Gary Graham, who coached the Komets the last six seasons, has found a new job – coaching in Beijing, China.

He will coach ORG Beijing.

“It’s a two-year deal, a head-coaching job in the VHL, which is like the American Hockey League to the (Kontinental Hockey League),” Graham said. “There are a couple teams in China. It’s a Russian league. Our team is owned by ORG Packaging and my whole directive and initiative is to go in there and prepare the Chinese players for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.”

Graham, who was fired by the Komets after last season and replaced by Ben Boudreau, made the playoffs in each of his seasons with the Komets and got them to two conference finals.

He said he will bring Brian Gratz, a Fort Wayne-native, with him as an assistant coach.

“It’s going to be really exciting. The kids are sponges and getting North American-style coaching over there is going to be something different for them,” Graham said.

ORG Beijing will play a 56-game season.

I’ll have much more on this later in the day.

jcohn@jg.net