Coventry Blaze Ice Hockey team have confirmed in a press statement that they have parted company with Head Coach, Marc LeFebvre with immediate effect.
The statement reads:
"Canadian forward, Steven Goertzen will take charge of the team for the immediate future, assisted by currently injured defenceman, Mike Egener.
“This club is committed to doing whatever it takes to be the best we can possibly be,” said Blaze Director, James Pease. “There has been a big mind set change within the club over the last two to three weeks to the point where ‘OK’ isn’t OK any more. We’ve recently been very public about that mind set not being right for the last couple of years – from the management, through to the team. Everyone is now bought in and focused on changing that.
“To get to where we want and expect to be isn’t an overnight fix. It’s a culture shift and a lot of things will change, both on and off the ice, over the coming months as we take this journey – an exciting journey. We have a lot of support from the fan and sponsor base for what we are trying to do and we have a duty now to make sure we do everything possible to repay that support.
“Some of the decisions that we will take over time will not necessarily be easy ones. But they are ones that need to be made. We now have a vision that we have all bought into. And we have a strategy and a plan to help us to get there. All decisions that we make will be taken against that strategy and plan. If the pieces of the puzzle that we have in place don’t fit the plan, we have to change the pieces. Everyone has to be accountable. The bottom line is that talk is cheap and the only way this club will now move forward is by actions and results.
“We would like to thank Marc for his work with the team and wish him well for the future. He is a great guy and it wasn’t an easy decision to make, but it is the right one for this club.
“We are fortunate to have Steven Goertzen and Mike Egener on our playing roster who are both highly experienced and fantastic professionals and who want to win. They both believe that this team can deliver way more than it currently is doing and want to play their part in helping us to achieve our vision. They will take over the running of the team with immediate effect while we review our current situation. We will not be making any hasty decisions on who the next coach will be to lead our club forward. Steven and Mike both see a great opportunity for this club to make immediate progress.”
"Blaze can also confirm that the short term contract of Swedish forward, Niklas Ottosson, has not been extended.
“Niklas enjoyed playing and training with the Blaze and we enjoyed having him with us, but we won’t be extending his contract,” concluded Pease."