'Kings Add Punch With Fioroni
Published on September 5, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Lubbock Cotton Kings News Release
LUBBOCK, TX: September 5, 2002 â The Lubbock Cotton Kings of the Central Hockey League are very thrilled to announce the re-signing of left wing Paul Fioroni for the 2002/2003 season.
"It's good to have our neighborhood cop back," said Cotton Kings head coach/director of hockey operations, Bill McDonald. "He served his role for us last season doing a good job in community and a good job on the ice."
Fioroni (fuh-row-nee), a 26 year-old native of Calgary, Alberta, returns to the Cotton Kings after contributing 5 goals and 16 assists for 21 points and 224 penalty minutes in 58 games. He eclipsed the 1,000 penalty minute mark last season, while leading the Cotton Kings in penalty minutes (224) and major penalties with 22.
The Cotton Kings acquired the 6'3", 225-pound left-winger in February of 2001 as a free agent. He began the 2000-2001 season in training camp with the Grand Rapids Griffins, which served as the Ottawa Senators' top affiliate. The Senators assigned him to the East Coast Hockey League's Mobile Mysticks, where he appeared in 37 games recording 7 goals and 10 assists for 17 points. Mobile had dealt Fioroni in a trade with the Wheeling Nailers, but Fioroni opted not to report. He was then released and the âKings acquired him once he cleared ECHL waivers. Once joining the âKings, he appeared in 9 regular season games collecting 6 assists.
The sixth year pro began his career during the 1997-98 season, splitting the season with the Lake Charles Ice Pirates and the Odessa Jackalopes. Fioroni led the WPHL during the 1997-98 season with 325 penalty minutes and 33 major penalties. During the 1998-99 season, Fioroni went to camp with the Michigan K-Wings, who were the Dallas Stars' top affiliate at the time and coached by Bill McDonald. After the camp, Fioroni reported to Odessa, where he split the season once again with the Jackalopes and Lake Charles. Fioroni appeared in camp with the Louisville Panthers (former Florida Panthers' top affiliate) during the 1999-2000 season, and was assigned to the Port Huron Border Cats (Florida's United Hockey League affiliate). He led the Border Cats in penalty minutes with 214, while establishing a career high season with 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points.
In five professional seasons, Fioroni has 40 goals and 82 assists for 122 points in 287 games, while also muscling 1104 penalty minutes. He marks as the 13th player under contract for the 02/03 season, joining Lincoln Beaudry, Mike Brusseau, Chet Camrud, Julius Halfkenny, Toby Harris, Dave MacIntyre, Jan Melichercik, Jay Niemiec, Ryan Olson, Chad Peck, Neil Savary, and Luke Volk. With 287 professional games played, Fioroni will qualify as a veteran player (teams can not carry more than five veteran players to meet CHL guidelines), and he joins Dave MacIntyre as the only other veteran signed.
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- 'Kings Add Punch With Fioroni - Lubbock Cotton Kings
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