If anybody can, please help. Fioroni has suggested in the past that if everyone just gave $10, it would all add up. We need to keep hockey in West Texas. It benefits a lot of people, not just those in Lubbock. Pass it on. Thanks a million.
Hello to everyone,
I am writing this letter to all, informing you that we are running out of time and are very close to ceasing operations regarding the Tech Hockey program and all ice skating events and programs involved with us. We are supposed to be putting ice in, in 6 weeks. The ice plant needs to be repaired and flushed, we are hoping to change it from our brine solution to a glycol system and that needs to be done before we can do anything. Due to this past season bills in excess of 40,000 that still need to be paid, we will also be unable to continue the season until they are covered. The big ones being the final rent payment to the City of Lubbock, the final month of utilities to LP&L, a bill to Advanced Graphics as well as other bills to some local vendors.
We are behind the ball again and it is going to hurt us again financially. Tech Hockey runs all hockey and ice skating at Texas Tech University and in the City of Lubbock and if we are not here, then its all gone and probably for good. We are a 501 3-c non-profit organization and rely almost entirely on donations, and donation/sponsorships. We have every capability to take donations, even through stock and again it is 100% tax deductible.
Not having a full time arena manager in place right now is a scary thought because Mike my assistant and I will not be able to put the time in at the coliseum like we did last season, plus we are losing thousands of dollars by not having a person in place to run the facility, book rentals, maintain the ice, run the youth and adult leagues as well as create our broom-ball league and other ice events that Tech Hockey can utilize to make money.
I have Canadian student/athletes, as well as in-state and out of state players that are committed and are wanting to commit to Texas Tech University for their obvious education and of course for our great hockey program. I have NCAA transfer student/athletes, as well as other University student/athletes who are trying to transfer to Texas Tech because of what the hockey program can offer them, but also the great education they will receive from Tech. I need to give these guys ample time to make that choice. The last thing I want is for me to have a player commit to Texas Tech for his education and for hockey and then me tell him and his family that we no longer have a hockey program here. They are coming to Tech to play hockey, and these kids are maintaining 3.5-4.0 GP-A's, they are not idiots.
We now have South Plains college trying to utilize our ice to create ice skating as a P.E. program and they must know asap if we are going to go or not. Our hope is that if South Plains goes well, we intend to add LCU and hopefully Texas Techs P.E departments to introduce ice skating as a program. We just cant wait any more on hopeful donations and neither can the people and companies that we owe, who by the way have been very patient thus far.
If Tech Hockey is forced to make the choice of ceasing operations, it will be a sad day. If we are done then all hockey and ice skating is done, no more. The City of Lubbock needs hockey, it needs ice skating. If Lubbock intends to grow and bring new business's and ideas here, ice skating is vital for that market. How can Odessa, Texas have a full time skating rink and Lubbock, Texas not? How can Oklahoma University have a full time skating facility with full support from their school and Texas Tech University not? We are providing a great recreational sport for all in Lubbock, at Texas Tech University and all across the South Plains area. People have taken jobs specifically in Lubbock because they believe that there will be ice here and now that may not happen. This must be a collective group effort to keep this alive, we must all come together to make this work and flourish. The City must be behind this, Texas Tech University must be behind this and our people must be behind this in order for it to work.
In two weeks if we have not come together to make this happen financially, then I am afraid to say that it is over. The ice plant, the Zamboni, the rental skates and all Tech Hockey equipment and items will be sold to pay off the remaining bills. The rest of the money that is left over after the bills have been paid will be given back to its major investor and that will be it, it will be finished. Now this is not saying that hockey at Tech is done, the student/athletes that wish to continue to play can run their own program, will have to practice and play their home games in Odessa or Amarillo since that will be the closest ice, and I know it will be hard for the students and they will have many problems getting other schools to come and play them in those distant cities.
We have come so far in just two seasons. We are champions, we are winners and we offer the City of Lubbock and Texas Tech University something that is great, something that is new and something that our students and people can utilize. It will truly be a shame to see it come to an end, but if we do not have the support, it will end. Please understand that this letter is my final one, if we do not have the funds to go forward with this by July.30Th, 2008 it will be terminated, shut down and dealt with accordingly, I ask you to make this happen, to spread the word to Tech Alumni, to supporters of this great game and to the fine people of our great city. We need an answer from everyone and hopefully that answer is "Yes, I want ice skating and hockey at Texas Tech and in Lubbock, Texas and Yes, I want to see this survive through me!"
Thank-you to all for everything you have done, for all of your support and donations. Without you we can and could not do this. Truly thank-you from the bottom of mine and all of our Tech Hockey's staff and our players hearts. I hope and pray that hockey and ice skating stays alive and well in Lubbock, Texas and at Texas Tech University. I personally have lost many sleepless nights, have had to deal with personal financial stress, and most importantly have lost much time with my family over all of this. I love this sport with all of my heart and soul and have pretty much done everything in my power to keep it alive here in Lubbock, Texas. I just cant do it anymore by myself and with such few people and finances. Just imagine someone trying to take away your most prized emotions and possessions and all of your hard work after you have poured everything from your heart into all of them. I am pretty sure that everyone of you on this email would fight as hard as you could to make sure that they stayed alive and grew into what you had worked towards. I hope to hear from all you. God Bless.
Paul Fioroni
GM/Head Coach
Tech Ice Hockey
Cell 806.773.9273
Fax 806.209.0212
TECH HOCKEY-6710 10TH STREET-LUBBOCK,TX-79416
2007-2008 BIG XII CHAMPIONS!!
GO ICE RAIDER HOCKEY!!!
I am a season ticket holder for the IceRays so I will definitely be at the game on March 17th. Thanks for the offer!
