Walleye sign big defenseman Mackenze Stewart

9/7/2018

Walleye head coach Dan Watson has added size to the blue line this off-season.

BLADE PHOTO

The Toledo Walleye announced Friday the signing of Mackenze Stewart, a big defenseman who played for rival Kalamazoo last season.

Stewart, at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, is entering his third full pro season. Last year with Kalamazoo, Stewart produced four goals and eight assists to go along with 55 penalty minutes in 56 games.

“Big, powerful defenseman is the best way to describe Mackenze,” Walleye coach Dan Watson said. “We witnessed his abilities last season in Kalamazoo and feel like he will be a tremendous fit to our defensive unit.”

Stewart, a native of Calgary, was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL draft by Vancouver. He spent his first pro season with Alaska of the ECHL in 2016-17 where he posted 13 points (six goals, seven assists) and 117 penalty minutes. He also has played six games in his career with Utica of the American Hockey League, Vancouver’s top affiliate.

The 23-year-old played three seasons in the Western Hockey League before turning pro.

The Walleye now have signed four defensemen who are bigger than 6-4 and 215 pounds. Kevin Lohan (6-5, 216), Brenden Kotyk (6-5, 225), and Kevin Tansey (6-4, 225) also have signed with Toledo.