Steelheads add three players to training camp roster

Boise, ID (10/5/17) – Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced three additions to training camp on Thursday morning. Forwards Max French and Steve McParland, as well as defenseman Shane Hanna, will join the Steelheads today at CenturyLink Arena.

French and Hanna arrive in Idaho after being assigned to the Steelheads on Wednesday by AHL Texas. McParland, under ECHL contract, will join the Steelheads Thursday as well. McParland was with AHL Toronto on a tryout.

French, 24, prepares for his first pro season after playing four years at Bentley College.  The West Kelowna, BC native served as captain last season, and as an assistant captain in 2015-16. The 5-foot-10 forward tallied 17 goals and 39 points in 38 games last season for Bentley, and he was even stronger the year prior when he racked up 23 goals and 47 points in 32 games. French was named First Team All-Atlantic Hockey each of the last two years and finished his four-year college career with 67 goals and 143 points in 138 contests.

Hanna, 23, joins Idaho after four seasons at Michigan Tech, where he was an assistant captain for each of the past two seasons. The New Westminster, BC native set career-highs last season with eight goals and 27 points in 45 games while helping lead the Huskies to a WCHA Championship with the overtime game-winner. Hanna was named Second Team All-WCHA last season, after being named Third Team the prior two seasons and to the All-Rookie Team in his freshman season. The 6-foot defender finished with 21 goals and 90 points in 163 college games, with a plus-57 rating.

The Steelheads roster now has three players under AHL contract with Texas, with French and Hanna joining defenseman Eric Sweetman. Sweetman was assigned to Idaho prior to the start of camp. The 23 year-old rookie defenseman played four seasons at St. Lawrence University, the last two as an assistant captain, where he scored 16 goals and collected 64 points in 146 games. He was twice named Second Team All-ECAC and in 2016 was named the ECAC Hockey Media Associations Best Defensive Defenseman.

McParland, 26, was acquired by the Steelheads from South Carolina in early August. McParland was an All-Star last year in his rookie season, scoring 19 goals and 48 points in 59 regular-season games and helping to guide the Stingrays to a Kelly Cup Final.

The Steelheads training camp roster now lists 15 forwards and eight defensemen.

The Steelheads will play their first exhibition game on Friday night against the Utah Grizzlies at Maverick Center, with puck-drop scheduled for 7pm. The Steelheads will host the Grizzlies in exhibition action on Saturday night at 7:10pm at CenturyLink Arena, a game which will be reserved for season-ticket holders.

Preseason games will not be broadcast on radio or on ECHLTV. Follow the Steelheads on Twitter (@Steelheads) and Instagram (idahosteelheads) for in-game updates, and visit idahosteelheads.com for full post-game coverage.