Sims, 60, guided the Komets to five championships between 1993 and 2012, with a stint coaching the NHL's San Jose Sharks in between.Despite losing 6-1 at Colorado on Friday night, the Komets still nabbed a playoff berth in their first CHL season.
The Komets were in last place among the CHL’s 18 teams until February. After losing 16 of their first 21 games, the Komets are 27-24-6 heading into tonight’s game at Rapid City.
The Komets were the last of eight teams from the Turner Conference to get a playoff spot – there are nine games remaining in the regular season – and they did so because of last-place Evansville's 5-0 loss to Quad City.
Defenseman Brandon Warner scored a second-period goal for the Komets. Colorado (35-20-4) scored the first four goals of the game against the Komets, who won the last three championships in the IHL.
The Komets haven't missed the postseason since 2002, when they skated in the United Hockey League.
In other news, the Komets’ Frankie DeAngelis is one of five finalists for the CHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman award, along with Rio Grande Valley’s Darcy Campbell, Tulsa’s Derek Eastman, Texas’ Jason Krischuk and Wichita’s Andrew Martens.
The finalists were determined by the CHL’s front office staff. DeAngelis has 11 goals and 41 points in 51 games, though he is currently out with a concussion. The winner will be chosen by coaches, team communication departments and media.
The MVP finalists are: Rapid City’s Ryan Menei, Colorado’s Riley Nelson, Missouri’s Rob Nolan, Odessa’s Sebastien Thinel and Allen’s Colton Yellow Horn.
