NHL Team Replaces Coach Who Refused to Get Vaccine

When your employer requires you to get the vaccine, you better get it, or you’re out. Newly hired assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre opted not to get the COVID-19 vaccine, so the Columbus Blue Jackets also made a choice, and they are choosing to replace him. Lefebvre was forced to resign for not complying with the NHL’s vaccine mandate, which states that all players, coaches, trainers, staffers, and front-line employees be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

See the tweet below:

#CBJ have added coach Steve McCarthy as assistant coach, replacing Sylvain Lefebvre, who resigned because he refused to get a COVID 19 vaccine per the #NHL’s mandate.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) September 13, 2021

“While we are disappointed, we respect that this decision is a personal one for Sylvain and wish him well,” said general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, via TSN.

“We feel fortunate to have an outstanding coach join our club in Steve McCarthy, who has played in this league, won championships as a player and been an important member of our hockey operations department as an assistant coach in Cleveland.”

UPDATE: @monstershockey Associate Coach Steve McCarthy has replaced Sylvain Lefebvre as an assistant coach on Head Coach Brad Larsen’s staff.https://t.co/1mmyYUjFGt

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) September 13, 2021

NHL camps are slated to open up in just over two weeks.

Get your vaccine before it’s too late…

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