Coach Al Sims and captain Colin Chaulk retired, and now so has the goaltender who backstopped them to four championships between 2008 and 2012.So now the Fort Wayne Komets can program Rapid City, S.D., into the GPS.
Also Evansville, Wichita, Kan., Windsor Colo., and Independence, Mo.
Those cities, along with IHL holdovers Fort Wayne, Quad City, Dayton and Bloomington, Ill., will comprise the reconstituted Central Hockey League's North Division in 2010-11, as announced by the CHL Tuesday.
The South Division will include the Allen (Tex.) Americans, Arizona Sundogs, Bossier-Shreveport (La.) Mudbugs, Laredo (Tex.) Bucks, Mississippi RiverKings, Odessa (Tex.) Jackalopes, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, Texas Brahmas and Tulsa (Okla.) Oilers.
The 19th CHL season will begin Friday, Oct. 15 with six games. The Komets will open the season Saturday, Oct. 16, against an opponent yet to be determined.
"We are very excited about the divide between the two conferences, and feel the balance and rivalries created will be great for all fans," said CHL commissioner Duane Lewis in the league's official release.
