battle with cancer.

“When I lived in the United States coaching the Boston Bruins and Colorado Rockies, the fans that I talked to could never understand why Wayne Gretzky was never hit and abused,” Cherry wrote. “They were sure the league had put out an edict that Gretzky was never to be hit because he was the star of the league, and he was the star. But there was no rule from the league why Gretzky never got hit or run. The rule was Dave Semenko.”

“Dave was, as Glen Sather called him, the gentle giant,” Cherry continued. “Gentle until you fooled with the Great One. He did not have to fight a lot. Just his presence was enough to discourage the idea of running Wayne. And if you started to act funny out there, he would whisper in your ear, if you do that again you’ll be a very sorry person.”

Cherry also spoke to the character of Semenko, who was known as much for his sense of humour as he was for his tough style of play.

“He was a leader in the dressing room, and he was a big part of the Oiler machine that won all those cups. He never showed off after a fight. He went to the box and never put on a show,” he said. “I had him on my tv show the Grapevine. Everybody was impressed with his presence; quiet, polite and a real gentleman.

“This year on Coach’s Corner with the abuse Crosby was taking in the playoffs, I must have said at least 4 times in every series, they need a guy like Dave Semenko to take care of Sid the Kid. He was the best. Darryl Katz the owner of the Oilers would make a lot of people happy putting #27 sweater up in his new building. Dave was the best.”