Fioroni Ejected in Red Raiders Loss

It`s nothing new seeing Paul Fioroni being ejected from a hockey game, that is, when he was a player. Fioroni probably wasn`t expecting he`d be ejected as a head coach in just his fourth game from behind the bench as the Red Raiders fell to Colorado State last night 10-2. "It was the worst officiating I`ve seen in my hockey career, ever," Fioroni said. The Red Raiders had a 2-1 lead going into the second period. Both goals came short-handed for Tech. "At that point it was like the refs turned on a switch," said Fioroni. Colorado State registered 20 power play`s on the night while Texas Tech played with an advantage only six times. "These were homer refs. They were from the local area. I am not allowed to get local refs when we play in Lubbock, so why does Colorado State get to do that?" Fioroni said. "They (officials) were giggling with the players and talking to them prior to the game, you don`t do that on the ice before face-off, it`s just unprofessional." Fioroni`s ejectiion came with under five minutes left in the third when one of his players took a knee to the groin right in front of an official. Fioroni threw a water bottle on the ice in disgust, and then received the gate. The eight power-play goals by Colorado State was not the lowest point of the night for Tech. Following the game students in the stands heckled the Red Raiders and even tried to fight some of the hockey players as they tried to enter the locker room. "The security tonight was a major embarrasment for Colorado State. What am I suppose to do when somebody comes out of the stands trying to attack my players? If there is no security taking control I can`t hold back." Fioroni had to seperate a few fans from getting after him and his players. Nobody from Texas Tech was hurt in the incident, and they made it out of the building safely. Fioroni says he plans to send a game tape to the A.C.H.A. on the conduct of the officiating Friday night. As for the lack of security from the fans, Fioroni says Colorado State was unsuccessful with proper security measures. This is the only trip to Fort Collins this season for the Red Raiders. Tech is now 3-1 and face Colorado in Boulder tonight at 7:30pm.