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NHL Team Replaces Coach Who Refused to Get Vaccine

Colorado Avalanche new head coach Joe Sacco, back, and assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre appear during a news conference in Denver on Thursday, June 4, 2009. Sacco, who served the past four seasons with three of the Avalanche's minor-league affiliates, takes over from Tony Granato, who was dismissed on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, by the club after only one season at the helm. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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:

“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.”

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

Get your vaccine before it’s too late…


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