French, McParland joining AHL Texas

Boise, ID (2/27/18) – Steelheads Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham confirmed on Tuesday that forwards Max French and Steve McParland have joined the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League.

French has been playing under an AHL contract with the Steelheads and was called up by the Stars on Monday for the second time this season. McParland signed a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the Stars and will make his first AHL appearance this year.

French, 25, has appeared in 16 games with the Steelheads, totaling eight goals and 11 points with a plus-5 rating. The West Kelowna, BC native is coming off a particularly strong week with Idaho, netting six goals and seven points during a four-game goal-scoring streak. The rookie forward appeared in 25 games with the Stars earlier this season, totaling three goals and six points.

French was named a runner-up for the ECHL’s Player of the Week Award on Tuesday.

McParland, 27, leads the Steelheads this season with 25 goals, nine power play goals, and three shorthanded goals. His 47 points in 55 games rank second on the team. The Schreiber, Ontario native appeared in six AHL games last season, three with the Chicago Wolves and three with the Binghamton Senators, registering an assist and eight penalty minutes. McParland joins the Stars just one shy of his 100th professional point.

McParland becomes the seventh Steelhead this season under ECHL contract to sign a tryout agreement with an AHL club. Brady Brassart (Utica), Tommy Thompson (Texas), Justin Parizek (San Jose), and Joe Faust (Utica) all played AHL games on tryout agreements earlier this season. Henrik Samuelsson (Rockford) and Ryan Faragher (Stockton) are currently playing in the AHL on tryout agreements.