Texas Stars Pick Up Austin Fyten from Steelheads

Austin Fyten with the Idaho Steelheads (Credit: Idaho Steelheads)

Hundred Degree Hockey has learned late today that forward Austin Fyten will be joining the Texas Stars on a professional tryout contract (PTO). Fyten was in camp with Texas and has spent the season in Idaho. Through 43 games, he has 14 goals, 26 assists and a plus-17 rating. The first year left winger out of the ECHL has 22 points in the last 14 games for Idaho. The forward will join Texas at an opportune time for both, as injuries in Dallas and Texas have hampered the club from icing a full complement on their forward lines. Texas dressed no more than eleven forwards for several games prior to the All-Star Break.

Fyten's agent, Manny Schmidt, told Hundred Degree Hockey that he had three different PTO offers on the table yesterday and selected the Texas Stars. Austin chose Texas because he had a "very high level of comfort with the organization, management and coaches based on attended camp there." He also had the opportunity to "rejoin several players that he already has some chemistry with and experienced some success with in Idaho."

This is a great move for Texas GM Scott White and the club in general. It is surprising that it took this long for Fyten to get a shot in the AHL overall.