THE SIDELINES : Maple Leafs Fire Lariviere

Assistant coach Garry Lariviere was fired today by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The team said Lariviere will not be re-signed and will be replaced.

“Garry did an excellent job . . . but we felt that it was time for a change,” General Manger Floyd Smith said. “By announcing this change at this time, we feel that it will give Garry sufficient time to seek alternate employment in the National Hockey League.”

Lariviere, 34, joined the Toronto organization in 1985 as a playing assistant coach to John Brophy at its AHL affiliate in St. Catharines, Ontario. When Brophy replaced Dan Maloney as the Maple Leafs’ coach for the 1986-87 season, Lariviere moved up as an assistant.