Fioroni named player-assistant
Published on October 7, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release
LUBBOCK, TX â Lubbock Cotton Kings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Chris Dashney announced Paul Fioroni as the player-assistant for the 2004-05 season. Fioroni will be continuing his philanthropic ways by starting the 24 Foundation to assist Jeremy Green, the paralyzed Levelland football player.
"Paul has been and will continue to be a leader on this team," said Dashney. "By giving him the P.A. (player-assistant), it shows our commitment to Paul but also to the fans for this upcoming season."
Levelland residents will be seeing and hearing a lot about the 24 Foundation in the next few days. On Wednesday, Fioroni was in Levelland meeting with future partners of the foundation. On Friday night, Fioroni will be at the Levelland Lobos football game against Muleshoe to promote the foundation.
"I really want us to raise $25,000 for Jeremy," said Fioroni. "I am confident that the South Plains will be very involved and I think we may even surpass this goal. Right now we are looking for a sponsor for the 24 Foundation jerseys and selling season tickets in my section and when that is taken care of, the fund will really take off."
Fioroni will be selling season tickets and mini-packs in section 218 and half of the proceeds will go to benefit Green. In January, there will be a 24 Foundation jersey and auction. If the jerseys are sponsored, all the money raised will go to the foundation. Please call Matt Marshall at the Kings office for more information or to reserve your seats today.
Levelland High School will be selling Cotton Kings fundraising cards for $10. The winning grade will receive tickets to the home contest against the Jackalopes on Nov. 20 and will be recognized on the public address system.
The Kings are busy working on 24 Foundation hats and shirts that will be sold by Advanced Gaphix at every home game this season. Fioroni also has plans for a casino night in the spring to end the fundraising with a bang. Industrial Maintenance and Supply will match any competitors price for carpet cleaning and give 25 percent to the Foundation. Call (806) 744-5538 and ask for David Lara.
Fioroni (Fur-OWN-ee), 6-3, 230-pounds was the first forward signed by Dashney for the the 2004-05 season. He was also the first veteran spot filled by the team. A native of Calgary, Alberta, Fioroni joined the Cotton Kings for the last nine games of the 2000-01 season before the team advanced to the Cup Finals against the eventual champs, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.
Fioroni, 28, led the Cotton Kings scoring charge last season with 14 goals and 54 points. Fioroni also had 150 penalty minutes and was one of two players who skated in all 64 games with the Kings last season.
Fioroni enters his eighth year as a pro and has 74 goals and 232 points in 415 games. Fioroni has three seasons with over 200 penalty minutes but has become more of a point-producer in recent years. In the last two years with the Kings, Fioroni has 34 goals compared to the five previous seasons where he had 40 combined. With over 260 games played as a professional, Fioroni is considered a veteran by the Central Hockey League and fills one of the four possible vet spots on the Kings roster. Fioroni is the first player signed this year by the Cotton Kings and the first returning player from last year's team.
Fioroni was a runner-up last season to Don Parsons as the CHL's Man of the Year. Fioroni is actively involved in both the Cotton King's "Stick With Reading" program and with Hockey Ministries International, and combined with teammate Dave MacIntyre to form the "Mac-a-Roni" Fund to benefit Brett Wallrath's family, who was fatally injured by an impaired driver.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 7, 2004
- Dominey Selected 2004 Ralphie Winner - Laredo Bucks
- Fioroni named player-assistant - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- Bucks Announce Affiliation - Laredo Bucks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
