Marc LeFebvre leaves Sheffield to become Coventry Blaze coach

Marc LeFebvre has left his job as Sheffield Steelers assistant coach to become head coach of Elite League rivals Coventry Blaze.

He replaces Swede Matt Soderstrom, who has been removed after less than a season in charge, in which Coventry stand eighth in the Elite League, well behind third-placed Sheffield.

The Canadian, 31, was in the Steelers' double-winning side of 2003-04.

He then moved on to the Sky Dome to play for Blaze in the 2005-06 season.

After moving back to North America to launch his post-playing career, Lefebvre coached both the New York-based 1000 Islands Privateers and the Dayton Demonz to the same federal Hockey League title, before being brought back to England by Doug Christiansen to join Sheffield at the start of this season.

After an outstanding nine years as a player, followed by two years as assistant coach to Paul Thompson - now Blaze's director of hockey operations - Soderstrom became only the club's second-ever head coach last summer.

But stepping into Thompson's shoes has not proved easy. And, although Coventry are only eight points adrift of second-placed Braehead, who trail runaway leaders Belfast by 20 points, Sunday's 5-1 defeat at Sheffield persuaded the Blaze to make a change.