PORTLAND, ME – August 27, 2026 – The Maine Mariners, proud affiliates of the NHL's Boston Bruins and AHL's Providence Bruins, have named Burke Cherrie as Chief Executive Officer of the organization. 

Cherrie is a sports media executive who specializes in building brands and telling stories at the intersection of sports, culture, and community, bringing a wealth of experience working with international, national, and local teams, leagues, media companies, and brands to the role. He has served as Interim CEO since May.

“We are incredibly excited about where Burke will take the Mariners - on the ice, in the community, and as an organization,” said Dexter Paine, owner and governor of the Mariners. “In conjunction with [Head Coach & General Manager] Rick Kowalsky, we feel that we have a leadership team in place that can bring us to the next level and produce excellence across the board.”

“I’m honored to take the helm at the Mariners, an organization that is a source of pride for so many across Maine,” said Cherrie. “I grew up around community-led sports and have worked with minor league teams throughout my career. A team can have a truly outsized impact on the local culture when it’s built on the connection between the people and places it represents, and that’s our vision for the Maine Mariners.” 

In his role as Mariners CEO, Cherrie will work with Kowalsky, whose contract was recently extended, to build a competitive culture both on and off the ice. He’ll focus on a host of initiatives, including building new traditions for the club, aligning game presentation with the culture and communities of Maine, and strengthening the Mariners brand in the hockey ecosystem. He’ll also oversee the launch of the Maine Mariners Foundation and storytelling around the 50th anniversaries of the Cross Insurance Arena (formerly Civic Center) and professional hockey in Portland.

“There is an incredible foundation to build on here,” said Cherrie. “Hockey is part of life in Maine, and our goal is to build on that passion by delivering quality, competitive sports entertainment and shared experience for a multi-generational fanbase while owning indoor winter entertainment. We also want to capture the imagination of people who may not yet have discovered the magic of hockey in Maine, and give them a reason to be part of it.”

Already a prominent member of the Maine sports community, Cherrie has been an integral figure in the launch of the Portland Hearts of Pine soccer club. His work as part of the Hearts leadership team over the past five years has included development of the club’s brand identity, marketing and commercial strategy, and game day experience.

Cherrie started his career in the New York City production industry, producing commercials, branded content, and television docuseries for major brands and networks – including premieres on CNN, Nickelodeon, and film festivals worldwide. He transitioned to the sports media world in 2016, taking up leadership roles at COPA90, For Soccer, and Men in Blazers, where he developed campaigns, digital content, and original programming for brands including adidas, PepsiCo, Bank of America, and Visa. He has also worked with a range of clubs, leagues, federations, and rights holders including, the Premier League, the NFL, the NHL, U.S. Soccer, Liverpool FC, Paramount+, NBC, and FOX Sports, among others. 

Originally from Pennsylvania, Cherrie has called Maine home since 2020. He lives in the Rosemont neighborhood of Portland with his wife and two children.

To strengthen the Mariners’ roots in the community and expand the hockey family of Maine, the club have also hired Sebastian Vidmar as the team’s new Community and Player Relations Coordinator. Vidmar retires from a five-year professional playing career, including 143 games and 67 points as an Alternate Captain for the Mariners, to join the club’s front office.

“After having skates on my feet for as long as I can remember, I've decided to retire from playing,” said Vidmar. “I still have plenty to give this sport, and I'm excited that I'm staying with the organization in a new role. My wife and I have called Maine home since I first put on a Mariners jersey, and we're excited to keep it that way.”

As Community and Player Relations Coordinator, Vidmar will oversee all Mariners community efforts, serving as a key liaison between the team, the front office, Mariners and Portland Pirates alumni, grassroots hockey, and communities across Maine. He will also work closely with the Maine Mariners Foundation.

The Mariners 2026-27 season begins on Saturday, October 17^th at Worcester with the Home Opener one week later on Saturday, October 24^th, a 1 PM puck drop against the Railers. For more information on ticket packages and group discounts for the 2026-27 season, fans can call 833-GO-MAINE, go to http://MaineMariners.com, or visit the Mariners front office at 94 Free Street in Portland.