Portage la Prairie's very own Dean Stewart has signed a one year deal with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.

The 23-year-old defenceman spent two seasons with the Portage Terriers and was a part of teams that won MJHL league titles and an RBC Cup.

"The biggest reason for choosing Manitoba was the opportunity I'll have to play there. Some of the teams I had offers from had more young defencemen similar to me, where as Winnipeg’s organization was a little less saturated," says Stewart. "Of course, getting to play close to home is a huge bonus. I'll get to see my friends and family much more frequently and they'll be able to come to lots of the games."

Following his time as a Terrier, Stewart played four seasons with the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC) and was captain of the team in his final year. In his one season since graduating college, Stewart played for the Wichita Thunder (ECHL) and won their team's award for defenceman of the year.