Blue Jackets drop assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre, a former Avalanche defenseman, who won’t get vaccinated

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets said Monday that the squad has replaced an adjunct manager who declined to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

Sylvain Lefebvre was replaced connected manager Brad Larsen’s unit by Steve McCarthy due to the fact that “Lefebvre has decided not to person a COVID-19 vaccine and frankincense volition not beryllium capable to execute the duties required of him fixed existent NHL protocols,” according to a squad statement.

NHL coaches and different squad unit who intimately interact with players are required to beryllium afloat vaccinated.

“While we are disappointed, we respect that this determination is simply a idiosyncratic 1 for Sylvain and privation him well,” Blue Jackets wide manager Jarmo Kekalainen said.

Lefebvre, a erstwhile NHL defenseman who played successful Colorado from 1995-99 and longtime manager successful the American Hockey League, was added to the unit successful July by Larsen, the erstwhile Blue Jackets adjunct who replaced the fired John Tortorella.

McCarthy is simply a erstwhile NHL defenseman who was promoted from the Cleveland Monsters, the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, for which helium was an adjunct coach.

“Steve has done a large occupation moving with our young defensemen successful Cleveland the past 5 years and is acceptable for this opportunity,” Larsen said.