Portage's Dean Stewart will be lending a helping hand at the next level for a postseason run.

The Wichita Thunder of the ECHL is loaning the defenceman to the AHL's Bakersfield Condors who begin their first playoff series on Friday. Stewart is in his first professional season after spending the previous four years in the NCAA at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

The local product has enjoyed a stellar rookie campaign in the ECHL as he notched 35 points which was fifth among blueliners. He also led all rookies in assists with 29 and was fifth among all first-year players in total points.

The playoffs in the AHL are structured a little differently than usual this year due to COVID-19, and with this being the case, the Condors will be starting the postseason in the semi-finals. The Pacific Division is the only one taking part in a tournament to crown a division champion and it will see the second-seeded Condors take on the third-place San Diego Gulls in a best-of-three series. The winner will go on to face either the first seeded Henderson Silver Knights or the victor of the single-elimination qualifier between the bottom four seeds.

Stewart will be looking to make an impact in whatever way possible during this shortened playoff starting May 21.