Feb 05, 2009 - 08:46 AM

Carola Vyhnak

Don Cherry may talk a good game but he couldn't budge Billy's banishers.

The vociferous hockey commentator tried to get 17-year-old Billy Steele's job back as a volunteer cameraman at Oshawa's General Motors Centre, but it was no dice, Cherry said yesterday.

"We had a long talk. I did my best - that's all you can do."

Billy was banned by the arena's operator, Global Spectrum, from working on Rogers TV broadcasts there after he chatted with Mr. Cherry at an event three weeks ago.

The Oshawa youth, whose learning disability causes him to sometimes disregard rules, had been warned before about approaching celebrities, said Vince Vella, general manager of the city-owned facility. Billy argued he didn't know about the centre's "no-talk policy."

Mr. Cherry, who loves talking to kids and was furious that his name was dragged into the dispute, offered to speak up on the teen's behalf. But the word warrior's phone call failed to sway Mr. Vella.

Mr. Vella would only promise to review the matter after the dust settles, said the host of Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada.

Billy's father, Bill Steele, has filed a human rights complaint, alleging workplace discrimination and seeking $100,000 for punitive damages and his son's lost wages. He said any money awarded will be donated to the local humane society whose shelter burned down.

Public support for Billy has been "overwhelming," Mr. Steele said. When the two of them handed out 1,000 protest flyers at an Oshawa Generals game last Sunday, he said only one person was heard to back Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Comcast-Spectacor.

An avid hockey fan, Billy was thrilled by the brief encounter Jan. 14 with his idol, when they joked about Mr. Cherry's colourful wardrobe. He had hoped his unpaid position would be a ticket to a career.

Julie Henson at Rogers called Billy a "very enthusiastic, very dedicated volunteer" and said he's been reassigned to other locations to do camera work. She said the arena ban was a private issue between him and Global Spectrum.