A former head coach with the Windsor Spitfires has left his job with the San Jose Sharks over an inability to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Rocky Thompson, who joined the Sharks last September as an assistant coach, has stepped down from the role because he has a medical exemption to getting a vaccine. The NHL requires all staff who are regularly within four metres of players to be fully vaccinated against the virus.
"Due to a medical exemption that prevents me from taking the COVID-19 vaccine, under the new League protocols, I am not permitted to fulfill my duties on the Sharks coaching staff at this time," said Thompson in a statement reported by TSN. "I will have no further comment on this matter."
The NHL released COVID-19 safety protocols on Thursday, where players who are not fully vaccinated will not be able to travel anywhere on road trips except to and from the arena, practice facility, and hotel. Such players may not have other people in their hotel rooms or visit a restaurant, bar, gym, pool, or sauna.
Thompson, a former NHL winger, served as the head coach of the Spitfires from 2015 to 2017 when he guided the team to the Memorial Cup. He left the Spits after that season to take a head coaching job with the AHL Chicago Wolves, which he held until he took the assistant coach's job with the Sharks.
