IceRays Name Al Sims Head Coach

Published on September 12, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Corpus Christi- The Corpus Christi IceRays of the Central Hockey League are pleased to announce today the naming of Al Sims as the third Head Coach in team history. Sims takes over for current General Manager Taylor Hall who has served as Head Coach of the IceRays since last December.

The move to Corpus Christi marks the first tour of duty in the CHL for the 10th year head coach and former NHL veteran. Sims brings to the IceRays a wealth of coaching experience that includes stops in Fort Wayne and Milwaukee of the International Hockey League, and San Jose of the National Hockey League. "I've been brought in here to bring some success to this franchise, " said Sims. "Hopefully we can get things turned around here right off the bat and get ourselves going. I know Taylor (Hall) has done a tremendous job bringing in some real talent here to turn this thing around and that should make my job a little easier."

Sims' coaching portfolio speaks for itself. In nine years as a head coach, he has guided his teams to seven playoff appearances. With Fort Wayne, Sims captured the Turner Cup with the Komets and garnered IHL Coach of the Year Honors in 1993. His success earned him a spot as an assistant on Ron Wilson's staff with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks of the NHL from 1993-1996. The following season, the San Jose Sharks named Sims their fourth head coach in club history.

Sims returned to the IHL in 1997 where he recorded three winning seasons and three playoff berths in successive campaigns with the Milwaukee Admirals. Last year he was named the first head coach in team history for the then-expansion Reading Royals of the East Coast Hockey League and guided the Royals to a 27-36-9 record. Overall, Sims has won an impressive 379 games as a head coach.

"My job first and foremost as the General Manager is to do the best possible thing I can do to put a winning team out on the ice, and I really feel we need to get to the next level," said General Manager Taylor Hall. "I think at this point in our existence to bring a guy like Al Sims in is going to take us to that next level and that's the reason for the change. I believe that a guy like Al with his experience and what he brings to the table is a much better candidate to coach this hockey club than me."

Some may remember Al Sims from his NHL days in the mid-1970's and early 1980's. A tough-nosed defenseman, Sims suited up for the Boston Bruins, Hartford Whalers, and Los Angeles Kings over ten seasons. His career NHL totals include 49 goals, 116 assists, and 286 penalty minutes.

Sims assumes the reigns of an IceRays team that struggled last season in winning a league-low 16 games. He inherits a club that currently has 18 players signed with less than a month remaining before the opening of training camp. Sims' experience and success alone should make the IceRays one of the CHL's most improved teams this year.

"I think the playoffs are a realistic expectation for our team," said Sims. "I think we've got a good start and we've got a good team, and if we can praise defense, I think we have some offense this year that can get us to three, four, or five goals a night and win those close games."

Al Sims will make his coaching debut when the IceRays kick-off their 5th Anniversary Season on October 17th vs. the Laredo Bucks at the Memorial Coliseum. Great ticket plans are now on sale and available by calling the IceRays office at 814-PUCK (7825).

For more information about the hiring of Al Sims, contact Director of Public Relations and Media Broadcasting Dan Weiss at (361) 814-7825.

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Central Hockey League Stories from September 12, 2002


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