San Jose Sharks lose associate coach over league's new vaccination protocols

We have our first casualty of the NHL's new vaccination protocols. The San Jose Sharks have announced that associate coach Rocky Thompson will not return to their staff due to a "medical exemption" that doesn't allow him to take the COVID-10 vaccine.

"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 release from the team. "I will have no further comment on the matter."

The Sharks said they will begin the search for Thompson's replacement immediately.

What doesn't make sense here is that the NHL's protocols specifically said those that had a medical exemption from taking the vaccine would not be punished for not getting it under the new rules. Either Thompson and the Sharks aren't being forthcoming over the reason Thompson won't take the vaccine, or the NHL isn't enforcing the new rules the way it said it. So far, there's been no further explanation.

Thompson has been with the Sharks for about a year. He had a long pro hockey career as an enforcer, but the best part of it was spent in the AHL. He played 25 games in the NHL for Calgary and Florida. It has also been reported that Thompson almost came to blows with Evander Kane last year during a pregame meeting. Thompson was responsible for San Jose's defence and powerplay.

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