The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers has found its new male lead. Previously, it had been reported that Emilio Estevez was parting ways with the Mighty Ducks revival, leaving a big void in the show as he played one of the main characters. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Josh Duhamel (Jupiter’s Legacy, Transformers series) has now been cast as a new character coming in for the upcoming second season.

Word is Duhamel plays Gavin Cole, a former NHL player now serving as a coach described as “inspirational, charming and hardcore as he is big on the hockey metaphor that applies to life.” Gavin runs the “super-intense” summer hockey institute where the Mighty Ducks end up in the second season.

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Lauren Graham and Brady Noon are both returning to reprise their roles from the first season. It’s still unclear how exactly Coach Gordon Bombay will be written out of the series, but even without Emilio Estevez present, his absence will likely be addressed in one way or another. Will Disney+ decide to ensure that the actor’s exit is permanent by killing the character off-screen?

Emilio Estevez Left The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Amid Controversy

     Disney+

Last fall, it was announced that Emilio Estevez would not be returning for the second season of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. The report was accompanied by rumors that his exit was the result of refusing to be vaccinated. The actor later wrote a lengthy essay denying these rumors while insisting that what happened was nothing more than creative differences and his contract negotiations stalling with the House of Mouse.

“I am not anti-vaxx. Full stop,” Esteves said. “I take this pandemic very seriously, and I am often teased about my continued following of the safety protocols and my abundance of caution. I want to address what transpired and clear up some falsehoods which appeared in an article regarding my decision to depart The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. In the final analysis, this was nothing more than a good old fashioned contract dispute and not, as some would believe an anti-vaccine position.”

“The quoted ‘anonymous sources,’ producers and showrunners all know the truth,” he added. “Simply put, I am anti-bully. My exit from the show was due to a myriad of creative differences - any other narrative is false. To the fans of the franchise - I am as disappointed as you are. To my Ducks cast and crew - have a wonderful season 2 on the show and please know that I will miss you all. It was an honor and a thrill to be able to return as the iconic and beloved character, Gordon Bombay, a character which has been a celebrated benchmark in my 40-year career. And I thank the studio and the producers for creating an opportunity to allow me to visit him again. Ducks Fly Together!”

Co-creators Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith are back as series showrunners for season 2 of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. It’s not yet clear when the second season will premiere, but you can watch season 1 now on Disney+.