Al Sims
Encyclopedia
Allan Eugene Sims is a Canadian
former professional hockey player and later a head coach in the NHL
.
, but he chose to sign with the Boston Bruins
who drafted him in the third round. At Cornwall, Ontario
in Junior Hockey he had played with Bob Murray
who was a rushing defenceman. When he played for Boston he played with the greatest rushing defenceman of all time, Bobby Orr
. They were a pairing for two years.
He played for Boston and its American Hockey League
affiliate for 6 years. He then played for the Hartford Whalers
for 2 years.
After his retirement from the NHL, Sims played and coached hockey with Fife Flyers
in Scotland. Later he coached in the International League and won the Turner Cup with the Fort Wayne Komets
in 1993. After a series of stints as assistant coach, he became head coach of the San Jose Sharks
for the 1996–97 NHL season.
Sims was the head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL for 3 years from 1998–2000, then moved on to the Central Hockey League for four years before moving to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
as an assistant coach for one year. Sims is currently back in Fort Wayne, as the head coach of the Fort Wayne Komets
of the IHL. In 2007-2008 Sims coached the Komets to his 2nd Turner Cup championship, beating the Port Huron Icehawks 4 games to 3 after a 3 OT game 7. Following that, he led them to another Turner Cup in the 2008-2009 season. And the following year (2009-10), he once again led the Komets to their third straight (and his personal fourth straight, counting the 1992-93 season) Turner Cup.
Sims's son Tyler was the starting goaltender of the Providence College Friars in Hockey East. He is on the Las Vegas Wranglers
(ECHL
) roster.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
former professional hockey player and later a head coach in the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.
Career
In 1972, Sims was the first round and first ever draft pick of the New York Raiders of the World Hockey AssociationWorld Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
, but he chose to sign with the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
who drafted him in the third round. At Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
in Junior Hockey he had played with Bob Murray
Robert Frederick Murray
Robert Frederick "Bob" Murray is the current general manager of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League. Murray replaced Brian Burke midseason on November 12, 2008. A former NHL defenceman, Murray played in the NHL from 1975 to 1990 with the Chicago Blackhawks, known as the "Black Hawks"...
who was a rushing defenceman. When he played for Boston he played with the greatest rushing defenceman of all time, Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr
Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr, OC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Orr played in the National Hockey League for his entire career, the first ten seasons with the Boston Bruins, joining the Chicago Black Hawks for two more. Orr is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest...
. They were a pairing for two years.
He played for Boston and its American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate for 6 years. He then played for the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
for 2 years.
After his retirement from the NHL, Sims played and coached hockey with Fife Flyers
Fife Flyers
The Fife Flyers, established in 1938, are the oldest ice hockey team in Scotland, and also in the United Kingdom, beating the Nottingham Panthers by 8 years...
in Scotland. Later he coached in the International League and won the Turner Cup with the Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
in 1993. After a series of stints as assistant coach, he became head coach of the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for the 1996–97 NHL season.
Sims was the head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL for 3 years from 1998–2000, then moved on to the Central Hockey League for four years before moving to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
as an assistant coach for one year. Sims is currently back in Fort Wayne, as the head coach of the Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
of the IHL. In 2007-2008 Sims coached the Komets to his 2nd Turner Cup championship, beating the Port Huron Icehawks 4 games to 3 after a 3 OT game 7. Following that, he led them to another Turner Cup in the 2008-2009 season. And the following year (2009-10), he once again led the Komets to their third straight (and his personal fourth straight, counting the 1992-93 season) Turner Cup.
Sims's son Tyler was the starting goaltender of the Providence College Friars in Hockey East. He is on the Las Vegas Wranglers
Las Vegas Wranglers
The Las Vegas Wranglers are a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wranglers are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL...
(ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
) roster.